Desktop Publishers pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $113,300 or more. The middle half of desktop publishers in Los Angeles earn between $48,100 and $96,030.
- $42K10th
- $48K25th
- $82KMedian
- $96K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,020 | $6,835 | $39.43 |
| Median | $82,010 | $6,834 | $39.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,100 | $4,008 | $23.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,030 | $8,002 | $46.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Desktop Publishers pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Desktop publishers in Los Angeles earn 5% more than the California average ($78,250) and 32% more than the U.S. average ($61,970). At the median the gap is +48% against the U.S. median of $55,290.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $82,020 | $82,010 | $42,080 | $113,300 | n/a |
| California | $78,250 | $71,930 | $42,080 | $115,410 | 320 |
| United States | $61,970 | $55,290 | $35,680 | $96,170 | 3,350 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Desktop Publishers salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $82,020, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $62,995 a year, or $5,250 a month and $2,423 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for desktop publishers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $82,020 buys what about $72,222 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 11.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Desktop Publishers salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 2nd of 3 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($89,920).
- San Francisco$89,920
- Los Angeles$82,020
- Sacramento$75,730
Highest-paying cities for desktop publishers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($89,920).
- San Francisco, CA$89,920
- Los Angeles, CA$82,020
- Denver, CO$76,270
- Sacramento, CA$75,730
- New York, NY$73,830
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Desktop Publishers salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do desktop publishers make an hour in Los Angeles?
$39.43 an hour on average, and $39.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level desktop publishers salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the desktop publishers take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $62,995 a year ($5,250 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,020. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do desktop publishers earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% more than the U.S. average for this job ($61,970).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-9031; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
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