# Desktop Publishers

> Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.

- **SOC code:** 43-9031.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-43-9031-00
- **Also known as:** Compositor, Computer Typesetter, Electronic Console Display Operator, Publisher, Advertising Associate, Design Editor, Desktop Operator, Desktop Publishing Specialist
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.
- Position text and art elements from a variety of databases in a visually appealing way to design print or web pages, using knowledge of type styles and size and layout patterns.
- Check preliminary and final proofs for errors and make necessary corrections.
- View monitors for visual representation of work in progress and for instructions and feedback throughout process, making modifications as necessary.
- Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials.
- Prepare sample layouts for approval, using computer software.
- Import text and art elements, such as electronic clip art or electronic files from photographs that have been scanned or produced with a digital camera, using computer software.
- Transmit, deliver, or mail publication master to printer for production into film and plates.
- Study layout or other design instructions to determine work to be done and sequence of operations.
- Collaborate with graphic artists, editors and writers to produce master copies according to design specifications.
- Select number of colors and determine color separations.
- Convert various types of files for printing or for the Internet, using computer software.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Near Vision _(ability)_
- Information Ordering _(ability)_
- Computers and Electronics _(knowledge)_
- Originality _(ability)_
- Visualization _(ability)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Fluency of Ideas _(ability)_
- Judgment and Decision Making _(transferable_skill)_
- Oral Comprehension _(ability)_
- Written Expression _(ability)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Visualization _(Specialized Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Adobe Photoshop _(Specialized Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_
- Time Management _(Common Skill)_
- Speech Recognition _(Specialized Skill)_
- Complex Problem Solving _(Common Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Adobe Photoshop _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Adobe Acrobat _(hot technology)_
- Adobe After Effects _(hot technology)_
- Adobe Creative Cloud software _(hot technology)_
- Adobe Illustrator _(hot technology)_
- Adobe InDesign _(hot technology)_
- Apple macOS _(hot technology)_
- Cascading style sheets CSS _(hot technology)_
- Extensible markup language XML _(hot technology)_
- Hypertext markup language HTML _(hot technology)_
- JavaScript _(hot technology)_
- jQuery _(hot technology)_

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 81st percentile (High) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 57th percentile (Moderate) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 89th percentile (High) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 90th percentile (High) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 32nd percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** yes — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** -12.4% growth (Declining); 0.4k annual openings; 5k → 4.4k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $53,620; 4,000 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 47% automation, 46% augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 3.0 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** task iteration.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Position text and art elements from a variety of databases in a visually appealing way to design print or web pages, using knowledge of type styles and size and layout patterns. _(4.5% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy. _(4.3% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials. _(1.9% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Edit graphics and photos, using pixel or bitmap editing, airbrushing, masking, or image retouching. _(0.9% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Import text and art elements, such as electronic clip art or electronic files from photographs that have been scanned or produced with a digital camera, using computer software. _(0.8% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Collaborate with graphic artists, editors and writers to produce master copies according to design specifications. _(0.5% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Convert various types of files for printing or for the Internet, using computer software. _(0.4% of measured AI use; directive)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me position text and art elements from a variety of databases in a visually appealing way to design print or web pages, using knowledge of type styles and size and layout patterns.
- Help me operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.
- Help me enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials.
- Help me edit graphics and photos, using pixel or bitmap editing, airbrushing, masking, or image retouching.
- Help me import text and art elements, such as electronic clip art or electronic files from photographs that have been scanned or produced with a digital camera, using computer software.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-43-9031-00_