Desktop Publishers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,890 or more. The middle half of desktop publishers in Portland earn between $47,170 and $78,800.
- $41K10th
- $47K25th
- $61KMedian
- $79K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,400 | $5,117 | $29.52 |
| Median | $61,020 | $5,085 | $29.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,170 | $3,931 | $22.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,800 | $6,567 | $37.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Desktop Publishers pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Desktop publishers in Portland earn 6% more than the Oregon average ($57,850) and about the same as the U.S. average ($61,970). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $55,290.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $61,400 | $61,020 | $40,800 | $78,890 | 40 |
| Oregon | $57,850 | $50,650 | $38,200 | $85,170 | 90 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $61,400, a single filer in Portland takes home about $47,154 a year, or $3,929 a month and $1,814 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $51,515 | $4,293 |
| Working in OR | $47,154 | $3,929 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for desktop publishers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $61,400 buys what about $58,243 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Desktop Publishers salary in nearby metro areas
- Sacramento, CA$75,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,920
- Los Angeles, CA$82,020
- Denver, CO$76,270
- Minneapolis, MN$64,300
- Anchorage, AK$40,540
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 Portland: questions
How much do desktop publishers make an hour in Portland?
$29.52 an hour on average, and $29.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level desktop publishers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the desktop publishers take-home pay in Portland?
About $47,154 a year ($3,929 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,400. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do desktop publishers earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.57, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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