Desktop Publishers Salary
The median pay for a desktop publishers in South Carolina is $62,320/year ($29.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $66,888 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $62K get you in South Carolina?
About desktop publishers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
South Carolina sits well above the national pay line for desktop publishers, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, South Carolina
Entry-level desktop publishers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track desktop publishers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a desktop publisher afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new desktop publishers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,993/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $62K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for desktop publishers?
South Carolina pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do desktop publishers make in South Carolina?
The median is $62,320 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,890, and experienced desktop publishers can clear $94,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,146/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 30.5% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $66,888 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.