Graphic Designers
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.
Also called: Ad Designer (Advertising Designer), Ad Layout Worker (Advertising Layout Worker), Apparel Graphic Designer, Artist, Brand Designer, Catalogue Illustrator
Median pay
$62,960
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$39,520 – $104,910
People employed
197,830
Holland code
ACE
Artistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 2.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 3.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Graphic Designers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What graphic designers do
- 01Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
- 02Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
- 03Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
- 04Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
- 05Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
- 06Use computer software to generate new images.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Fine Arts
- Communications and Media
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from graphic designers
- Video Game Designers85% · group pay
- Film and Video Editors82% · +20%
- Desktop Publishers78% · −12%
- Web and Digital Interface Designers78% · +65%
- Writers and Authors77% · +22%
Change into graphic designers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Video Game Designers88% · $104,000
- Film and Video Editors81% · $75,420
- Desktop Publishers78% · $55,290
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers78% · $76,910
- Photographers73% · $44,660
Majors that lead here
- Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
- Computer Graphics
- Digital Arts
- Design and Visual Communications, General
- Commercial and Advertising Art
- Industrial and Product Design
- Graphic Design
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.