Table Of Content
- What is the average graphic designer salary?
- Learn with CareerFoundry
- Trusted by Businesses Worldwide to Create Impactful and Memorable Brands
- What is the highest pay for Graphic Artist / Designers?
- Recently added graphic designer salaries
- Design Salaries Compared to Other Jobs
- Graphic Designer Salary By Level of Education in Los Angeles, CA

On average, entry-level graphic designers with less than one year of experience make around $33,000. Starting salaries typically range from $26,000 to $45,000 based on skills, location, employer, responsibilities, etc. So graphic designers earn a solid middle-class income versus other common artistic careers. With added seniority, skillsets like art direction and creative leadership can provide upper-class wages. LinkedIn, Slack, online job boards, conferences, and meet-ups are great places to start when looking to connect with other graphic designers and even professionals in adjacent fields. Networking in these spaces can help you feel supported, familiarize yourself with the field, and keep you in the know for potential job availabilities.
What is the average graphic designer salary?
This will help your learning experience be more enjoyable and easier to stick with. We’ve listed a few of the major cities around the world and what the average salary is in each one. Our job description management tool- JobArchitect streamlines your job description process. You also may want to look into location-independent jobs that let you work at home. Then, you can maximize your earnings even more by living in a cost-effective location. Even if a salary is numerically more, it may be relatively less when you consider expenses.
Learn with CareerFoundry
You just have to focus on improving your knowledge and skills while you’re gaining work experience. Compare graphic designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average. Experience and seniority impact salaries significantly regardless of location. Entry-level designers earn much less than senior-level creative or art directors who make six figures. However, to expertly hone your artistic skills and stay competitive when looking for work as a graphic designer, there are a few things to remember.
Trusted by Businesses Worldwide to Create Impactful and Memorable Brands

Designers also may be able to increase their current salaries by refreshing certifications on ever-evolving software such as Adobe Photoshop. Even seasoned designers risk becoming obsolete and taking a salary hit if they aren’t keeping up with the times. When comparing offers, weigh salary, benefits, work-life balance, and advancement potential.
What is the highest pay for Graphic Artist / Designers?
The graphic design field provides many opportunities for both novice and experienced designers and offers attractive salaries for each. With much potential for growth in the field, you can expect your earnings to increase as your skills advance or if you move to more competitive companies. Freelance design salaries are much more dependent on the current job market because they get new clients more regularly.
Recently added graphic designer salaries
This skill is in 'giant' demand—and can pay up to $145 an hour as a side hustle - CNBC
This skill is in 'giant' demand—and can pay up to $145 an hour as a side hustle.
Posted: Wed, 15 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Explore graphic design salary averages based on skill, experience, and location. So, while creative passion drives most designers, rest assured the profession offers ample earning potential, too. Catalogue your years of experience, education, software and skill expertise, and project examples. Compare your background to job requirements and typical pay by experience level. Be sure to customize your resume and portfolio to each job you apply for and do adequate research on the position and the company. It’s normal to have many revisions of your portfolio or even for your resume and portfolio to change depending on the job you are applying for.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that graphic design employment will grow 3% from 2022 to 2032. Openings will result from economic expansion and the need for visual communication in nearly all industries. Graphic designer pay varies based on personal factors like education, experience, expertise, and employers.
Graphic Designer Salary By Level of Education in Los Angeles, CA
Graphic designers in significant cities and design hubs typically earn higher wages. Camren Browne is a UX Tutor and Writer with CareerFoundry, and has one of the top Google articles on user flows. Camren started in illustration and graphic design but quickly found a love for teaching UX design and has since tutored over 500 students and coached around 250 of them in finding a UX career. Camren travels full time with his family and has worked for CareerFoundry from over seven countries. As a graphic designer, you have the opportunity to be employed by many different companies in various types of work environments.
Specialised skills like UI, UX, AR, VR, and 3D design will be in demand. It can feel overwhelming to enter such an established field as graphic design. As a new designer, it’s common to feel like a small fish in a big ocean. One way to combat this is to start networking within different graphic design communities.
Consider negotiating non-monetary perks like remote work options, flex schedules, or professional development stipends. If you’re committed to getting the highest pay as a designer, you may have to move to find the best job offer. However, seniority isn’t the only — or even most important — factor in the design world. Many designers who have only been in the industry a few years are making more than seasoned vets. Many designers supplement a degree with specialised certificates like web design, user experience (UX) design, or branding. CareerFoundry is an online school for people looking to switch to a rewarding career in tech.
While education, experience, and a portfolio are important, what gets designers hired (and paid better) is showing unity and direction in those three factors. Higher education shows that you have the knowledge you need to be a designer and are committed to graphic design as a profession. More education almost always helps you get the highest design salary possible. A graphic design position tends to fall somewhere between rock star and accountant when it comes to salary.
If you can put together an impressive design portfolio, you may be able to get high-paying design jobs even if you haven’t worked in the industry for years. Graphic design is a craft, and increasing your skill level is as important as adding lines to your resume. But that means you can boost your base salary faster as a graphic designer than in other careers.
On average, they spend over $90,000 but can reach $150,000 annually at global brands and large agencies. The graphic designer job title corresponds with a variety of job descriptions. That means any averages are a broad generalization and not necessarily accurate to what you can expect to pay or be paid.
Use the graphic designer salary calculator above to determine the average salary range for the role you’re hiring for. Then, post your job on Dribbble to start attracting top design talent today. This can also help designers already working in the field create strategies to increase their incomes. Creative direction and art direction roles pay graphic designers the highest salaries. These senior-level management positions guide visual styling across companies and campaigns.