Are you good at communicating ideas through visuals? If so, graphic design can be a great way to earn money. But before you jump in, wouldn’t you be interested in knowing how much graphic designers make?
Today, we’re going to explore graphic design as a way to make a living. In addition to understanding how much money graphic designers earn, you will learn about the types of graphic design career opportunities, ways to increase your income, and much more. All aspiring graphic designers will find this post useful.
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 convey information.
Here are some important qualities that can make a person an excellent graphic designer:
- Verbal communication
- Drawing and painting skills
- Research
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Analytical skills
These days, companies use different types of design software. Therefore, designers are expected to have essential software skills to get a job in a good design company.
Types of Graphic Design Jobs
There are different types of graphic design job openings. So you can choose one according to your creativity.
The following are the types of jobs that are important in the graphic design industry:
- Photo editor
- Logo designer
- Web designer
- Multimedia designer
- Advertising designer
- User interface (UI) designer.
- User experience (UX) designer.
You can see that the graphic design services are different. So, in addition to the above-mentioned designer job titles, you can also find graphic design job vacancies for product package designers, book designers, clothing graphic designers, and many more.
How Much Do Graphic Designers Make Hourly?
If you are thinking about becoming a freelance designer, you would like to know whether or not you can make a decent living. The good news is that you can. According to a report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for graphic designers is $28.06.
The average hourly wage for freelance graphic designers, according to Payscale data, is $29.92.
If you want to secure a strong position as a freelancer, you should work on many projects to build a strong professional portfolio and keep finding new projects.
How Much Do Graphic Designers Make Annually
If you want to know the average salary of a graphic designer, the answer is $58,370 (mean annual salary).
However, job seekers can see the difference in salaries of graphic designers from different sources. For example, the actual data indicates a base salary of $51,588 per year. According to Payscale data, the average basic salary for a graphic designer is $47,085/year.
Art directors, who often start their careers as designers, earn more than these listed salaries.
How to Get Started in Graphic Design
Now that you know the common questions about graphic design as a career option, such as how much graphic designers make, the types of graphic design jobs, and the skills required to become a good designer. It’s time to start.
Here are some pointers to help you:
- Get professional education (degree or design certificate)
- 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 referrals
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 different needs. Therefore, it is a good idea to ask experienced people in your chosen industry for more information that can help you get started quickly.
10 Ways to Make Money as a Graphic Designer
Working for a company is one way to earn money as a designer. Here are ten ways you can explore to monetize your creative skills:
1. Independent Customer Service
Hiring an interior designer is an expensive affair. Therefore, many businesses choose to hire freelancers to get the design work done. As a result, you can earn good money doing freelance work for clients. Upwork and Fiverr are great platforms to hunt for freelance gigs.
2. GIFs or Images
The trend of using GIFs to increase customer engagement is growing rapidly. Since there are many companies that include GIFs in their marketing materials, there are many opportunities for you to sell GIFs and earn money.
3. Sell Canva templates
Canva is used by many people as the learning curve is small. So creating and selling Canva templates can be a great way to earn money.
4. Social Media Graphics
Social media has become a necessity for businesses of all sizes. And it goes without saying that attractive visuals increase engagement on social media. Not all companies hire graphic designers, which presents tons of opportunities to sell photo packages on social media and earn money.
5. Printed Wall Art
People love to customize the walls of their homes. Posters and wall stickers are among the most popular types of wall art. You can sell ready-made printable wall art or customized packages online and make money.
6. Design Fonts
Do you like designing beautiful fonts? Why not make money from it. Platforms like Etsy, Creative Market, or Creative Fabrica can help you sell your fonts and earn money.
7. eBook Covers
Many small businesses publish eBooks to educate their audience. And Kindle Direct Publishing has opened doors for self-publishing authors. So, selling an eBook cover design can help you earn a decent amount of money. You can sell both pre-made eBook covers and custom eBook cover packages.
8. Printable Party Decorations
In the age of Instagram, people spend a lot of money decorating their children’s birthday parties. You can easily sell printable party decoration files and increase your income.
9. Marketing packages
Businesses use a variety of materials in their sales and marketing materials to create a unique identity. Logos, business cards, brochures, packaging materials, to name a few. So selling branding packages can be good for designers to earn money.
10. Run workshops
Do you like to share your knowledge? If so, running in-person or online design workshops can be a great way to make money. However, you must build a solid portfolio first. Only then, it will be easier for you to persuade people to join your workshops.
How To Increase Your Graphic Design Income
Whether you plan to start a graphic design business or start your career at a graphic design company, you definitely want to earn extra money.
Here are a few ways to increase your graphic design profits:
- Choose a profitable niche and stick to it
- Join graphic design programs to sharpen your skills
- Create a portfolio site to showcase your work
- Create your own product (ebook, course, t-shirt design, etc.) to sell
- Create a powerful web presence
- Be active on LinkedIn to get hired by a good paying company
If you are self-employed, you should never rely on one site to find 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 salary for a graphic designer?
A product design job pays the highest salary for a graphic designer. Indeed reports that a product designer, whose job it is to create a deep knowledge base for the product’s user, earns 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 according to the cost of living in the state. According to Zippia data, graphic artists earn an adjusted annual salary of $60,137 in Illinois. But when you look at the actual wages employers pay, New York tops the list with employers paying a median annual salary of $64,840.
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 more opportunities to profit as long as you keep up to date. You can check out these graphic design tools to increase your success.
Photo: Depositphotos
