Graphic Designers build complex problem solving, coordination and judgment and decision making skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Video Game Designers (85%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Video Game Designers | 85% | $104,000Pay for the broader BLS group “Web and Digital Interface Designers” | Not compared | None |
| 2 | Film and Video Editors | 82% | $75,420 | +20% | None |
| 3 | Desktop Publishers | 78% | $55,290 | −12% | None |
| 4 | Web and Digital Interface Designers | 78% | $104,000 | +65% | None |
| 5 | Writers and Authors | 77% | $76,910 | +22% | None |
| 6 | Producers and Directors | 76% | $90,360 | +44% | None |
| 7 | Music Directors and Composers | 75% | $73,710 | +17% | None |
| 8 | Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 74% | $76,910Pay for the broader BLS group “Writers and Authors” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Editors | 72% | $77,920 | +24% | None |
| 10 | Public Relations Specialists | 68% | $74,750 | +19% | None |
Compared with Graphic Designers, median $62,960. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as graphic designers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
85% skill match · $104,000 (broader BLS group)
Programming · Technology Design · Systems Evaluation
82% skill match · $75,420 · +20% pay
Troubleshooting · Operation and Control · Equipment Selection
78% skill match · $55,290 · −12% pay
Operation and Control · Troubleshooting · Management of Personnel Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Video Game Designers (85% skill match, median $104,000), Film and Video Editors (82% skill match, median $75,420) and Desktop Publishers (78% skill match, median $55,290), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 15 pay more than graphic designers at the median. The biggest increases: Marketing Managers (+165%, $166,790), Advertising and Promotions Managers (+112%, $133,660) and Web and Digital Interface Designers (+65%, $104,000).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.