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2009 Job Outlook for Graphic Designers
ArtBistro
According to the American Institute of Graphic Arts, median annual total cash compensation for entry-level designers was $35,000 in 2007. Staff-level graphic designers earned a median of $45,000. Senior designers, who may supervise junior staff or have some decision-making authority that reflects their knowledge of graphic design, earned a median of $62,000.
Solo designers who freelanced or worked under contract to another company reported median earnings of $60,000. Design directors, the creative heads of design firms or in-house corporate design departments, earned $98,600. Graphic designers with ownership or partnership interests in a firm or who were principals of the firm in some other capacity earned.
elmd63
26 days ago
2 comments
I have been in the business for about 24 years and also agree the business has gone down hill creatively. With the closing of newspapers, magazines, record companies, marketing departments around the country there are not a lot of sources for work. I agree with Spons that print and web should be seperate jobs. Employers are trying to find the one-stop shop. I am trained on the computer but as an artist do not want to be coding all day. No one cares what things look like anymore there used to be some amount of respect for the arts but it is the first thing to go when money gets tight as well as the people who actually create the art. Thinking of going into teaching!
mcreations01
about 1 month ago
6 comments
Ive been going to school for graphic design for about 5 years and now cant find any work/I might have to go back and just take up web design. this economy sucks
eye4nature
2 months ago
10 comments
For the many people who are looking for wages and prices in creative fields, Brenner Books offer some really good resources: http://www.brennerbooks.com/
When I retired from federal government work and started a business almost two years ago, I really wanted more information on how graphic design, photography and writing are priced to make sure I didn't have completely unrealistic expectations. Brenner Books offers a lot of information on these areas in both national and regional formats that are updated through surveys (annually in most cases, I think). I purchased some of the PDF versions of their information at what I think are fairly reasonable prices and found it interesting and valuable information.
Brenner Books also provides some really interesting free articles on trends in these professions, business tips, etc. on their site.
Spons
2 months ago
8 comments
Graphic Design has changed for the worse. When I got into the field 10 years ago It was a legitimate creative outlet to experiment and put into practice some of the concepts learned at design school to really create some great effective designs. Now that same job is so business oriented and client driven that the graphic designer has become nothing more than a button pusher. And it seems to be getting worse.
I am also still irritated that print designers and web designers jobs have be morphed together into one design job. They are similar but it should be job for two people. Just because Design is in the title doesn't mean it's the same job.
I agree with MLanda. I am taking my paint brushes and going home to do something I actually enjoy again.
MLanda
2 months ago
2 comments
After 30 years in advertising, graphic design, structural packaging design and structural pop display design I am digging back into my roots; fine arts and illustrating. Overall, real world industry compensation has been on the decline and flat for most over the past 20 or so years. I would rather just be a starving artist again, doing something I enjoy. This craft in the creative industry started leaving with "Desktop Publishing". Anyone that can draw a straight line on the computer is now a designer or creative genius. They can design brand imaging for $39.95 or less. Yikes! Yes, you can still make lots of money at it but you can make more in drugs or porn. Long live the Bauhaus. LOL!
kluidens
2 months ago
4 comments
It was certainly interesting to note that graphic design, too, is a job that could be outsourced to areas around the world where labor is cheaper. It frankly hadn't occurred to me that, as the article alluded, the marketers could function effectively so far from their own market. Having been to India, I can safely say that the marketing strategies there are blatantly different and in many cases would be dysfunctional here in the U.S. But I guess nothing about globalization should surprise me anymore.
Speaking of geography, I would have liked to see more localized statistics. My next step will be to research the salaries in the area where I work, as of course a national median isn't particularly helpful on a personal level (although nevertheless interesting to know).
jonleedesign
2 months ago
2 comments
I agree with may of you above as well. This article is incomplete, If it about the job outlook give a few location ,if it about the earning potential then focus only on that.
I am an laid-off graphic designer and web developer. Graphic designer may be require to do some coding but Graphic design is more about the print and graphic world. Web design is the math behind the graphics; It more of an applied science. I started out doing web design as a way of creating functional graphic design. While doing just graphic design I became frustrated with the printing process,and search for a more immediate means of conveying my ideas. Web design does just that. The line between the two fields is a bit blurry but there is a line.
deejson
2 months ago
2 comments
I don't believe the future is very bright for the majority of designers in America. How many years before web design ( which is driving most of the industry's growth) is a $10/hr job given that we're competing with 17 yr olds from around the world for this work? The fact is most designers never make more than 40K/yr and they'll work 60-70 hrs/wk for it ($11-13 / hr). This article doesn't mention the hours worked for these average salaries. Over the next decade, with more off-shoring, only a very handfull of elite designers will be able to command much more than $10/hr for their services. Better hope you're one of them.
CreativeCurio
2 months ago
24 comments
The article is incomplete! The very last sentence was cut short. What did "Graphic designers with ownership or partnership interests in a firm or who were principals of the firm" earn?
chindarriffic
2 months ago
12 comments
I, too was stubborn about going and getting an education to learn things I already knew how to do just to get a peice of paper to prove that I knew what I was doing.
BBDesign
3 months ago
6 comments
I'm just wondering why the article quotes salary figures that are over 3 years old. Much has changed since May of 2006.
italyshoppe
7 months ago
12 comments
Graphic design is not for snivelers. This industry has changed vastly since I started in 1985, and will remain the constant in this field. If you are not dedicated to continuous education, you will not be long in this industry. For a long time I was hardheaded about learning web design, and held steadfast until I discovered that many of my clients were moving to companies that offered traditional print AND web design services. It took me a while to develop my skills for the web, but now I really enjoy the challenges, opportunities and profit these skills bring. Design skills and talent will take you far, but constantly continuing your education is paramount to a long successful graphic design career.
valerie
8 months ago
1878 comments
This is a projected growth for graphic design in the United States
DigiPho333
8 months ago
8 comments
The article says a 10 percent growth for graphic designer, but they don't say WHERE. Many newspapers are now outsourcing graphic design jobs to India. Be aware that this seems to be a trend ... at least in the newspaper business.
GIGrafx
8 months ago
-2 comments
"Being able to fill more than one void has been an ongoing trend for years already. Take the Printing Industry, for example. When I was first operating a printing press, there was press operators, press helpers, etc. Now, a Press Operator is to assume the responsibility of all the underlying positions. Employers now have the ability to hire '1' individual to assume the positions of what used to be several jobs, as the responsibilities of that '1' individual is more immense. This is the same thing that is happening in all jobs. Fewer employed, more responsibilities per individual, and lower wages per individual. Because there are so many striving to gain employment, your placement at work is not as valuable... unless you can do more, for less. "