Here are the entry-level career options in graphic design that you must consider:
Junior Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Junior graphic designers assist senior designers in creating visual content for various mediums, including websites, social media, and print materials.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills.
- Prerequisites: A portfolio showcasing design projects, a degree in graphic design, or a related field.
- Salary: The average annual salary for junior graphic designer jobs is $39,000, ranging from $35,000 to $60,000.
Production Artist
- Role Overview: Production artists are responsible for the technical aspects of design, ensuring that files are correctly formatted and ready for production.
- Skills Required: Knowledge of print production processes, attention to detail, and proficiency in design software.
- Prerequisites: Experience with prepress and print production, a degree in graphic design, or a related field.
- Salary: The average annual salary for production artists is $53,000, ranging from $37,000 to $78,000.
Graphic Design Supervisor
- Role Overview: Graphic design supervisors support the design team with various tasks, including research, file organization, and basic design work.
- Skills Required: Strong organizational skills, proficiency in design software, and the ability to work collaboratively.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design or a related field, and a strong portfolio.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic design supervisors is $42,000, ranging from $32,000 to $51,000.
Marketing Coordinator
- Role Overview: Marketing coordinators create visual content for marketing campaigns, including social media graphics, email templates, and advertisements.
- Skills Required: Understanding of marketing principles, proficiency in design software, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A degree in marketing, graphic design, or a related field, experience with marketing tools.
- Salary: The average annual salary for marketing coordinators is $42,000, ranging from $38,000 to $62,000.
Social Media Designer
- Role Overview: Social media designers/associates create visual content specifically for social media platforms, aligning with brand aesthetics and trends.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, understanding of social media trends, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A portfolio showcasing social media graphics, a degree in graphic design or a related field.
- Salary: The average annual salary for social media associates is $42,000, ranging from $37,000 to $63,000.
Visual Designer
- Role Overview: Visual designers focus on the overall look and feel of a project, ensuring visual consistency across all platforms.
- Skills Required: Strong visual design skills, proficiency in design software, and an eye for detail.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design or a related field and a robust portfolio is required for such beginner graphic design jobs.
- Salary: The average annual salary for visual designers is $57,000, ranging from $47,000 to $88,000.
Web Designer
- Role Overview: Web designers create and maintain the visual aspects of websites, ensuring a user-friendly and visually appealing experience.
- Skills Required: Knowledge of web design principles, proficiency in HTML/CSS, and design software.
- Prerequisites: A degree in web design, graphic design, or a related field and a portfolio of web design projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for web designers is $46,000, ranging from $39,000 to $71,000.
Layout Artist
- Role Overview: Layout artists design the layout and format of various print and digital materials, ensuring visual coherence and readability.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, attention to detail, and strong layout skills.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design or a related field, experience with print and digital layout.
- Salary: The average annual salary for layout artists is $41,000.
Brand Analyst
- Role Overview: Brand analysts support branding efforts by creating visual content that aligns with the brand’s identity and messaging.
- Skills Required: Understanding of branding principles, proficiency in design software, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design, marketing, or a related field a portfolio showcasing branding projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for brand analysts is $60,000, ranging from $59,000 to $92,000.
Illustrator
- Role Overview: Illustrators create custom illustrations for various projects, including books, advertisements, and digital media.
- Skills Required: Strong drawing skills, proficiency in illustration software, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A degree in illustration, graphic design, or a related field and a portfolio of illustration work.
- Salary: The average annual salary for illustrators is $85,000, ranging from $21,000 to $169,000.
Motion Graphics Designer
- Role Overview: Motion graphics designers create animated visual content for videos, advertisements, and digital platforms.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in After Effects, animation skills, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design, animation, or a related field and a portfolio of motion graphics work.
- Salary: The average annual salary for motion graphic designers is $51,000, ranging from $42,000 to $83,000.
UX/UI Designer
- Role Overview: UX/UI designers focus on the user experience and interface design of websites and applications, ensuring usability and visual appeal.
- Skills Required: Knowledge of UX/UI principles, proficiency in design software, and problem-solving skills.
- Prerequisites: A degree in UX/UI design, graphic design, or a related field, a portfolio of UX/UI projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for UX/UI designers is $54,000, ranging from $52,000 to $115,000.
Creative Services Supervisor
- Role Overview: Creative services supervisors manage the workflow of creative projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality.
- Skills Required: Strong organizational skills, proficiency in design software, and project management skills.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design, marketing, or a related field experience with project management tools.
- Salary: The average annual salary for creative service supervisors is $39,000, ranging from $35,000 to $86,000.
Interactive Designer
- Role Overview: Interactive designers create engaging, interactive content for websites, apps, and digital media.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, knowledge of HTML/CSS, and interactive design principles.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design, web design, or a related field, and a portfolio of interactive design projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for interactive designers is $60,000, ranging from $46,000 to $90,000.
Commercial Designer
- Role Overview: Commercial designers create visual content for commercial use, including advertisements, product packaging, and promotional materials.
- Skills Required: Creativity, proficiency in design software, and an understanding of commercial design principles.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design or a related field, a portfolio showcasing commercial design projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for commercial designers is $51,000, ranging from $52,000 to $73,000.
