How Much Do Graphic Designers Make: Market Overview

How Much Do Graphic Designers Make?

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

The digital age has greatly altered the听way that we听do听business. Ecommerce and听online services are more prominent than ever, which has put certain professions in听more high demand than ever. One such profession that has experienced a听significant boom is听graphic design.

Those skilled in听various areas of听graphic design are in听high demand, which has also led to听many people considering making this their career. However, those considering making the听switch are probably also wondering how much graphic designers make. Realistically, the听answer to听this question can vary based on听several factors.

Continue reading below to听learn about the听graphic design profession and听how much graphic designers make.

How Much Do听Graphic Designers Make a听Year?

Realistically, there is听no听precise answer to听the听question, 聯How much do听graphic designers make a听year?聰 This is听primarily because a听graphic designer can fill many different sub-roles in听a听company or听freelance.

Additionally, graphic design covers various skills and听spheres, influencing the听salary. That being said, we听will break down the听potential salaries of听a听graphic designer to听provide a听general idea.

According to听the听, the听national mean annual wage of听a听graphic designer is听$64,500. However, these statistics are further broken down into industry profiles. For the听industries with the听highest level of听employment for听graphic designers, average salaries are as听follows:

Advertising, Public Relations, and听Related Services: $67,850
Specialized Design Services: $67,410
Printing and听Related Support Activities: $45,070
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and听Directory Publishers: $53,460
Management, Scientific, and听Technical Consulting Services: $71,260

Now, let鈥檚 take a听look at听the听industries with the听highest-paid graphic designers, which are:

Motion Picture and听Video Industries: $101,470
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and听Other Media Networks and听Content Providers: $97,450
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank: $96,760
Natural Gas Distribution: $94,860
Computer and听Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing: $93,760

Remember that average salaries always change, and听the听above numbers are from the听previous year. Reporting sources and听methods can also vary depending on听the听data collected. The economy and听inflation have contributed to听significant changes even since 2022. According to听the听Salary website, the听average graphic designer鈥檚 salary as听of听.

Thsource also considers the听additional skills, years of听experience, certifications, and听more within their numbers. In听their breakdown, they use a听tier list ranging from 1-5.

A听Graphic Design Specialist I听has an听average salary of听$59,297, all the听way up听to听a听Graphic Design Specialist V听with an听average salary of听$127,642. They also offer data for听a听Motion Graphic Design Specialist I听at听a听salary of听$61,993听and听a听Motion Graphic Design Specialist V,听which jumps up听to听$151,914.

As听with any听career, a听graphic designer will improve their salary as听they gain more experience, skills, certifications, and听more.

For those asking how much do听graphic designers make per month, simply divide the听numbers above by听12. This means that according to听the听2022听Bureau of听Labor Statistics, the听average monthly salary of听a听graphic designer would be听$5,375. For the听Salary statistics for听2023, the听average monthly salary would be听about $8,687.

Graphic Designer Salaries by听State

Another important factor to听note is听that the听salary of听a听graphic designer can also vary greatly on听a听state-to-state basis. Here鈥檚 a听look at听the听five states with the听highest average salaries for听graphic designers as听of听2022.

District of听Columbia: $87,980
New York: $81,370
California: $80,240
Washington: $73,130
Massachusetts: $73,060

However, it听should also be听noted that the听employment rate is听an听important factor. A听high salary isn鈥檛 worth much when it听is听hard to听find a听job in听the听first place. Fortunately, some states with the听highest salaries also have some of听the听highest employment levels.

Here are the听five states with the听highest employment levels for听graphic designers.

California: 32,720
New York: 18,590
Texas: 13,680
Florida: 13,560
Illinois: 9,980

How Much Do听Graphic Designers Make an听Hour?

Of听course, salary information is听great, but some people are probably wondering, how much do听graphic designers make an听hour? Fortunately, the听Bureau of听Labor Statistics breaks this down as听well. Here are the听hourly wages for听the听same categories mentioned above.

Industries with highest graphic designer employment

Advertising, Public Relations, and听Related Services: $32.62/hr
Specialized Design Services: $32.41/hr
Printing and听Related Support Activities: $21.67/hr
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and听Directory Publishers: $25.70/hr
Management, Scientific, and听Technical Consulting Services: $34.26/hr

Industries with highest paid graphic designers

Motion Picture and听Video Industries: $48.79/hr
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and听Other Media Networks and听Content Providers: $46.85/hr
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank: $46.52/hr
Natural Gas Distribution: $45.60/hr
Computer and听Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing: $45.08/hr

How Much Do听Freelance Graphic Designers Make?

The above salaries are typically related to听graphic designers with permanent placements within companies. However, many graphic designers also go听the听freelance route, which means that they work on听a听project or听contract basis.

, freelance graphic designers may see wages as听high as听$47.60听and听as听low as听$10.10. This makes the听national average for听graphic designers in听2023听$31.77听per hour.

This great variation in听rates can likely be听attributed to听the听nature of听freelance work. Some freelancers may not take on听as听much work as听others, or听they may work on听smaller projects. Graphic design encompasses a听wide array of听skills and听

How Much Do听Beginner Graphic Designers Make?

Some may be听wondering: how much do听beginner graphic designers make? Realistically, the听average salaries for听beginners will likely be听on听the听low end of听the听above-mentioned numbers.

That being said, as听they improve their skills and听experience, they should be听able to听improve their salary quickly. Additionally, if听they want to听begin at听the听highest rate, it听may be听worth pursuing a听career in听one of听the听higher-paying states.

There are several educational platforms that beginners can use to听educate themselves on听graphic design in听general, as听well as听various specialties. These include:

YouTube
LinkedIn Learning
Udemy
Coursera
Skillshare

Several of听the听above will have associated costs for听courses or听a听subscription. However, for听those looking to听pursue a听career in听graphic design, this may be听an听investment that is听well worth it.

Be听sure to听review each platform and听its offerings for听graphic design courses to听be听sure it听is听the听right fit before purchasing.

Looking to听Begin Your Graphic Design Journey in听Ecommerce?

Using graphic design skills to听create an听ecommerce store can be听an听excellent way to听make a听living or听extra income on听the听side. Graphic designers can sell templates, designs, artwork, stickers, and听more within an听ecommerce platform.

If听you are ready to听start your ecommerce journey, 51视频 can help. Our platform makes it听easy to听start your own ecommerce store, so听head over to听our site to听get started today!

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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