Desktop Publishers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $135,630 or more. The middle half of desktop publishers in San Francisco earn between $58,590 and $107,710.
- $48K10th
- $59K25th
- $83KMedian
- $108K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,920 | $7,493 | $43.23 |
| Median | $83,280 | $6,940 | $40.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,590 | $4,882 | $28.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,710 | $8,976 | $51.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Desktop Publishers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Desktop publishers in San Francisco earn 15% more than the California average ($78,250) and 45% more than the U.S. average ($61,970). At the median the gap is +51% against the U.S. median of $55,290.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $89,920 | $83,280 | $47,850 | $135,630 | 60 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $89,920, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $67,818 a year, or $5,652 a month and $2,608 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 San Francisco a good place for desktop publishers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $89,920 buys what about $77,777 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 12.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Desktop Publishers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 3 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 San Francisco: questions
How much do desktop publishers make an hour in San Francisco?
$43.23 an hour on average, and $40.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level desktop publishers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the desktop publishers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $67,818 a year ($5,652 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,920. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do desktop publishers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 45% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.8%.
- 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.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.10, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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