The progression in a graphic design career can be divided into four stages: entry-level, mid-level, senior-level and specialized roles. Below is the overview of all the levels:
Entry-Level Roles
To enter, you must start with graphic design entry-level positions where foundational skills are honed. Here are three common entry-level roles:
- Junior Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Junior graphic designers work on projects under supervision, creating designs for print and digital media.
- Prerequisites: Associate degree or certificate in graphic design.
- Skills: Proficiency in design software, ability to follow creative briefs, and time management.
- Salary: The average annual salary for junior graphic designers ranges from $35,000 to $60,000.
- Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Graphic Designers are responsible for creating visual concepts that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers.
- Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field.
- Skills: Advanced design skills, creativity, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic designers ranges from $40,000 to $72,000.
- Graphic Artist
- Role Overview: Graphic artists focus on creating visual elements for various media, including illustrations and layouts.
- Prerequisites: Basic design knowledge and familiarity with production processes.
- Skills: Precision, technical proficiency, understanding of printing techniques.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic artists ranges from $34,000 to $71,000.
Mid-Level Roles
With experience, designers can move into mid-level positions that offer more responsibility and creative freedom.
- Lead Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Lead Graphic Designers are responsible for handling a team of designers, overseeing the creative process and ensuring the quality of design projects.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 3 to 5 years of experience in graphic design.
- Skills: Advanced design skills, creativity, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
- Salary: The average annual salary for lead graphic designers ranges from $40,000 to $72,000.
- Graphic Design Supervisor
- Role Overview: Graphic design supervisors manage design projects, coordinating between clients and the design team to ensure project goals are met.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 4 to 6 years of experience in graphic design.
- Skills: Communication, management, problem-solving, creativity.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic design supervisors ranges from $39,000 to $85,000.
- Graphic Design Specialist
- Role Overview: Graphic design specialists are professionals who specialize in a particular area of graphic design, such as branding, web design, or packaging.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 3 to 5 years of experience in the specific design area.
- Skills: Advanced proficiency in design software, creativity, and strategic thinking.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic design specialists ranges from $43,000 to $74,000.
Senior-Level Roles
Senior-level positions often involve leadership and strategic responsibilities, shaping the overall direction of design projects.
- Senior Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Senior graphic designers oversee complex projects and mentor junior designers, ensuring high standards of design quality.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 6 to 8 years of experience in the graphic design domain.
- Skills: Creativity, leadership, advanced design skills, and project management.
- Salary: The average annual salary for senior graphic designers ranges from $51,000 to $92,000.
- Graphic Design Manager
- Role Overview: Graphic design managers handle a team of designers, coordinating projects and ensuring they align with the company’s brand and goals.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 8 to 10 years of experience in graphic design.
- Skills: Leadership, project management, strategic thinking, communication.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic design managers ranges from $52,000 to $104,000.
- Creative Director
- Role Overview: Creative directors oversee the entire creative process, guiding the creative team and shaping the vision for design projects.
- Prerequisites: This is one of the most advanced role of graphic design career paths so you must have 10+ years of experience in various design roles.
- Skills: Visionary thinking, leadership, deep understanding of the creative process.
- Salary: The average annual salary for creative directors ranges from $69,000 to $184,000.
Specialization Areas
Beyond traditional roles, graphic designers can specialize in various areas to further their careers and expertise.
- UX/UI Designer
- Role Overview: UX/UI designers focus on user experience and interface design for websites and applications.
- Prerequisites: Strong understanding of user behavior and design principles.
- Skills: UX research, wireframing, prototyping, user testing.
- Salary: The average annual salary for UX/UI designers ranges from $39,000 to $122,000.
- Motion Graphics Designer
- Role Overview: Motion graphic designers create animated graphics for film, television, and digital platforms.
- Prerequisites: Knowledge of animation software like After Effects.
- Skills: Animation, storytelling, creativity, technical proficiency.
- Salary: The average annual salary for motion graphic designers ranges from $49,000 to $100,000.
- Freelance Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Works independently, providing design services to various clients.
- Prerequisites: Strong portfolio and self-discipline.
- Skills: Time management, client communication, business acumen, diverse design skills.
- Salary: Varies widely depending on client base and project scope, typically from $40,000 to $100,000 per year.
