Are you good at conveying ideas through visuals? If yes, then graphic design can be an excellent option to earn money. But before you take the plunge, wouldn’t you be interested in knowing how much graphic designers make?
Today, we will delve into graphic design as a viable career path. Alongside discovering how much do graphic designers make, you’ll learn about various job opportunities in the field, strategies to increase your earnings, and much more. This post will be beneficial for all aspiring graphic designers.
Let’s dive in:
What is a Graphic Designer?
What is a graphic designer, and why is graphic design important? In simple words, a graphic designer is a professional who designs visual concepts to convey information. From designing posters to logos to websites, graphic designers create a variety of visual concepts to communicate information.
Here are some important qualities that can make someone an excellent graphic designer:
- Verbal communication
- Drawing and sketching skills
- Research
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Analytical skills
In today’s world, companies utilize a wide range of design software. As a result, designers are now required to possess essential software skills to secure employment at reputable design firms.
Types of Graphic Design Jobs
There are various types of graphic design job openings available, allowing you to choose one that aligns with your creativity.
The following are the key job types in the graphic design industry:
- Photo Editor
- Logo designer
- Web designer
- Multimedia designer
- Advertising designer
- User interface (UI) designer
- User experience (UX) designer
Graphic design services encompass a wide range of specialties. In addition to the job titles previously mentioned, there are numerous graphic design job openings available for roles such as product packaging designers, publication designers, apparel graphic designers, and many others.
How Much do Graphic Designers Earn Per Hour?
If you’re considering a career as a self-employed designer, you might be wondering how much graphic designers make and whether it’s possible to earn a comfortable living. The good news is that it is indeed feasible. According to a report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for graphic designers is $28.06.
The average base hourly pay for freelance graphic designers, as per Payscale data, is $29.92.
To establish yourself as a successful freelancer, it’s important to work on various projects that will help you create a robust professional portfolio while continually seeking out new opportunities.
How Much Do Graphic Designers Make Per Year
If you want to know the average salary for a graphic designer, the answer is $ 58,370 (mean annual wage).
Job seekers may observe discrepancies in graphic designer salaries across various sources. For instance, data from Indeed indicates an average base salary of $51,588 per year. In contrast, information from Payscale shows that the average base salary for a graphic designer is $47,085 per year. This raises the question: how much do graphic designers make?
Art directors, who often begin their careers as designers, earn way more than these mentioned salaries.
How to Get Started with Graphic Design
Now that you know common questions about graphic design as a career option, such as how much graphic designers make, the types of graphic design jobs, and the prowess required to become a great designer. It is time to get started.
Here are some pointers to help you:
- Get professional education (degree or certificate in design)
- Master design software programs
- Build a website to create an online presence
- Be active on LinkedIn and job search websites
- Build a network to get references
Also, sharing your portfolio website on Behance, Dribble, and other sites in the related field can increase your chances of getting hired.
Different industries have varying requirements. Therefore, it’s beneficial to consult experienced individuals in your chosen field for insights that can help you get started quickly.
10 Ways to Make Money as a Graphic Designer
Working for a company is just one way to earn money as a designer. Here are ten ways you can explore to make money with your creative expertise:
Freelance Work for Clients
Hiring an in-house designer is a costly affair. So, many businesses choose to hire freelancers to get design work done. As a result, you can earn good money doing freelance work for clients. Upwork and Fiverr are good platforms to hunt for freelance gigs.
GIFs or Animations
The trend of using GIFs to increase customer engagement is growing fast. With more and more companies including GIFs in their marketing materials, there are ample opportunities for you to sell GIFs and earn money.
Sell Canva Templates
Canva is used by many people as the learning curve is minimal. So creating and selling Canva templates can be a good way to earn money.
Social Media Graphics
Social media has become a must for businesses of all sizes. And it goes without saying that eye-catching visuals increase engagement on social media. Not all companies hire graphic designers, presenting you with tons of opportunities to sell social media graphic packages and earn money.
Printable Wall Art
People love to personalize the walls of their homes. Posters and wall stickers are among popular wall art items. You can sell readymade printable wall art or customizable packages online and make money.
Design Fonts
Do you love designing beautiful fonts? Why not make money out of it? Platforms like Etsy, Creative Market, or Creative Fabrica can help you sell your fonts and earn money.
eBook Covers
Many small businesses publish eBooks to educate their audiences. Kindle Direct Publishing has also opened doors to self-publishing authors. So, selling eBook cover design can help you earn a decent income. You can sell both pre-made eBook covers and packages for custom eBook covers.
Ready-to-Print Party Decorations
In the time of Instagram, people spend a great deal of money on decorations for their kids’ birthday parties. You can easily sell printable party decoration files and supplement your income.
Branding Packages
Businesses employ a range of visual elements in their sales and marketing materials to establish a unique identity. Examples include logos, business cards, brochures, and packaging materials. Consequently, offering branding packages can be an excellent way for designers to generate income.
Run Workshops
Do you love sharing your knowledge? If yes, then running personal or online design workshops can be an excellent way for you to earn money. However, you have to build a strong portfolio first. Only then will it be easier for you to persuade people to join your workshops.
How to Maximize Your Graphic Design Earnings
If you’re considering starting a graphic design business or launching your career at a graphic design company, you will undoubtedly want to increase your earnings.
Here are a few ways to maximize your graphic design earnings:
- Pick a profitable niche and stick to it
- Join graphic design programs to sharpen your skills
- Build a portfolio site to showcase your work
- Make your own product (ebook, course, t-shirt design, etc.) to sell
- Create a powerful web presence
- Be active on LinkedIn to get noticed by a good-paying company
If you’re freelancing, you should never rely on one site for freelance work. Instead, you should create your profile on multiple websites to get more clients for your freelance services.
Which graphic design job pays the highest graphic designer salary?
A product design job pays the highest graphic designer salary. Indeed reports that a product designer, whose job is to create the foundation for the user experience of a product, gets a national average salary of $119,921 per year.
Which US states have the highest graphic design salaries?
Illinois has the highest graphic design salaries when you adjust the salary based on the cost of living in a state. According to the Zippia data, graphic artists receive a $60,137 adjusted average yearly salary in Illinois. But if you consider actual wages employers pay, New York tops the list where employers pay a $64,840 average yearly salary.
Final Thoughts,
Now you understand how much money you can expect to earn working as a graphic designer. As every business invests in graphic design, you will have ample opportunities to earn, provided that you keep yourself updated. You can explore these graphic design tools to maximize your success.
Image: Depositphotos
This article, “How Much Do Graphic Designers Make?” was first published on Small Business Trends
