help with your job search

...the Web's Best Employment Resources

Job Search Resources Center
Getting Started
Job Search Advice & Tips
Protecting Your Privacy
Starting Your Online Job Search
Finding Jobs Online
Choosing a Job Site
Using Web Job Sites
Creating an Internet Resume
The Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes
Layoffs - before & after
The Online Job Search Guide - more articles
Pick Your Employer
Recommended Reading - books and news
Networking Resources
Networking & Job Search Support Groups
Company Alumni Groups
Associations & Societies

Job Sites & Career Resources
Job Resources by Location
Jobs by State ( U.S.A.)
State Employment Offices
International Jobs
Specialized Job Sites
Academia and Education
Computers & Technology
Engineering Jobs
Entry Level, Internships, and Seasonal Jobs
Finance, Accounting, and Banking
Government Jobs
Law and Law Enforcement
Marketing and Sales
Medicine, Biotech, and Pharmaceutical
Science

Other Job Sites & Career Resources
Employment Super Sites
General
Classified Ads
Resumes
Newsgroup Searches
Recruiting Agencies
Job Fairs
Other Link Lists
Reference Material

For Employers
Human Resources
Recruiting Resources

Back to « Careers Home «

Professional Graphic Designer Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

Graphic designers are professionals in the graphic design and graphic arts industry. They create graphic designs for printed, published or electronic media by assembling images, motion graphics or typography.

To work professionally as a graphic designer, one needs a degree in graphic design. Colleges, universities and private design institutes offer associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as certificates and diploma programs. The curriculum comprises of the principles of design, studio art, printing techniques, computerized design, commercial graphics production and website design. To enhance the technical knowledge, a liberal arts education can be of tremendous help.

For one wishing to be a graphic designer, various kinds of 2 or 3-year degrees are offered by many institutes. Among the well known schools in the US are:

  • American InterContinental University
  • Briarcliffe College
  • Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University
  • Coleman College
  • Digital Media Arts College
  • Florida Career College

Graphic designers generally require 1 to 3 years of training before being able to achieve higher positions. Experienced graphic designers may be employed by large firms in the positions of art director, chief designer or other such supervisory posts.

In addition to the technical qualifications, a graphic designer needs to be creative. The capability to communicate and translate ideas into visual and verbal presentations is extremely necessary. Designers must also be open to new ideas, have an eye for detail and be aware of the latest trends. The ability to work independently and manage time are also valuable. For those wishing to freelance, a good business sense is important.

Graphic designers are generally involved with conveying messages in the electronic, print and film media through the use of various print and layout techniques, color, illustration, animation and photography. They are required to create new designs keeping the requirements of the client in mind. Specialized computer software packages are now available that help designers create layouts, design elements and program animated graphics.

Work hours for graphic designers employed by large firms are standard. However, there might occasionally be pressure to meet deadlines, under which circumstance the designer will have to work for longer periods of time.

In 2006, graphic designers held about 261,000 jobs in the U.S. The industries offering the highest levels of employment are:

  • Advertising and Related Services
  • Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
  • Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
  • Printing and Related Support Activities
  • Specialized Design Services

The mean hourly wages for graphic designers hovers around $21.80, while the mean annual wages are around $45,340.

Apart from those holding steady jobs, there are also a large number of graphic designers who work as freelancers or are self-employed. In the next 10 years, employment figures are expected to increase by 10%, as demand from publishers, advertisers and computer design firms increases.

Job Numbers and Growth

The official count of professional graphic designers in 2006 was 261,000. Workers have recently faced a low level of unemployment. The unemployment rate for employees? About 4% recently.

Area Job Conditions

You'll see a lot of professional graphic designers in Provo (Utah), Bismarck (North Dakota), and Cedar Rapids (Iowa), and comparatively fewer in McAllen (Texas), Visalia (California), and Corpus Christi (Texas).

Wages for Workers are highest in San Jose (California), San Francisco (California), and Vallejo (California), and lowest in Pocatello (Idaho), Fort Smith (Arkansas), and Lake Charles (Louisiana).

Training and Education

Employees normally have a bachelor's degree before landing a job. Degrees are held by 55% of current professional graphic designers. Post-secondary schooling was enough for 31% of workers. Education topped out at high school for 14% of employees. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Part-time work suffices for 17% of professional graphic designers. Workers working on their own make up 25% of the total.

