Arts, Design, Media & Sports
Graphic Designers
Also called: Artist, Brand Designer, Designer, Graphic Artist
US median pay
$62,960
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-1.7%
declining
Openings a year (US)
16,000
253,100 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Use computer software to generate new images.
- Prepare digital files for printing.
- Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
- Research the target audience of projects.
- Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
- Negotiation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Design4.7/5
- Fine Arts4.4/5
- Computers and Electronics4.4/5
- Communications and Media4.3/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Sales and Marketing3.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree65%
- High school diploma15%
- Master's degree10%
Who this job suits
Mostly Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.