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How to hire a desktop publishing specialist

Desktop publishing specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring desktop publishing specialists in the United States:

  • There are a total of 5,599 desktop publishing specialists in the US, and there are currently 3,740 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a desktop publishing specialist is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per desktop publishing specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Los Angeles, CA, has the highest demand for desktop publishing specialists, with 2 job openings.

How to hire a desktop publishing specialist, step by step

To hire a desktop publishing specialist, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a desktop publishing specialist:

Here's a step-by-step desktop publishing specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a desktop publishing specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new desktop publishing specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a desktop publishing specialist do?

A desktop publishing specialist prepares and processes documents and other materials for print or online publication. A desktop publishing specialist must have an eye for detail because they are primarily in charge of handling the layout, proofreading pages, designing and developing materials, identifying and correcting issues, and performing revisions as necessary. They usually coordinate with clients to determine their needs and preferences, completing projects within deadlines and budgets. Moreover, a desktop publishing specialist maintains a clear and open communication line with staff to ensure quality and efficient results.

Learn more about the specifics of what a desktop publishing specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the desktop publishing specialist you need to hire. Certain desktop publishing specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a desktop publishing specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a desktop publishing specialist that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of desktop publishing specialist salaries for various roles:

    Type of Desktop Publishing SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Desktop Publishing SpecialistDesktop publishers use computer software to design page layouts for newspapers, books, brochures, and other items that are printed or published online.$18-35
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • PowerPoint
    • Graphic Design
    • Proofreading
    • Adobe Indesign
    • Adobe Illustrator
    • Adobe Photoshop
    • Word Processing
    • Adobe Creative Suite
    • SharePoint
    • Technical Manuals
    • Mac
    • Adobe Acrobat
    • PC
    • Web Pages
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and utilize extensive internal photography libraries and external resources.
    • Design, code, and update department intranet using HTML, CSS, frames, and tables.
    • Access SharePoint to monitor and revise bid documents.
    • Prepare electronic documents for submission to the FDA.
    • Perform platemaking duties and quality check before going to press.
    • Document new processes and create ISO work instructions for multiple OEMs.
    More desktop publishing specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the desktop publishing specialist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A desktop publishing specialist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a desktop publishing specialist in Arizona may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level desktop publishing specialist. Additionally, a desktop publishing specialist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average desktop publishing specialist salary

    $53,593yearly

    $25.77 hourly rate

    Entry-level desktop publishing specialist salary
    $39,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average desktop publishing specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$60,667$29
    2Maryland$59,576$29
    3District of Columbia$59,565$29
    4Hawaii$56,451$27
    5Illinois$56,241$27
    6Colorado$54,082$26
    7South Carolina$52,446$25
    8Michigan$52,267$25
    9New York$51,728$25
    10Virginia$47,335$23
    11Georgia$46,571$22
    12Oregon$46,540$22
    13Minnesota$45,244$22
    14North Carolina$44,032$21
    15Arizona$43,795$21
    16Florida$40,942$20

    Average desktop publishing specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Citi$112,422$54.05
    2Aetna$77,084$37.06
    3Mathematica$66,243$31.85
    4Accenture$65,065$31.282
    5Gallaudet University$64,255$30.89
    6Canon$61,598$29.61
    7Guidehouse$59,547$28.63
    8CVS Health$59,271$28.50
    9Sierra Nevada$57,949$27.86
    10National Renewable Energy Laboratory$57,717$27.75
    11Solugenix$57,637$27.71
    12The Florida Bar$56,425$27.13
    13TransPerfect$54,285$26.102
    14CTG$54,259$26.093
    15icon Mechanical$53,540$25.741
    16NORC at the University of Chicago$52,029$25.01
    17Robert Half$50,296$24.1834
    18Questex$45,886$22.06
  4. Writing a desktop publishing specialist job description

    A job description for a desktop publishing specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a desktop publishing specialist job description:

    Desktop publishing specialist job description example

    Physical Demands/Work Environment: Physical requirements include carrying/lifting up to 5 pounds, frequently; up to 10 pounds, regularly; and up to 25 pounds, occasionally. Visual acuity, speech, and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to drive an automobile and operate computer keyboard and basic office equipment; subject to carrying, lifting, twisting and reaching to perform essential job functions. Working conditions are primarily in an office environment with occasional travel to other locations.

    Qualifications

    Required Competencies:

    • Advanced proficiency in technical publishing and collaborating software such as, but not limited to, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Creative Suite, MS Paint, FrameMaker, Acrobat Pro DC, Dreamweaver, Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, and Vizio.
    • Ability to work in a cross-functional organization.
    • Efficiency in multi-tasking, organization, and management to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
    • Familiarity with using and learning tools to manage day-to-day writing and publishing needs to create and update content.
    • Enjoy and excel in research initiatives, documentation storage, and content management.
    • Experience translating complex concepts into well-structured narratives.
    • Capability to create, review, and edit documents quickly with adherence to quality control measures.
    • Ability to work independently with strong attention to detail and deadlines.

    Education: Associates degree in desktop-publishing, graphic design, graphic communications, or equivalent required.

    Experience: 1-2 years in desktop-publishing, graphic design, or technical content creation required. Prior experience with contract proposals and administrative support preferred. Experience with structured authoring preferred.

    Skills/Abilities: Strong ability to perform in information design, content management, graphic design, publications, contract proposals, and technical writing/editing. You will have a heightened sense of attention to detail and quality control. Ability to manage and leverage both printed and electronic content with ease while utilizing extreme customer service behaviors in every interaction. As well as being administratively strong to support with tasks as applicable.

    Additional Requirements: Must have valid driver's license and adequate vehicle insurance coverage.

    Living Dynamic

    We believe that every role matters and that every customer, both internal and external, should feel empowered to be the best that they can be. Dynamic Workforce Solutions is a place where passion meets purpose and results in excellence.

    Diversity is at the heart of our business. It is key to our people's passion for serving individuals and communities who seek to build a stronger workforce. We strive to create a work environment that provides all our team members with equal access to information, development, and opportunity. Furthermore, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is deeply rooted in the values instilled by our Four Cornerstones and commitment to Extreme Customer Service. We recognize that differences in age, race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability, thinking style and background bring richness to our work environments. Such differences help us connect better with the workforce development needs of people we serve in our communities. We believe that attracting, developing, and retaining a base of employees that reflects the diversity of our customers is essential to our success.

    Equal Opportunity Employer

    Dynamic Workforce Solutions is an equal opportunity employer/program and auxiliary aids, and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right desktop publishing specialist for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your desktop publishing specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit desktop publishing specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit desktop publishing specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new desktop publishing specialist

    Once you've selected the best desktop publishing specialist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new desktop publishing specialist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a desktop publishing specialist?

Recruiting desktop publishing specialists involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $53,593 per year for a desktop publishing specialist, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for desktop publishing specialists in the US typically range between $18 and $35 an hour.

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