Professional Graphic Designers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anniston$42,00050-27%
Auburn$37,00040-38%
Birmingham$47,000650-25%
Decatur$33,00040-49%
Dothan$27,00070-21%
Florence$25,00050-32%
Huntsville$46,000280-16%
Mobile$42,000100-66%
Montgomery$44,000220-19%
Tuscaloosa$33,00080-42%

Alaska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anchorage$42,000160-38%
Fairbanks$35,00030-34%

Arizona

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Flagstaff$41,00090+12%
Kingman$33,00040-46%
Phoenix$45,0002,880-7%
Prescott$37,00050-46%
Tucson$43,000500-17%
Yuma$35,00030-66%

Arkansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fayetteville$35,000370+17%
Fort Smith$31,00090-51%
Little Rock$41,000370-33%

California

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bakersfield$44,000150-65%
Chico$35,00060-42%
Fresno$47,000330-39%
Merced$41,00060-29%
Modesto$42,000140-46%
Napa$46,00070-26%
Oakland$57,0002,220+29%
Oxnard$49,000350-28%
Redding$47,00080-19%
Riverside$44,0001,180-45%
Sacramento$47,0001,250-15%
Salinas$47,000260+6%
San Diego$50,0002,650+19%
San Francisco$73,0003,590+115%
San Jose$61,0001,410-8%
San Luis Obispo$41,000130-15%
Santa Ana$53,0004,280+68%
Santa Barbara$48,000290+8%
Santa Cruz$50,000150+12%
Santa Rosa$42,000220-25%
Stockton$36,000170-51%
Vallejo$59,000130-32%
Visalia$45,00080-62%

Colorado

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boulder$50,000390+53%
Colorado Springs$42,000360-12%
Denver$46,0001,890-10%
Fort Collins$39,000200+6%
Grand Junction$41,00040-52%
Pueblo$35,00050-36%

Connecticut

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bridgeport$63,0001,160+61%
Danbury$51,000120+13%
Hartford$46,000770-20%
New Haven$50,000540+19%
Norwich$46,000140-28%
Waterbury$43,00070-31%

Delaware

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Dover$36,00050-37%
Wilmington$45,000340-37%

District of Columbia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Washington$57,0005,190+34%

Florida

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cape Coral$42,000290-14%
Deltona$35,000300+22%
Fort Lauderdale$44,0001,560+28%
Fort Walton Beach$35,000110-3%
Gainesville$41,000180+1%
Jacksonville$39,000880-12%
Lakeland$37,000240-23%
Miami$40,0002,320+40%
Naples$40,000160-15%
Ocala$34,00080-45%
Orlando$40,0002,100+20%
Palm Bay$40,000410+30%
Panama City$35,00090-12%
Pensacola$38,000250+6%
Port St Lucie$38,000180-9%
Punta Gorda$37,00050-10%
Sarasota$42,000460+8%
Sebastian$35,00060-14%
Tallahassee$41,000250-3%
Tampa$38,0002,070+2%
West Palm Beach$51,000800-10%

Georgia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$33,00040-55%
Athens$42,000170+51%
Atlanta$51,0003,560-10%
Augusta$40,000200-39%
Brunswick$48,00050-17%
Columbus$41,000130-23%
Dalton$60,000160+38%
Gainesville$44,00060-43%
Macon$35,00050-67%
Savannah$37,000170-28%
Valdosta$32,00040-51%

Hawaii

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Honolulu$48,000460-36%

Idaho

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boise$44,000430-2%
Coeur Dalene$37,000110+37%
Idaho Falls$30,00090+32%
Pocatello$29,00050+21%

Illinois

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bloomington$37,000100-5%
Champaign$34,000290+102%
Chicago$50,0007,500+17%
Decatur$26,00060-11%
Kankakee$41,00040-24%
Peoria$45,000230-15%
Rockford$41,000180-25%
Springfield$38,000100-37%

Indiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bloomington$35,000200+95%
Elkhart$38,000140-31%
Evansville$33,000200-28%
Fort Wayne$39,000280-18%
Gary$37,000290-36%
Indianapolis$43,0001,440-3%
Lafayette$43,000140+23%
Michigan City$34,00050-18%
South Bend$38,000200-6%
Terre Haute$34,00050-52%

Iowa

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ames$41,00070+31%
Cedar Rapids$41,000330+56%
Davenport$38,000270-8%
Des Moines$43,000550+3%
Dubuque$37,000120+61%
Iowa City$43,000160+49%
Sioux City$32,00050-53%
Waterloo$37,000120-8%

Kansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawrence$33,000120+85%
Topeka$36,000210+23%
Wichita$40,000500+0%

