Desktop Publishers Salary
The median pay for a desktop publishers in Illinois is $61,350/year ($29.49/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $65,370 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Illinois?
About desktop publishers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for desktop publishers, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level desktop publishers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Desktop Publishers salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $58K | -5% | 120 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a desktop publisher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 35% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for desktop publishers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new desktop publishers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,669/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $61K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for desktop publishers?
Illinois pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do desktop publishers make in Illinois?
The median is $61,350 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,480, and experienced desktop publishers can clear $79,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,025/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 35% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median desktop publishers salary is worth about $65,370 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.