Desktop Publishers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,740 or more. The middle half of desktop publishers in Chicago earn between $49,340 and $69,080.
- $46K10th
- $49K25th
- $58KMedian
- $69K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,730 | $5,144 | $29.68 |
| Median | $58,130 | $4,844 | $27.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,340 | $4,112 | $23.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,080 | $5,757 | $33.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Desktop Publishers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $61,730, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $48,865 a year, or $4,072 a month and $1,879 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $49,958 | $4,163 |
| Working in IL | $48,865 | $4,072 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for desktop publishers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $61,730 buys what about $59,588 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Desktop Publishers salary in nearby metro areas
- Indianapolis, IN$52,530
- Minneapolis, MN$64,300
- Washington, DC$71,360
- Atlanta, GA$56,880
- Baltimore, MD$63,180
- New York, NY$73,830
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 Chicago: questions
How much do desktop publishers make an hour in Chicago?
$29.68 an hour on average, and $27.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level desktop publishers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the desktop publishers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $48,865 a year ($4,072 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,730.
Do desktop publishers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($65,516).
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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