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Quick answer · Balanced priorities

Desktop Publishers vs Order Clerks: what changes?

Consider Desktop Publishers if you want to format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material. Consider Order Clerks if you would rather receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Entry credentials differ: Desktop Publishers, associate's degree; Order Clerks, some college, no degree.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Desktop Publishers and Order Clerks. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Desktop Publishers

National median pay (2025)
$55,290
Route into the job
Associate's degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
300
Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 14.5% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Desktop Publishers brief

Order Clerks

National median pay (2025)
$46,170
Route into the job
Some college, no degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
6,300
Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 17.5% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Order Clerks brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Order Clerks has the edge on annual openings

Order Clerks is at 6,300 annual openings, compared with 300 annual openings for Desktop Publishers.

2

Desktop Publishers has the edge on median pay

Desktop Publishers is at $55,290, compared with $46,170 for Order Clerks.

3

Typical preparation differs.

Desktop Publishers: Associate's degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Order Clerks: Some college, no degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

4

Desktop Publishers has the edge on projected growth

Desktop Publishers is at -14.5% projected growth, compared with -17.5% projected growth for Order Clerks.

21.6/ 100

Desktop Publishers

vs
35.5/ 100

Order Clerks

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Desktop Publishers vs Order Clerks

DimensionDesktop PublishersOrder Clerks
Median pay (2025)$55,290$46,170
Pay percentile40 percentile20.7 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)-14.5%-17.5%
Annual openings (2025–2035)3006,300
2025 employment4,60078,900
How you qualifyAssociate's degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingSome college, no degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 2
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingOne month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.