What You Need to Know About Graphic Designer
Career Description Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.
What Do Graphic Designers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Study illustrations and photographs to plan presentation of materials, products, or services.
- Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.
- Produce still and animated graphics for on-air and taped portions of television news broadcasts, using electronic video equipment.
- Research new software or design concepts.
- Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
- Photograph layouts, using camera, to make layout prints for supervisors or clients.
Qualities of a Graphic Designer
These are the skills Graphic Designers say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Other Graphic Designer Job Titles
- Production Designer
- Commercial Artist
- Graphic Artist
- Designer
- Studio Designer
Job Opportunities for Graphic Designers
In the United States, there were 266,300 jobs for Graphic Designer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.2% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11,100 new jobs for Graphic Designer by 2026. There will be an estimated 26,000 positions for Graphic Designer per year.
The states with the most job growth for Graphic Designer are Utah, Washington, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Graphic Designer
The average yearly salary of a Graphic Designer ranges between $29,610 and $85,760.
Graphic Designers who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or New York, make the highest salaries.
How much do Graphic Designers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,960 |
| Alaska | $59,640 |
| Arizona | $54,030 |
| Arkansas | $42,250 |
| California | $61,100 |
| Colorado | $56,670 |
| Connecticut | $60,700 |
| Delaware | $50,920 |
| District of Columbia | $71,180 |
| Florida | $48,780 |
| Georgia | $54,260 |
| Hawaii | $51,690 |
| Idaho | $45,620 |
| Illinois | $56,890 |
| Indiana | $45,030 |
| Iowa | $43,920 |
| Kansas | $46,270 |
| Kentucky | $44,550 |
| Louisiana | $45,660 |
| Maine | $45,800 |
| Maryland | $58,610 |
| Massachusetts | $64,010 |
| Michigan | $47,700 |
| Minnesota | $53,500 |
| Mississippi | $42,640 |
| Missouri | $50,350 |
| Montana | $42,220 |
| Nebraska | $47,980 |
| Nevada | $49,330 |
| New Hampshire | $51,710 |
| New Jersey | $59,140 |
| New Mexico | $44,040 |
| New York | $64,840 |
| North Carolina | $49,700 |
| North Dakota | $41,800 |
| Ohio | $50,130 |
| Oklahoma | $40,710 |
| Oregon | $56,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,050 |
| Rhode Island | $58,720 |
| South Carolina | $45,790 |
| South Dakota | $36,300 |
| Tennessee | $48,760 |
| Texas | $50,700 |
| Utah | $48,130 |
| Vermont | $50,000 |
| Virginia | $60,540 |
| Washington | $60,530 |
| West Virginia | $45,360 |
| Wisconsin | $47,980 |
| Wyoming | $38,490 |
What Tools & Technology do Graphic Designers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Graphic Designers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- jQuery
- Microsoft Access
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Visio
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Docs
- FileMaker Pro
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
Becoming a Graphic Designer
Individuals working as a Graphic Designer have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Graphic Designer?
Who Employs Graphic Designers?
Graphic Designers work in the following industries:
Similar Careers
Career changers with experience as a Graphic Designer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Szilas in the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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