Desktop Publishers build judgment and decision making, complex problem solving and time management skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Web Developers (80%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Web Developers | 80% | $92,650 | +68% | None |
| 2 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | 79% | $48,690 | −12% | None |
| 3 | Graphic Designers | 78% | $62,960 | +14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | 76% | $102,030 | +85% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Web and Digital Interface Designers | 76% | $104,000 | +88% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Technical Writers | 75% | $90,390 | +63% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Film and Video Editors | 75% | $75,420 | +36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Web Administrators | 72% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Editors | 71% | $77,920 | +41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Document Management Specialists | 67% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
Compared with Desktop Publishers, median $55,290. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as desktop publishers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
80% skill match · $92,650 · +68% pay
Programming · Operations Analysis · Technology Design
79% skill match · $48,690 · −12% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Operations Monitoring · Operation and Control
78% skill match · $62,960 · +14% pay
Negotiation · Persuasion · Technology Design
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Web Developers (80% skill match, median $92,650), Prepress Technicians and Workers (79% skill match, median $48,690) and Graphic Designers (78% skill match, median $62,960), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 15 pay more than desktop publishers at the median. The biggest increases: Art Directors (+108%, $114,850), Web and Digital Interface Designers (+88%, $104,000) and Special Effects Artists and Animators (+85%, $102,030).
11 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.