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Graphic Designer Salary & Career Insights
What is the average salary for a graphic designer in the United States?
Our salary data comes from BLS.gov. Salary data above is the median annual wage.
Job Outlook & Work Environment
Job Outlook
🚀 267,200; estimated number of graphic designer jobs. It is estimated that 6,600 new jobs will be added by 2033.
☀️ The projected job outlook is expected to grow at a rate of 2%, which is slower than average.
Work Environment
💼 Most graphic designers work in studios or offices.
🏢 18% of graphic designers work as self-employed workers while 9% work in specialized design services.
Graphic Designer Salary in Comparison to Patent Law Salaries
How Does a Graphic Designer Salary Stack Up?
The average graphic design salary is $58K annually. While we don’t have an average salary for design patent practitioners yet since this is a new class of practitioners, patent agents typically earn $130K annually. This is more than double what the typical graphic designer earns.
Patent attorneys typically earn $185K annually, around triple what the typical graphic designer earns. It will pay for an individual with a graphic design degree to sit for the patent bar exam and start a patent law career.
Top Graphic Designer Salaries by Industry
Industry | Average Salary |
---|---|
Motion Picture and Video Industries | $102,260 |
Child Care Services | $99,940 |
Federal, State, and Local Government | $96,030 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $93,800 |
Facilities Support Services | $91,750 |
Salary by Graphic Designer Industry
In the U.S., the average graphic designer salary is $58,910.
Graphic designers in the motion picture and video industries earn the highest average salary among the industries listed, at $102,260. Those working in childcare services receive an average salary of $99,940, while those in government roles earn $96,030. In aerospace product and parts manufacturing and facilities support services, graphic designers earn average salaries of $93,800 and $91,750, respectively.
Experience & Education
Here are some typical daily activities of a graphic designer:
- Thinking Creatively: Innovate by developing and designing new applications, ideas, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Working with Computers: Utilize computers and systems to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, and process information.
- Getting Information: Collect and gather information from all relevant sources through observation and reception.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Share information with supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates via phone, writing, email, or in person.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Build and sustain positive and cooperative working relationships over time.
Here are the typical skills you need to work as a graphic designer:
- Active Listening: Fully focus on others, grasp their points, ask relevant questions, and avoid interrupting.
- Speaking: Communicate information clearly and effectively to others.
- Active Learning: Recognize how new information impacts current and future decisions and solutions.
- Critical Thinking: Apply logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions and conclusions.
- Writing: Write clearly and effectively to meet the audience’s needs.
Knowledge required to work as a graphic designer:
- Design: Understand design techniques and tools to create precise technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Computers and Electronics: Familiar with circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and both hardware and software, including programming.
- Fine Arts: Know the principles and techniques for creating and performing music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
- Communications and Media: Understand media production and communication methods to inform and entertain through written, oral, and visual formats.
- English Language: Master the structure and content of English, including meanings, spelling, composition rules, and grammar.
Top Graphic Designer Salaries by Location
Factors that Impact Pay
In San Jose, CA, graphic designers earn the highest average salary among the cities listed, at $103,260. In San Francisco, CA, graphic designers receive an average salary of $95,410, followed by those in Washington, DC, with $84,210. New York, NY, and Seattle, WA, offer average salaries of $81,710 and $80,870, respectively, for graphic designers.
Graphic designers in the District of Columbia earn the highest average salary among the states listed, at $93,050. In New York, graphic designers receive an average salary of $80,390, while those in California earn $79,850. Washington and Massachusetts offer average salaries of $75,680 and $74,490, respectively, for graphic designers.
Take a look at the average graphic designer salaries from top-paying cities according to Bls.gov data.
City | Average Salary |
---|---|
San Jose, CA | $103,260 |
San Francisco, CA | $95,410 |
Washington, DC | $84,210 |
New York, NY | $81,710 |
Seattle, WA | $80,870 |
Look at the average graphic designer salaries from top-paying states according to Bls.gov data.
State | Average Salary |
---|---|
District of Columbia | $93,050 |
New York | $80,390 |
California | $79,850 |
Washington | $75,680 |
Massachusetts | $74,490 |
Related Careers
Patent Agent
Patent agents practice patent law before the USPTO.
Average of $130,168/year
Patent Attorney
Patent attorneys can practice patent law in addition to practicing law in jurisdictions where they are currently admitted.
Average of $185,351/year
Industrial Designer
Design and develop manufactured products by creating functional and appealing designs.
Average of $76,250/year