Kentucky

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bowling Green$37,00050-41%
Lexington$39,000310-21%
Louisville$37,0001,090+7%
Owensboro$29,00040-42%

Louisiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Alexandria$33,00030-66%
Baton Rouge$34,000450-26%
Houma$33,00030-79%
Lafayette$36,000160-30%
Lake Charles$28,00060-55%
Monroe$40,00040-66%
New Orleans$41,000690-18%
Shreveport$32,000120-57%

Maine

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bangor$35,00050-47%
Lewiston$32,00050-30%
Portland$41,000350+8%

Maryland

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Baltimore$50,0002,370+9%
Bethesda$58,0001,150+21%
Cumberland$35,00040-19%
Hagerstown$39,000120-21%
Salisbury$34,00040-48%

Massachusetts

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Barnstable Town$38,000140-9%
Boston$49,0003,660+27%
Brockton$46,000100-26%
Framingham$58,000380+47%
Haverhill$42,00090-23%
Lawrence$51,00090+7%
Leominster$34,00030-58%
Lowell$51,000120-37%
New Bedford$41,00050-48%
Pittsfield$38,00050+9%
Springfield$51,000400-18%
Taunton$47,00040-40%
Worcester$47,000240-40%

Michigan

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ann Arbor$47,000390+48%
Battle Creek$35,00040-43%
Detroit$45,000710-40%
Flint$41,000130-40%
Grand Rapids$38,000650+4%
Holland$39,000160+2%
Kalamazoo$42,000110-49%
Lansing$44,000170-45%
Muskegon$34,00070-21%
Niles$34,00070-24%
Saginaw$32,00040-65%
Warren$48,0001,800-7%

Minnesota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Duluth$38,000160-20%
Minneapolis$48,0004,160+39%
Rochester$57,000130-8%
St Cloud$42,000140-11%

Mississippi

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Gulfport$40,00090-47%
Hattiesburg$32,00040-52%
Jackson$42,000210-49%
Pascagoula$34,00030-56%

Missouri

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Columbia$35,000160+29%
Jefferson City$30,00060-41%
Joplin$29,00050-59%
Kansas City$46,0002,000+16%
Springfield$42,000280-11%
St Joseph$30,00040-45%
St Louis$45,0001,900-16%

Montana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Billings$35,00080-35%
Great Falls$32,00030-37%
Missoula$36,00090+20%

Nebraska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lincoln$40,000350+35%
Omaha$39,000910+19%

Nevada

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Las Vegas$48,0001,250-19%
Reno$46,000340+2%

New Hampshire

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Manchester$40,000110-32%
Nashua$43,000210-4%
Portsmouth$47,000200+142%
Rochester$39,00060-28%

New Jersey

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Atlantic City$47,000150-36%
Camden$44,000810-8%
Edison$46,0001,400-19%
Newark$56,0001,540-8%
Trenton$53,000460+33%
Vineland$34,00050-40%

New Mexico

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albuquerque$47,000420-35%
Las Cruces$28,00070-23%
Santa Fe$46,000100+7%

New York

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$50,000530-27%
Binghamton$35,000110-33%
Buffalo$41,000710-20%
Glens Falls$45,00040-48%
Ithaca$38,00040-34%
Kingston$33,00080-8%
Nassau$53,0001,880-10%
New York$57,00017,050+99%
Poughkeepsie$46,000250-35%
Rochester$45,000820-1%
Syracuse$45,000420-17%
Utica$40,00080-60%

North Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Asheville$36,000230-19%
Burlington$38,00070-19%
Charlotte$45,0001,070-28%
Durham$42,000420-5%
Fayetteville$42,000130-32%
Greensboro$43,000550-10%
Greenville$40,00080-25%
Hickory$39,000200-23%
Jacksonville$39,00040-30%
Raleigh$42,000820-3%
Wilmington$37,000220-4%
Winston Salem$45,000310-11%

North Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bismarck$34,000170+106%
Fargo$33,000270+50%
Grand Forks$33,00070+1%

Ohio

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Akron$38,000650+18%
Canton$38,000220-21%
Cincinnati$49,0002,130+23%
Cleveland$40,0001,610-9%
Columbus$46,0001,750+12%
Dayton$42,000720+12%
Mansfield$34,00050-34%
Springfield$46,00040-41%
Toledo$39,000390-24%
Youngstown$33,000150-60%

Oklahoma

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Oklahoma City$35,000490-48%
Tulsa$39,000690-4%

