Graphic Designer Salaries

The average salary for a Graphic Designer is US$59,475 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 51798 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Graphic Designer employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Graphic Designer in United States is US$72,985 per year.

The lowest salary for a Graphic Designer in United States is US$48,632 per year.

Graphic designers earn similar compensation to special effects artists and animators. Some graphic designers are self-employed freelancers while others work as salaried employees across all industries. Graphic designers who work for specialized design services firms, public relations firms, or advertising firms generally have higher salaries than those who work for newspapers, printing firms or publishers. Freelancers' pay varies by the number of contracts they secure and the rates they charge.

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Thanks to anonymous ratings shared on Glassdoor, we know that about 75% of graphic designers are satisfied with their salaries. Having five or more years of experience in the field can help lead to a good salary for graphic designers.

Total pay for graphic designers falls within a fairly wide range from $40,598.18 to $87,610.69. If you stick to the typical graphic designer career path, after years in the field, you may see an estimated average total pay of $59,474.57, which may include benefits such as bonuses or stock options. From that point on, it's common to move up to more senior positions, like art director.

Want to boost your earnings throughout your graphic design career? Make sure your skill set is up to par. Most graphic designers don't need to continue their formal education beyond a bachelor's degree, but it is crucial that you're knowledgeable about design-related software and programs such as HTML, CSS, Adobe PhotoShop, Illustrator, Sketch, and InDesign. It's important to remember that graphic design is a highly creative field. Having a deep understanding of how to adjust your aesthetic to meet different brands' needs will help you move forward and earn more.

Before heading into any salary negotiations, it can be useful to take a look at how much other graphic designers make in your area, as well as what they earn by level of seniority. Having that baseline knowledge will help you assess where you fall and the kind of salary you should seek from employers. Next, package your work into an easy-to-navigate online portfolio that speaks to your design sensibility and ability to deliver for clients. Be prepared to talk through your experience in graphic designer roles, lessons you've learned, and skills you have that make you invaluable to clients.

About 74.55% of Graphic Designer professionals feel satisfied with their salary, according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. An additional $3,292 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of a Graphic Designer in United States as a good salary.

Graphic Designer professionals in United States have a wide total pay range, between $40,598 and $87,611 depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of $59,475 following the average career path of a Graphic Designer.