In 2002, average weekly earnings for workers in the publishing industry varied by type of publication. Average weekly earnings for those working in periodical publishing were $595, for book publishing $585, and in newspaper publishing $483 compared with $506 for all industries. Writers, editors, and reporters working on major metropolitan newspapers or those with technical expertise writing for specialized magazines usually have the highest salaries. Advertising sales representatives usually earn a base salary plus an amount based on sales. Earnings in selected occupations in publishing appear in table 3.The Newspaper Guild is the major union representing most nonsupervisory employees in the newspaper industry.
Table 3. Median hourly earnings of the largest occupations in publishing, except software, 2002
| Occupation |
Publishing,
except
software |
All
industries |
| Editors |
$19.37 |
$19.79 |
| Printing machine operators |
16.09 |
13.95 |
| Advertising sales agents |
15.83 |
18.11 |
| Graphic designers |
15.22 |
17.64 |
| News analysts, reporters and correspondents |
13.99 |
14.67 |
| Desktop publishers |
13.49 |
15.20 |
| Prepress technicians and workers |
13.07 |
14.98 |
| Customer service representatives |
12.98 |
12.62 |
| Office clerks, general |
10.88 |
10.71 |
| Telemarketers |
10.49 |
9.40 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand |
9.08 |
9.48 |
|
