As companies have brought the production of marketing, promotional, and other kinds of materials in-house, they have increasingly employed people who can produce such materials through desktop publishing.

Desktop publishing encompasses a number of different kinds of jobs. People employed in the field of desktop publishing may work as project administrators, production specialists or directors, graphic artists or computer graphics specialists, technical illustrators, public relations representatives, desktop publishing specialists, writers or technical writers, editors, and directory, book or magazine publishers

New jobs and opportunities will abound as the desktop publishing field changes. Opportunities for designers and writers will grow faster than average over the next few years, although competition may be keen in some fields.

Desktop publishers should be creative, artistic, and resourceful. In addition, they must have technical aptitude and an ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. Written and verbal communication skills are needed to interact with clients, and patience is often needed to revise projects until clients are satisfied.

Depending on the assignment, desktop publishers may be called upon to write and edit text, create graphics to accompany text, convert photographs and drawings into digital images and then manipulate those images, design page layouts, or create proposals, presentations and advertising campaigns.

For most jobs, a college degree is the minimum requirement. However, while it is helpful to have formal training in graphic arts, communication, or writing, many people who currently work in desktop publishing have received most of their training on-the-job.

Many different kinds of companies employ desktop publishers, especially those who create corporate communications in-house. Persons with an interest in desktop publishing can look for a job in almost any industry sector.

Those who want to specialize in some aspect of the production process can seek work in advertising or art agencies; public relations firms; pre-press service bureaus; book, directory or magazine publishers; design firms; or companies that specialize in corporate communications.