Desktop Publishers Salary
The median pay for a desktop publishers in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA is $42,730/year ($20.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.06), that's roughly $42,704 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,820/month, about 62.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $43K get you in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell’s Regional Price Parity (100.06). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About desktop publishers
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What this looks like in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Pay for desktop publishers in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $55K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,820/month, which is 63.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.06) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for desktop publisherss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Entry-level desktop publishers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Desktop Publishers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Desktop Publishers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $78K | +41% | N/A |
| California | $72K | +30% | 320 |
| Maryland | $70K | +26% | 140 |
| New Jersey | $63K | +14% | 100 |
| South Carolina | $62K | +13% | 40 |
| Illinois | $61K | +11% | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +11% | 80 |
| Texas | $58K | +4% | 270 |
| New York | $57K | +2% | 350 |
| Minnesota | $55K | -1% | 90 |
| Vermont | $54K | -3% | 50 |
| Ohio | $53K | -3% | 60 |
| Florida | $53K | -5% | 150 |
| Arizona | $52K | -6% | 30 |
| Oregon | $51K | -8% | 90 |
| Indiana | $49K | -11% | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | -13% | 30 |
| Louisiana | $47K | -15% | 40 |
| Maine | $47K | -15% | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | -17% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | -17% | 40 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -17% | 40 |
| Michigan | $45K | -18% | 40 |
| Tennessee | $44K | -20% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $44K | -21% | 80 |
| Georgia | $39K | -29% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $36K | -34% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 27 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track desktop publishers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a desktop publisher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 63.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,820/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for desktop publishers in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new desktop publishers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,098/month. At HUD’s $1,820/month FMR, rent would take 87% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is desktop publisher a high-paying job in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $43K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell compare to the national average for desktop publishers?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do desktop publishers make in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA?
The median is $42,730 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,970, and experienced desktop publishers can clear $112,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,873/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,820/month, which eats 63.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a desktop publishers salary go in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell has a Regional Price Parity of 100.06 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median desktop publishers salary is worth about $42,704 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do desktop publishers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.