Graphic Designers

Overview

Graphic Designers has a national median salary of $62,960 per year, with -1.7% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

Work Values

• Achievement
• Independence
• Recognition

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
• Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
• Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
• Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
• Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.

Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively
• Working with Computers
• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Detailed Work Activities

• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a master's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Master's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a bachelor's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Graphic Designers:

Video Resources