Graphic designer jobs are always in demand in this colorful world. From print media to digital media, there is always room for the art industry. It’s hard to imagine a life without graphic designers, as they are also in demand at AI companies, entertainment businesses, marketing industries, digital journalism, and creative agencies.
What is a Graphic Designer
A Graphic Designer is someone who knows how to create visually pleasing design concepts, digitally or by hand. They use art and design to communicate ideas that inspire and captivate various customers. They produce production designs, layouts, and other design elements for projects such as brochures, advertisements, magazines, and digital media.
Average Salary Range for Graphic Designers
Here is the list of average salary ranges for Graphic Designers in the US:
- Glassdoor.com: $47,312/yr
- Ziprecruiter.com: $49,389/yr
- Salary.com: $57,475/yr
Highest Salary Range for Graphic Designers
Here is the list of the highest salary range for Graphic Designers in the US:
- Glassdoor.com: $66,864/yr
- Ziprecruiter.com: $81,500/yr
- Salary.com: $73,164/yr
Lowest Salary Range for Graphic Designers
Here is the list of the lowest salary range for Graphic Designers in the US:
- Glassdoor.com: $30,325/yr
- Ziprecruiter.com: $21,000/yr
- Salary.com: $45,527/yr
Highest Paying States for Graphic Designers in the US
Here’s the list of the highest-paying states for Graphic Designers in the US:
- District of Columbia: $62,988/yr
- Massachusetts: $58,553/yr
- Washington: $57,422/yr
- New York: $57,176/yr
Highest Paying Cities for Graphic Designers in the US
The data stated below is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics for 2015.
Here is the list of the top U.S. cities that pay well for Graphic Designers:
- San Francisco, CA: $76,980/yr
- San Jose, CA: $75,780/yr
- Silver Spring, MD: $67,530/yr
- Framingham, MA: $62,760/yr
Highest Paying Cities for Graphic Designers in the UK
Here is the list of the top highest-paying cities for Graphic Designers in the UK:
- London: £32,333/yr
- Southampton: £26,868/yr
- Manchester: £25,970/yr
- Oxford: £25,885/yr
Highest Paying Cities for Graphic Designers in Australia
Here is the list of the highest-paying cities for Graphic Designers in Australia:
- Canberra ACT: $108,880/yr
- Gold Coast QLD: $77,823/yr
- Perth WA: $76,310/yr
- Melbourne City Centre VIC: $75,546/yr
Different Roles in a Graphic Designer Career
Senior Graphic Designer
As a Senior Graphic Designer, your position is above the Mid-Level designer. Your task is to manage all design projects, from digital to print designs. You will also create original artwork, refine projects, generate new creative ideas, and review junior designers' work. To be qualified as a Senior Graphic Designer, you should have five to eight years of experience and substantial knowledge of graphic design, techniques, and styles.
3D Designer
The job responsibilities of a 3D Designer are to design three-dimensional models, animations, and visual effects for several projects. You must create special effects using combined hand-drawing techniques and computer software. 3D Designer careers are usually found in filmmaking, video game making, advertising campaigns, product designs, etc.
Video Game Designer
If you’re interested in graphic design and developing video games simultaneously, then the video game designer job is for you. In this job, you must build prototypes, develop game mechanics and functions, and create storylines and ideas. Your top priority is to keep the gamers entertained and engaged.
Industrial Designer
Industrial Designers work on conceptualizing new products for manufacturing, such as home appliances, automobiles, and toys. As an industrial designer, you’ll incorporate art, business, and engineering together when you design your products. Your artistic side will be helpful in this career because some duties include sketching ideas, creating renderings, and making prototypes of product designs.
Design Technologist
Design Technologists are talented designers with exceptional development skills. They have skills and substantial knowledge of front-end programming, UX, and design. As a Design Technologist, your top priority is to create quality designs coupled with several tests and research. Like Industrial Designers, you will also create prototypes at various fidelities.
Visual Designer
As a visual designer, you will use your artistic talents to create visually appealing graphic designs, concepts, artwork, and layouts for various digital projects. Other duties include providing creative ideas to project teams, developing concepts, and collaborating with IT developers to integrate visual designs.
Creative Manager
Creative Managers monitor daily creative development work from start to finish. You are implementing and setting standards to reinforce every business’ goals and branding strategy. Your goal is to lead your team, composed of talented creatives like graphic designers and other professionals who belong to the art industry. Creative Managers are sometimes called Creative Services Managers or Creative Services Directors.
Art Director
Also called creative directors, Art Directors are above senior graphic designers. Art Directors pay attention to aesthetics and visuals and observe what the creative team has achieved. They also handle marketing campaigns, oversee projects and listen to their clients. Generally, they have the last say in which photograph, design, or other art elements to use.
Concept Artist
If you are artistic and have a creative and vivid imagination about anything art, the Concept Artist role fits you. As a concept artist, your task is to create an ideal visual representation needed in any project. This project can be a movie, video game, animation, comic book, or advertising. To work as a Concept Artist, you should hold a degree in art-related courses such as fine arts, animation, or graphic design.
App Developer
App Developers are also expected to be truly creative and have superb graphic design skills. Other than design skills, you should also have a good understanding of the mobile design approach. App Developers usually work closely with the UX and UI designers. To be hired as an app developer, you must have a degree in interaction design, human-computer interaction, cognitive science, or a related field.
Digital Designer
Digital Designers are also considered graphic designers, only that their designs are more dynamic than typical graphic designers usually do. As a digital designer, you are skilled in creating animation, interactive pages, and 2D and 3D modeling. Because they are called Digital Designers, your works are expected to end up in any digital media.
Creative Director
A Creative Director is the leader of the creative team, but the role differs from an Art Director. While the art director talks to clients, the creative director leads and deals closely with the creative team. You’ll be responsible for the company's marketing efforts as a creative director. To become a successful creative director, you should have skills in solving problems and project management aside from creative skills.
Front End Developer
Front End Developers are also known for being creative aside from being geniuses in computer programming. As a Front End Developer, your responsibilities include optimizing web design, making the web design mobile-friendly, and making every design functional and aesthetically appealing.
UX Director
The UX Director leads the UX team. As a UX Director, you need to understand UX design deeply. You are expected to lead and guide all of the members of your UX team, set expectations, and create a winning plan to achieve what your clients want.
Product Designer
Product Designers have skills in making innovative product designs that meet the needs of their clients. As a Product Designer, you will have many duties as a Product Designer, such as drawing ideas and creating design concepts. You also need to communicate your plans effectively to other co-workers like engineers.