The progression in a graphic design career can be divided into four stages: entry-level, mid-level, senior-level and specialized roles. Below is the overview of all the levels:
Entry-Level Roles
To enter, you must start with graphic design entry-level positions where foundational skills are honed. Here are three common entry-level roles:
- Junior Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Junior graphic designers work on projects under supervision, creating designs for print and digital media.
- Prerequisites: Associate degree or certificate in graphic design.
- Skills: Proficiency in design software, ability to follow creative briefs, and time management.
- Salary: The average annual salary for junior graphic designers ranges from $35,000 to $60,000.
- Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Graphic Designers are responsible for creating visual concepts that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers.
- Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field.
- Skills: Advanced design skills, creativity, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic designers ranges from $40,000 to $72,000.
- Graphic Artist
- Role Overview: Graphic artists focus on creating visual elements for various media, including illustrations and layouts.
- Prerequisites: Basic design knowledge and familiarity with production processes.
- Skills: Precision, technical proficiency, understanding of printing techniques.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic artists ranges from $34,000 to $71,000.
Mid-Level Roles
With experience, designers can move into mid-level positions that offer more responsibility and creative freedom.
- Lead Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Lead Graphic Designers are responsible for handling a team of designers, overseeing the creative process and ensuring the quality of design projects.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 3 to 5 years of experience in graphic design.
- Skills: Advanced design skills, creativity, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
- Salary: The average annual salary for lead graphic designers ranges from $40,000 to $72,000.
- Graphic Design Supervisor
- Role Overview: Graphic design supervisors manage design projects, coordinating between clients and the design team to ensure project goals are met.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 4 to 6 years of experience in graphic design.
- Skills: Communication, management, problem-solving, creativity.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic design supervisors ranges from $39,000 to $85,000.
- Graphic Design Specialist
- Role Overview: Graphic design specialists are professionals who specialize in a particular area of graphic design, such as branding, web design, or packaging.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 3 to 5 years of experience in the specific design area.
- Skills: Advanced proficiency in design software, creativity, and strategic thinking.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic design specialists ranges from $43,000 to $74,000.
Senior-Level Roles
Senior-level positions often involve leadership and strategic responsibilities, shaping the overall direction of design projects.
- Senior Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Senior graphic designers oversee complex projects and mentor junior designers, ensuring high standards of design quality.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 6 to 8 years of experience in the graphic design domain.
- Skills: Creativity, leadership, advanced design skills, and project management.
- Salary: The average annual salary for senior graphic designers ranges from $51,000 to $92,000.
- Graphic Design Manager
- Role Overview: Graphic design managers handle a team of designers, coordinating projects and ensuring they align with the company’s brand and goals.
- Prerequisites: You must have at least 8 to 10 years of experience in graphic design.
- Skills: Leadership, project management, strategic thinking, communication.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic design managers ranges from $52,000 to $104,000.
- Creative Director
- Role Overview: Creative directors oversee the entire creative process, guiding the creative team and shaping the vision for design projects.
- Prerequisites: This is one of the most advanced role of graphic design career paths so you must have 10+ years of experience in various design roles.
- Skills: Visionary thinking, leadership, deep understanding of the creative process.
- Salary: The average annual salary for creative directors ranges from $69,000 to $184,000.
Specialization Areas
Beyond traditional roles, graphic designers can specialize in various areas to further their careers and expertise.
- UX/UI Designer
- Role Overview: UX/UI designers focus on user experience and interface design for websites and applications.
- Prerequisites: Strong understanding of user behavior and design principles.
- Skills: UX research, wireframing, prototyping, user testing.
- Salary: The average annual salary for UX/UI designers ranges from $39,000 to $122,000.
- Motion Graphics Designer
- Role Overview: Motion graphic designers create animated graphics for film, television, and digital platforms.
- Prerequisites: Knowledge of animation software like After Effects.
- Skills: Animation, storytelling, creativity, technical proficiency.
- Salary: The average annual salary for motion graphic designers ranges from $49,000 to $100,000.
- Freelance Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Works independently, providing design services to various clients.
- Prerequisites: Strong portfolio and self-discipline.
- Skills: Time management, client communication, business acumen, diverse design skills.
- Salary: Varies widely depending on client base and project scope, typically from $40,000 to $100,000 per year.
