Jobs Similar to Graphic Designers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to graphic designers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Art Directors, Special Effects Artists and Animators and Fashion Designers.
Graphic Designers: $62,960 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Graphic Designers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art DirectorsSame group | 84% | $114,850+82% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsSame group | 81% | $102,030+62% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Fashion DesignersSame group | 80% | $80,960+29% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Video Game Designers | 78% | $104,000Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Interior DesignersSame group | 78% | $67,190+7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Film and Video Editors | 78% | $75,420+20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Set and Exhibit DesignersSame group | 77% | $75,240+20% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Music Directors and Composers | 75% | $73,710+17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 74% | $76,910Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Desktop Publishers | 73% | $55,290−12% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Writers and Authors | 73% | $76,910+22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Editors | 72% | $77,920+24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Producers and Directors | 72% | $90,360+44% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Choreographers | 71% | $55,310−12% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 70% | $97,150+54% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorsSame group | 69% | $55,490−12% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersSame group | 69% | $39,390−37% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Public Relations Specialists | 68% | $74,750+19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Commercial and Industrial DesignersSame group | 68% | $83,910+33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Photographers | 68% | $44,660−29% | Training or associate |
- 1Art Directors
84% similar · $114,850 (+82%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Special Effects Artists and Animators
81% similar · $102,030 (+62%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Fashion Designers
80% similar · $80,960 (+29%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Video Game Designers
78% similar · $104,000 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Interior Designers
78% similar · $67,190 (+7%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Film and Video Editors
78% similar · $75,420 (+20%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Set and Exhibit Designers
77% similar · $75,240 (+20%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Music Directors and Composers
75% similar · $73,710 (+17%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
74% similar · $76,910 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Desktop Publishers
73% similar · $55,290 (−12%) · Training or associate
- 11Writers and Authors
73% similar · $76,910 (+22%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Editors
72% similar · $77,920 (+24%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Producers and Directors
72% similar · $90,360 (+44%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Choreographers
71% similar · $55,310 (−12%) · Training or associate
- 15Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
70% similar · $97,150 (+54%) · Training or associate
- 16Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
69% similar · $55,490 (−12%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
69% similar · $39,390 (−37%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 18Public Relations Specialists
68% similar · $74,750 (+19%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Commercial and Industrial Designers
68% similar · $83,910 (+33%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Photographers
68% similar · $44,660 (−29%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than graphic designers.
- Art Directors84% similar · $114,850 (+82%)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators81% similar · $102,030 (+62%)
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance70% similar · $97,150 (+54%)
- Producers and Directors72% similar · $90,360 (+44%)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers68% similar · $83,910 (+33%)
- Fashion Designers80% similar · $80,960 (+29%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Fashion Designers80% similar · Training or associate
- Desktop Publishers73% similar · Training or associate
- Choreographers71% similar · Training or associate
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance70% similar · Training or associate
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators69% similar · Training or associate
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers69% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for graphic designers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where graphic designers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like graphic designers
What jobs are most similar to graphic designers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Art Directors (84% similar), Special Effects Artists and Animators (81% similar), Fashion Designers (80% similar), Video Game Designers (78% similar) and Interior Designers (78% similar).
Which jobs like graphic designers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Art Directors ($114,850, +82%; usually a bachelor's degree), Special Effects Artists and Animators ($102,030, +62%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Makeup Artists ($97,150, +54%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with graphic designers ($62,960). Without more preparation than graphic designers usually need: Art Directors, Special Effects Artists and Animators and Makeup Artists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.