Graphic Designer Salary in the US

What Do Graphic Designers Do?

Graphic designers define the entire process of graphic designing and its requirements and visualize and create graphics that include logos, illustrations, photos, and layouts. They are the ones who decide what the visualization should look like. For example, graphic designers shape the visual aspects of products, packages, books, websites, exhibitions, etc.

The main objective of graphic design is to attract and inspire the target audience. These are the basic roles and responsibilities of a basic graphic designer.

• Conceptualize visuals according to the requirements
• Determine the requirements of the projects by studying the design briefs
• Define budget constraints by scheduling the provided projects
• Present ideas using sample or rough drafts
• Utilize the color combinations correctly and make layouts for each graphical idea
• Use specific software, develop logos, illustrations, and other designs, and use hands for appropriate ones
• Always test the created graphics with the help of different media
• Produce the final designs with the assistance or advice of creative directors and copywriters
• Make minor changes in the design after obtaining feedback from the users
• Ensure that the layouts and final graphics are visually appealing to attract customers. 

Different Graphic Designer Job Profiles

1. Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are individuals who perform artwork and design works to illuminate the company's logos, product or service illustrations, and websites. A graphic designer should be a creative-minded person who has the necessary skills in arts and drawings.

2. UX Designer

The main job of UX designers is to make the services and products offered by the company seamless and easily understandable. In general, they run tests to fix bugs and other problems caused while using the platform. 

3. Product Developer

Product developers play a leading role in creating and developing essential products for consumers. Their primary role is to perform industry research and craft product illustrations. They also present the product to the customers or stakeholders, depending on its needs.

4. Creative Director

They perform creativity and act as the visionary for the projects. One part of the job is ensuring the products' design and other aesthetic aspects stay on track. Creative directors and their teams are provided with regular projects in various sectors, namely films, ad commercials, video games, magazines, etc. The professionals who possess excellent leadership and management skills opt for this role.

5. UI Designer

These are professionals similar to UX designers. It is an incredible career option for tech-savvy individuals who possess excellent web designing skills. These professionals make the interface user-friendly to attract more customers.

6. Animator

Animators are responsible for creating complex graphics. It is a difficult job compared to other web designing works, as it involves creating animations to correlate with the graphics. Animators are also called multimedia artists as they possess the utmost creativity. They develop the story and visual components in their design work.

The below-mentioned table provides information regarding graphic designer salaries in US for different fields:

Source

Graphic Designer Salary Guide - 10 Year Plan

In any job, experience level matters the most. It goes the same for the graphic design career. Individuals with more experience earn more.

Enrolling in a UX design bootcamp in the USA can fast-track your experience by providing hands-on training and real-world projects. UX bootcamps equip you with the practical skills needed to quickly advance in the competitive design industry and boost your earning skills.

Here are the expected salaries for graphic design from 1 to 10 years of experience as per Salary Explorer-

• A beginner-level graphic designer with 0-2 years of experience earns somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 USD per month in the US.
• Moreover, professionals with an experience level of 2-5 years will earn between 3,500 and 3,750 USD every month. This pay range is 34 % more than the 0-2 year experience level.
• Furthermore, individuals with an experience level of 5-10 years earn around 5,300 USD per month. It is almost 50 % more than the entry-level earners.

The following is the graphic representation of the same:

The following is the salary range based on education level:

After gathering information from all the reliable sources, graphic designers' salaries in the United States increased 10 % every 16 months.

Below provided is the calculation of salary increment in percentage:

Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate×12÷Increase Frequency

Therefore, the average salary increase per year in the US is 6 %.

Graphic Designer Salary in US by Location

The salary information based on top US cities:

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FAQs

1. How do I know if I am being paid fairly as a graphic designer? 

You have to compare your salary with the salary mentioned above for the particular city. For example, if your salary is 4,000 USD in Hawaii, that means your salary is less than the average salary of what people are getting in Hawaii. 

2. Which graphic designing job profiles get similar salaries? 

According to Indeed, professionals in the post of a Web Designer and the User Experience Designer get about similar salaries in the graphic designing industry. 

3. Is graphic design a good career in the US?

Graphic design is growing tremendously in the US. People are becoming more creative and enjoying art, communication, and technology. Due to this, they have started choosing this line as their profession. In the US, graphic designers are needed across all industries, giving them more opportunities to start their careers.