Oregon

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bend$38,000140+37%
Corvallis$39,00050+18%
Eugene$37,000320+36%
Medford$44,000170+33%
Portland$44,0001,830+6%
Salem$39,000140-41%

Pennsylvania

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Allentown$42,000420-24%
Altoona$32,00070-20%
Erie$37,000150-24%
Harrisburg$36,000410-21%
Johnstown$35,00050-39%
Lancaster$45,000420+10%
Lebanon$37,00080+21%
Philadelphia$49,0003,430+9%
Pittsburgh$39,0001,910+1%
Reading$43,000200-24%
Scranton$35,000370-11%
State College$38,000100+22%
Williamsport$33,00050-32%
York$38,000200-30%

Rhode Island

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Providence$49,000700-25%

South Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$33,00030-66%
Charleston$38,000430-10%
Columbia$40,000320-44%
Florence$40,00040-69%
Greenville$40,000400-20%
Myrtle Beach$34,000110-40%
Spartanburg$45,000120-37%

South Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Rapid City$33,00090-3%
Sioux Falls$35,000290+33%

Tennessee

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Chattanooga$38,000350-7%
Clarksville$34,00060-47%
Cleveland$30,00040-19%
Johnson City$32,00090-20%
Kingsport$33,000100-44%
Knoxville$43,000530-3%
Memphis$50,000710-31%
Morristown$31,00040-40%
Nashville$39,0001,050-17%

Texas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Abilene$37,00050-45%
Amarillo$29,000110-28%
Austin$46,0001,350+7%
Beaumont$38,00080-68%
Brownsville$32,000100-48%
College Station$31,00080-31%
Corpus Christi$34,00040-86%
Dallas$49,0003,140-11%
El Paso$36,000240-44%
Fort Worth$43,0001,210-16%
Houston$45,0002,640-39%
Killeen$34,00070-62%
Longview$30,00070-51%
Lubbock$30,00080-58%
Mcallen$29,000100-72%
Midland$34,00080-18%
San Angelo$34,00030-48%
San Antonio$47,0001,060-24%
Tyler$33,00050-64%
Waco$33,000120-19%

Utah

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Logan$31,000120+83%
Ogden$38,000290-10%
Provo$39,000590+124%
Salt Lake City$44,0001,340+29%
St George$40,000100+44%

Vermont

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Burlington$48,000280+64%

Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Blacksburg$37,00060-33%
Charlottesville$46,000200+40%
Harrisonburg$38,00050-36%
Lynchburg$37,00080-48%
Richmond$50,000870-12%
Roanoke$43,000200-20%
Virginia Beach$45,000840-33%
Winchester$41,00040-47%

Washington

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bellingham$36,000160+33%
Bremerton$40,00050-60%
Kennewick$37,000120-12%
Mount Vernon$36,00070+10%
Olympia$42,000110-23%
Seattle$52,0002,890+20%
Spokane$38,000310-8%
Tacoma$48,000180-59%
Wenatchee$33,00040-29%
Yakima$32,00040-67%

West Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Charleston$39,000140-39%
Huntington$30,00070-60%
Morgantown$36,00040-40%
Parkersburg$37,00070-32%
Wheeling$32,00050-47%

Wisconsin

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Appleton$43,000190+7%
Eau Claire$39,00080-31%
Fond$38,00040-36%
Green Bay$46,000240-10%
Janesville$34,00060-38%
La Crosse$34,000130+27%
Madison$44,000950+74%
Milwaukee$44,0001,730+22%
Oshkosh$50,000190+49%
Racine$46,000120+4%
Sheboygan$44,00070-16%
Wausau$36,000130+30%

Wyoming

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Casper$29,00050-6%
Cheyenne$39,00060-2%

Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this professional graphic designer schools and jobs info.

JOB-HUNT.ORG Home


Request Info From These Schools

Professional Graphic Designer Schools, Salaries, and Job DataSchools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.

Campus Schools for Professional Graphic Designers

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

British Columbia

California

Colorado

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Manitoba

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Ontario

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Quebec

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming


Share
Support the Troops
USO's "Operation Phone Home"
To Top
 About Job-Hunt    Privacy Policy    Disclaimer   Feedback    Contact Us

Job Search

  Job-Hunt.org, Marlborough, MA. U.S.A.
©
Copyright NETability, Inc. 1998 - 2009. All rights reserved.
Use without written permission is prohibited by international copyright law.


Hosted by: AVIA! high performance web hosting