Desktop Publishers
Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready material.
3,350 people do this job in the US. $55,290 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 92%
- 7%
- 1%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 1%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 40%. Today's estimate: 51%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 18 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.Done hourly or more by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 19% | 2.5 h38 min to 6.7 h | 38%Half by Dec 2026 | |
| Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce camera-ready copy.Done hourly or more by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 19% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.7 work days | 21%Half by May 2027 | |
| Prepare sample layouts for approval, using computer software.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 13% | 1.7 h25 min to 5 h | 51%Half by now | |
| Collaborate with graphic artists, editors and writers to produce master copies according to design specifications.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Edit graphics and photos, using pixel or bitmap editing, airbrushing, masking, or image retouching.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 6% | 1.7 h25 min to 4.2 h | 57%Half by now | |
| Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width, and appropriate spacing for printed materials.Done hourly or more by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 6% | 50 min17 min to 3.3 h | 78%Half by now | |
| 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.Done hourly or more by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 5% | 38 min8 min to 1.3 h | 91%Half by now | |
| Select number of colors and determine color separations.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 50 min13 min to 1.7 h | 90%Half by now | |
| Create special effects such as vignettes, mosaics, and image combining, and add elements such as sound and animation to electronic publications.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 2.5 h50 min to 5 h | 55%Half by now | |
| Convert various types of files for printing or for the Internet, using computer software.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 3% | 50 min13 min to 2.1 h | 84%Half by now | |
| View monitors for visual representation of work in progress and for instructions and feedback throughout process, making modifications as necessary.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 25 min13 min to 1.7 h | 98%Half by now | |
| Check preliminary and final proofs for errors and make necessary corrections.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 38 min13 min to 2.5 h | 86%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).