Here are the entry-level career options in graphic design that you must consider:
Junior Graphic Designer
- Role Overview: Junior graphic designers assist senior designers in creating visual content for various mediums, including websites, social media, and print materials.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills.
- Prerequisites: A portfolio showcasing design projects, a degree in graphic design, or a related field.
- Salary: The average annual salary for junior graphic designer jobs is $39,000, ranging from $35,000 to $60,000.
Production Artist
- Role Overview: Production artists are responsible for the technical aspects of design, ensuring that files are correctly formatted and ready for production.
- Skills Required: Knowledge of print production processes, attention to detail, and proficiency in design software.
- Prerequisites: Experience with prepress and print production, a degree in graphic design, or a related field.
- Salary: The average annual salary for production artists is $53,000, ranging from $37,000 to $78,000.
Graphic Design Supervisor
- Role Overview: Graphic design supervisors support the design team with various tasks, including research, file organization, and basic design work.
- Skills Required: Strong organizational skills, proficiency in design software, and the ability to work collaboratively.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design or a related field, and a strong portfolio.
- Salary: The average annual salary for graphic design supervisors is $42,000, ranging from $32,000 to $51,000.
Marketing Coordinator
- Role Overview: Marketing coordinators create visual content for marketing campaigns, including social media graphics, email templates, and advertisements.
- Skills Required: Understanding of marketing principles, proficiency in design software, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A degree in marketing, graphic design, or a related field, experience with marketing tools.
- Salary: The average annual salary for marketing coordinators is $42,000, ranging from $38,000 to $62,000.
Social Media Designer
- Role Overview: Social media designers/associates create visual content specifically for social media platforms, aligning with brand aesthetics and trends.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, understanding of social media trends, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A portfolio showcasing social media graphics, a degree in graphic design or a related field.
- Salary: The average annual salary for social media associates is $42,000, ranging from $37,000 to $63,000.
Visual Designer
- Role Overview: Visual designers focus on the overall look and feel of a project, ensuring visual consistency across all platforms.
- Skills Required: Strong visual design skills, proficiency in design software, and an eye for detail.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design or a related field and a robust portfolio is required for such beginner graphic design jobs.
- Salary: The average annual salary for visual designers is $57,000, ranging from $47,000 to $88,000.
Web Designer
- Role Overview: Web designers create and maintain the visual aspects of websites, ensuring a user-friendly and visually appealing experience.
- Skills Required: Knowledge of web design principles, proficiency in HTML/CSS, and design software.
- Prerequisites: A degree in web design, graphic design, or a related field and a portfolio of web design projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for web designers is $46,000, ranging from $39,000 to $71,000.
Layout Artist
- Role Overview: Layout artists design the layout and format of various print and digital materials, ensuring visual coherence and readability.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, attention to detail, and strong layout skills.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design or a related field, experience with print and digital layout.
- Salary: The average annual salary for layout artists is $41,000.
Brand Analyst
- Role Overview: Brand analysts support branding efforts by creating visual content that aligns with the brand’s identity and messaging.
- Skills Required: Understanding of branding principles, proficiency in design software, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design, marketing, or a related field a portfolio showcasing branding projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for brand analysts is $60,000, ranging from $59,000 to $92,000.
Illustrator
- Role Overview: Illustrators create custom illustrations for various projects, including books, advertisements, and digital media.
- Skills Required: Strong drawing skills, proficiency in illustration software, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A degree in illustration, graphic design, or a related field and a portfolio of illustration work.
- Salary: The average annual salary for illustrators is $85,000, ranging from $21,000 to $169,000.
Motion Graphics Designer
- Role Overview: Motion graphics designers create animated visual content for videos, advertisements, and digital platforms.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in After Effects, animation skills, and creativity.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design, animation, or a related field and a portfolio of motion graphics work.
- Salary: The average annual salary for motion graphic designers is $51,000, ranging from $42,000 to $83,000.
UX/UI Designer
- Role Overview: UX/UI designers focus on the user experience and interface design of websites and applications, ensuring usability and visual appeal.
- Skills Required: Knowledge of UX/UI principles, proficiency in design software, and problem-solving skills.
- Prerequisites: A degree in UX/UI design, graphic design, or a related field, a portfolio of UX/UI projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for UX/UI designers is $54,000, ranging from $52,000 to $115,000.
Creative Services Supervisor
- Role Overview: Creative services supervisors manage the workflow of creative projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality.
- Skills Required: Strong organizational skills, proficiency in design software, and project management skills.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design, marketing, or a related field experience with project management tools.
- Salary: The average annual salary for creative service supervisors is $39,000, ranging from $35,000 to $86,000.
Interactive Designer
- Role Overview: Interactive designers create engaging, interactive content for websites, apps, and digital media.
- Skills Required: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, knowledge of HTML/CSS, and interactive design principles.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design, web design, or a related field, and a portfolio of interactive design projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for interactive designers is $60,000, ranging from $46,000 to $90,000.
Commercial Designer
- Role Overview: Commercial designers create visual content for commercial use, including advertisements, product packaging, and promotional materials.
- Skills Required: Creativity, proficiency in design software, and an understanding of commercial design principles.
- Prerequisites: A degree in graphic design or a related field, a portfolio showcasing commercial design projects.
- Salary: The average annual salary for commercial designers is $51,000, ranging from $52,000 to $73,000.
