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What do
Desktop Publishers do?
Using computer
software, these workers combine printed material, numbers, pictures,
and charts, to prepare publications. They also write and correct
text. They make graphics to go with the text. They change pictures
and drawings into digital pictures and then use them. They design
page layouts and develop presentations. Some things produced by
desktop publishers include books, business cards, calendars, magazines,
newsletters, and newspapers. They prepare some material for the
Internet.
They use scanners
to capture photographs, images, or art as digital data. It can
be added directly into electronic page layouts with the use of
computer software. They can then correct mistakes.
Depending
on the company employing these workers, they may be called publications
specialists, electronic publishers, DTP operators, or desktop-publishing
editors. They may also have job titles like electronic prepress
technicians, electronic-publishing specialists, image designers,
typographers, compositors, layout artists, and web publications
designers.
They spend
many hours in front of a computer monitor. They usually work an
8-hour day, 5 days a week. Some work nights, weekends, and holidays
to meet deadlines.
Most workers
take classes or complete certificate courses at vocational schools,
and colleges, or through the Internet. The average certificate
program takes about 1 year. Some train on the job to learn the
needed skills. The length of on-the-job training varies by company.
A part-time job is another way to gain skill.
Students may
obtain an associate degree in applied science or a bachelor's
degree in graphic arts, graphic communications, or graphic design.
Formal training
is not always needed; those with certificates or degrees will
have the best job opportunities. Most employers want people who
have good speaking skills and basic computer skills. They should
be able to deal with people because they may have to take customers'
orders. It is also good to have some artistic ability.
Workers with
limited training and skill may start as helpers. All workers should
expect to be retrained from time to time to learn about new software
and equipment.
| How much does this job pay? |
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Earnings vary
by level of skill, training, location, and size of firm. The middle
half earned between $24,030 and $41,280 in 2002. The lowest-paid
10 percent earned less than $18,670, and the highest-paid 10 percent
earned more than $52,540.
Desktop publishers
held about 35,000 jobs in 2002. Many worked in newspaper, magazine,
and book publishing firms.
Employment
of desktop publishers is expected to grow faster than the average
for all occupations through 2012. Most employers prefer to hire
skilled workers who graduated from formal training programs.
| Are there other jobs like this? |
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| Source:
Occupational Outlook Handbook -- U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics |
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For more comprehensive
information on Desktop Publishers see the Careers
Database
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