The Day-to-Day as a Graphic Designer
A Graphic Designer uses elements like space, texture, color, line, size, form, and shape to create an aesthetic and functional design. They usually work at graphic design agencies, design studios, marketing firms, for corporations, at nonprofits, or on their own as freelancers. They can find work both full-time and part-time, as well as remotely. Graphic designers are in-demand in a variety of industries, from entertainment to retail, education to technology.
Graphic designers usually work on a team with experience designers, other graphic designers, a creative director or Design Director, a production manager, a brand identity developer, an illustrator, or a layout artist. A day in the life of a Graphic Designer will depend on their employer, but they will probably attend meetings, collaborate with clients, create prototypes, solve problems with teammates, design graphics in Adobe Illustrator, conduct research, develop mood boards, and refine prototypes.
What Skills Should Graphic Designers Have?
A Graphic Designer should understand design theory and composition as well as aesthetics. They should have a deep understanding of typography, including how to create or select fonts, adjust line spacing, and create logos and storyboards. Graphic designers must be proficient in common technology used in their industry, including Adobe Creative Cloud, basic HTML and CSS, and Sketch. Nearly half of all Graphic Designers have taken at least one computer science course.
Soft skills are arguably among the most important skill categories for any career. You may be the most talented Graphic Designer in the world, but without soft skills, you cannot get hired or work well on a team. You’ll need to master client communication, which will include asking the right questions, active listening, and regular liaising for the duration of each client project.
Learn the Skills You Need to Become a Graphic Designer
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Graphic Design
Graphic design is the creation of visual content to communicate a message. Graphic design uses visual hierarchy, typography, photo editing, spacial awareness, empathy, color theory, and more to create visually appealing and communicative images. Graphic design can be done with software like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, Figma, and Sketch.
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Photoshop
Photoshop is a software application created by Adobe for image editing and photo retouching on Windows or macOS computers. Photoshop can be used to manipulate and retouch photos. It can also be used to create compositions, collages, design comprehensives, and more.
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InDesign
InDesign is a computer software created by Adobe for publishing and typesetting. It can also be used to create posts, flyers, magazines, brochures, newspapers, books, and presentations.
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Illustrator
Illustrator is a computer program for design developed by Adobe. Illustrator is used by designers to create and edit vector graphics. It can be used for print, web, applications, videos, animations, and more.
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Visual Design
Visual design is a set of strategic best practices used to improve a design or product's aesthetic appeal and usability through the selection of appropriate images, typography, use of space, hierarchy, color, and layout.
Graphic Designer Salaries
A Graphic Designer in the United States makes, on average, $61,704 annually, according to Indeed.com.
Salaries for Graphic Designers vary by region within the the United States. Listed below are some Graphic Designer salaries for specific areas with the United States compared with the average national salary:
- U.S. Average $61K source n/a
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Alexandria, VA
$86K
source
+40.36%
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Chicago, IL
$80K
source
+29.98%
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Fairfax, VA
$79K
source
+28.7%
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Orange County, CA
$73K
source
+19.27%
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Washington, D.C.
$73K
source
+18.63%
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Los Angeles, CA
$71K
source
+15.21%
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New York City
$69K
source
+11.88%
- U.S. Average $61K source n/a
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Dallas, TX
$60K
source
-1.15%
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Miami, FL
$60K
source
-2.09%
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Houston, TX
$56K
source
-8.84%
Typical Qualifications to Become a Graphic Designer
Many graphic designers complete college degrees, but a college degree is not required to have a career in graphic design. Any Graphic Designer will be required to demonstrate their skills beyond what is listed on their resume or contained in their portfolio. Most employers or clients who are looking to hire a Graphic Designer will also be looking for soft skills such as strong communication, active listening, and the ability to ask the right questions.
Learn more about the requirements to become a Graphic Designer
Searching for Graphic Designer Jobs
Graphic Designers may be employed within a marketing agency, as part of an in-house team at a corporate company, or for a publication. If you have strong time management, communication, and business skills, you may find more satisfaction in working as an independent contractor or freelancer. Freelancers and independent contractors can make just as much – if not more – money as an agency-employed Graphic Designer. They can take on multiple clients and projects, which provide variety, motivation, and satisfaction in a career.
Graphic Designers can find jobs on these sites:
- Indeed
- Google Jobs
- Coroflot
- Behance
- Authentic Jobs
- AIGA Design Jobs
- Krop
- Design Observer
- Simply Hired
You can find freelance and independent contractor Graphic Designer jobs on these sites:
- Dribbble
- Fiverr
- Upwork
Tips to Become a Graphic Designer
Graphic designers will find that there are dozens of free websites where they can post their portfolio and services. Setting up a profile on Dribbble or a similar site will certainly get recognition. Connecting with designers who are already employed, people who work at the companies you're applying to, and consistently adding to your portfolio will help you build momentum in your job search. Even if you are looking for a more permanent position, freelancing while looking for a job is a great way to gain experience and show employers you are motivated.
