Graphic Designer Salary By Experience |
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| Experience Level | Low Hourly | High Hourly | Low Annual | High Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 Year | $10.35 | $19.64 | $21,530.00 | $40,850.00 |
| 1-5 Years | $13.12 | $24.31 | $27,290.00 | $50,570.00 |
| 5-10 Years | $14.40 | $26.47 | $29,950.00 | $55,060.00 |
| 10-20 Years | $14.48 | $32.13 | $30,110.00 | $66,840.00 |
| 20 Years + | $17.42 | $39.02 | $36,240.00 | $81,170.00 |
A graphic designer is a professional who creates stunning visual and moving images designed for various purposes, usually for marketing and advertising. Graphic designers use visual art and modern technology to communicate the ideas of their clients to its intended market. The ultimate goal of a graphic designer is to put up a visual presentation that will instill the desired emotions from its intended audience and encourage them to act on those emotions, whether to buy a product or to donate to a charitable organization.
Traditionally, graphic designers work with printed, published, and electronic media, like newspapers, brochures, magazines, and electronic billboards. But with the advent of the Internet and mobile communication technology, modern graphic designers are now trained to create visual imagery in digital format such as websites, pop-up ads, and web design.
Graphic designers nowadays work with other professionals in order to achieve the optimum representation of their clients' specifications such as copywriters, photographers and sales and marketing staff. Aside from advertisement deals and marketing campaigns, graphic designers are also employed for other projects such as creating video games, art exhibits, and providing stunning images for special events such as car shows and comic conventions.
The average graphic designer salary in the country is estimated at $48,690 a year, but the median is a slightly lower $44,010. Graphic designers who are in the top 10% are said to be earning an average salary of $77,370 a year or more, while those in the bottom 10% are making $26,210 annually or less.
In the United States, the highest concentration of graphic designers, around 25,050 of them, are found working for firms offering specialized design services. Aside from the relatively high demands and opportunities offered by such employers, the pay rate is also substantial at $51,150 a year, which is higher than the national average. Also offering vast employment opportunities are newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishers, which currently employ 24,190 graphic designers. However, the graphic designer wage rate is lower than the national average at $42,820 per annum.
Graphic designers who work in federal offices receive the highest graphic designer salary figures at $75,570 a year. They are followed by those who work in amusement parks and arcades ($65,980) and monetary authorities, including Central Bank ($65,650). However, entry to these industries is quite difficult and employment opportunities are less compared to other employment sectors.
Candidates are required to possess a bachelor's degree in graphic design, visual arts, and other related fields. It is encouraged that one should take a graphic design programs from one of the 300 colleges, technical schools, art institutions, and universities accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Among the subjects to be tackled in class are:
Graphic design students are also encouraged to take other training courses related to graphic designing, such as marketing, business, and writing to further equip themselves with skills necessary to work well with other professionals on future projects.
A number of universities and colleges offer programs where graphic design students can build their portfolios even if they are still undergraduates. This means students can build their portfolios using designs from classroom projects and business internships.
Membership in recognized associations is not required but can bolster one's chances in getting employed, attracting clients and negotiating substantial pay rates. There are several known organizations for graphic designers such as University & College Designers Association (UCDA), International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda), and the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD).
Jobs prospects for graphic designers are good according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Projections and estimates made by the said government agency predict that there will be 13% increase of graphic designers by 2020. The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes this growth as fast as the average for all occupations.
Firms engaging in computer system designs are expected to provide the most number of employment opportunities for graphic designers. The increasing popularity of the internet and mobile devices will also spur the need for graphic designers to create stunning images in digital formats.
Still the marketing and advertising industry will still have huge need graphic designers. Printed and TV advertisements, posters, electronic billboards, and websites will still remain the prevailing forms of advertisement and the success of each advertising campaign rest heavily on graphic designers' expertise and interpretation.
Graphic designers usually find their initial footing as staff members for specialized design service providers. Others will find their careers starting in publications like newspapers and magazines.
After a few years of experience and gaining considerable knowledge and skills, an entry-level graphic designer can be promoted to higher positions or cross over to other companies that are willing to provide higher graphic designer salary rates.
Experienced and highly skilled graphic designers with solid reputations are usually employed by top advertising agencies. More skillful graphic designing experts are offered lucrative contracts with video game companies and mobile phone firms to help create mobile games.
Because of the nature of their work and their close proximity to other professionals, a graphic designer can venture to other lines of work, such as marketing consultant for advertising firms or a brand promotion manager for big companies.
Other graphic designing specialists also find success in starting their own specialized design firms or as independent professionals who peddle their services to big clients.
Other occupations closely related to the graphic designer profession are listed below:
The graphic designer profession requires artistic flair and a comprehensive understanding of computer technology. Also important are communication skills for liaising with clients, time management for completing projects on schedule, teamwork and a high level of creativity. Modern graphic designers are now heavily dependent on computer software to get the job done, which is a far cry from early graphic designers. That said, advances in design technology have provided modern graphic designing experts with an even broader range of means to create striking and communicative images. A creative and business-minded individual can have a lot of success in this profession.