Graphic designers specialize in the field of graphic communications. They transform concepts and information into magazine ads, packaging, billboards, logos and web pages that combine illustration, photography, color and typography. They might create their layouts using manual methods such as pen and ink or use computer software.
Graphics designers earned an average of $23.41 per hour or $48,690 per year in 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries could range from a low of $12.60 per hour or $26,210 annually to a high of $37.20 per hour or $77,370 per year. To receive this pay, graphic designers meet with their art directors or clients to discuss the type of graphic communication needed and the target audience. They then determine visual strategies and create designs to carry out those concepts. They pick colors, font styles, pictures and layout, and present their proofs to clients for final approval, then adjust their samples to meet client wishes.
Most graphic communication firms prefer applicants with at least a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field. Many applicants with degrees in other fields can receive graphic training in junior colleges and art schools. An important part of job hunting is the portfolio, which demonstrates the candidate’s creativity and originality by showcasing their best projects. Designers typically need from one to three years of experience before they advance to higher positions, such as chief designers or art directors.
For 2011, the biggest employers in graphic communications were specialized design services, which include graphic design firms, and publishers of newspapers, periodicals and books. The former hired 25,050 out of the 191,550 designers to pay an average of $24.59 per hour or $51,150 per year, while the latter hired 24,190 positions earning an average of $20.59 per hour or $42,820 per year. The highest paying employers were the federal government, with averages at $36.33 per hour or $75,570, and amusement parks and arcades, with average salaries of $31.72 per hour or $65,980 per year.
The state with the most jobs for graphic designers in 2011 was California, which was also the nation’s most populous. It offered 26,450 jobs with average wages of $27.47 per hour or $57,140 per year. New York, the third-most populous state, had 18,340 positions averaging $28.65 per hour or $57,140 per year. Texas, the second-most populous state, had 10,780 jobs averaging $21.43 per hour or $44.570 per year. New York City, the most populous urban area in the nation, showed the most positions of any city with 14,510 jobs at an average of $30.52 per hour or $63,480 per year. Los Angeles, the second-most populous city, showed 9,500 designers earning an average of $28.67 per hour or $59,630 per year.
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