For graphic designers who would like to freelance, platforms are a great way to start, but asking friends and family might be even more effective! Fiverr is fantastic if you already have a clear idea of the packages and services you’d like to offer, while Upwork is a good place to start if you’re unsure. You’ll also find that networking on LinkedIn or through online meetups yields opportunities over time if you stick with it for a few months.
What Job Titles Would a Graphic Designer Hold?
Graphic designers can apply for a wide variety of positions, which may be narrowed down based on industry, skills, interests, location, and desired employer. Graphic designers might start out in junior or entry-level positions but will find that rising through the ranks to a senior Graphic Designer is possible and will result in a higher annual salary. Here are a few options you might be qualified for as a Graphic Designer:
- Graphic Designer
- Freelance Graphic Designer
- Graphic Design Consultant
- Graphic Design Strategist
- Production Artist
- Multimedia Designer
- Art Director
- Layout Artist
- Book Designer
- Creative Director
- Brand Identity Developer
- Marketing Designer
- Logo Designer
- Visual Image Developer
- Content Developer
- Package Designer
- Junior or Senior Designer
- Concept Designer
- Print Production Artist or Designer
Additional Graphic Designer Resources
- Graphic Designer Job Description
- What Software Do Graphic Designers Use?
- Best Cities for Graphic Designers
- Is Graphic Design a Good Career?
- Is Graphic Design Right For Me?
- What Degree Do You Need to Become a Graphic Designer?
- Graphic Designer Career Path
- Graphic Designer Certifications
- How to Become a Graphic Designer Without a Degree in 2025
- How to Become a Freelance Graphic Designer in 2025
- How to Become a Graphic Designer in 3 Months
- Graphic Designer Interview Questions
- Graphic Designer Resume Guide & Tips
- Graphic Designer Cover Letter
- Graphic Designer Job Search Tips & Best Practices
- Graphic Designer LinkedIn Profile Guide & Tips
- Where and How to Secure Graphic Designer Freelance Jobs
- Graphic Designer Portfolio Website Guide & Tips
- Graphic Designer Job Outlook
- What Classes to Take to Become a Graphic Designer
- How to Become a Graphic Designer At Home
Related Careers
Graphic designers possess a transferable skill set that can be upskilled to pursue a career in web design. Graphic designers might enjoy related career paths such as Animator, Web Designer, Visual Designer, UI Designer, or UX Designer. These positions can be transitioned into with some upskilling. A Graphic Designer could learn CSS, HTML, and JavaScript to pivot into web design or gain knowledge about the app development cycle to become a UI or UX Designer. Web designers typically earn more than graphic designers and are in higher demand. If working with the web and applications doesn’t sound appealing, you may consider learning motion graphics and animation to pursue a career as a Motion Graphics Designer, Animator, or broadcast Designer.
Salary Comparison to Graphic Designer
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User Experience Designer
$127K
+106.26%
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Digital Designer
$105K
+71.61%
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Designer
$79K
+28.54%
- Graphic Designer $61K n/a
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Web Designer
$55K
-9.91%
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Digital Designer
Indeed.com Avg. Salary
$105K / year
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$75K / year
Digital Designers make graphics, animations, and other visual effects. Depending on their preference, a Digital Designer might choose to niche down to work exclusively on pre-print, web, or digital marketing. These niches that the Digital Designer is designing websites, applications, advertisements, or publications.
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Web Designer
Indeed.com Avg. Salary
$55K / year
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$66K / year
Web designers design the appearance and functionality of a website. They use their understanding of both visual and technical design principles to create functional web layouts. Some web designers work from home and enjoy the flexibility of freelance work, while others work for agencies or businesses. Good web designers have the foresight to anticipate the end-user experience and design for ease of use and navigation.
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Designer
Indeed.com Avg. Salary
$79K / year
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$77K / year
Designers work in a wide variety of industries and specialize in just as many media. Most designers create digital assets, but some designers work with hand-drawn sketches and illustrations. They start with an understanding of the best design principles and functional aesthetics. Common fields for designers include web, apps, print, fashion, animation, advertising, and UX design.
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User Experience Designer
Indeed.com Avg. Salary
$127K / year
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$111K / year
User experience (UX) designers are responsible for ensuring that digital products offer a seamless user experience by prototyping, conducting user research, and performing user testing. They test the navigation and functionality of websites, apps, and other digital products. UX designers must stay current on design trends to maintain adherence to best practices. They also conduct ongoing user research to understand the habits and needs of users.
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Motion Graphics Designer
Glassdoor Avg. Salary
$77K / year
Motion Graphics Designers, sometimes referred to as MoGraph professionals, use visual effects and animation to create artwork for: television, film, tech devices, software, live-video, video games, applications, and the web.