A graphic design career provides diverse and unlimited opportunities and the careers like in print and other electronic media. This career is always high in demand, but the salary ranges differently depending on the employer and employment. Print media is on the lower scale when we talk about pay scale. On the other hand, technology offers higher income opportunities. Graphic design offers some extra advantages of allowing the artist to get income while doing what they are passionate about. Factors like experience, education, skills, employment and the like affect the graphic designers’ salaries.
Education is a must, at least, obtaining an associate degree or a certificate will allow you to have job, but opportunities for advancement and high pay scale is not offered. So you must go ahead to do a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and Fine Arts. It will pave the higher base designation and salaries. Just because technology keeps evolving, staying updated with the current industry trends and continuing your education will insure your yearly increases.
The careers in graphic design in print media include working for newspapers and magazines for designing layouts or creating the illustrations; the average pay is $35,000 in a year. Along with those who progress to the management or administrative positions get increase in their salaries up to $45,000 annually. Advertising provides a pay scale of average $44,000 per year. Computer system designing is the most lucrative career options and it ranges up to 48,000 annually. On an average, an employee has to have around 1 to 3 years of experience before he/she should expect any raise in salary.
Working as a freelance designer is prevalent in the graphic designing field. The firms mostly contract the freelancers when they need something that is highly specialized in terms of skills which are necessary for a project, or when there is an abundance of projects and they are under the pressure for meeting the deadlines. As a part timer or full time job, freelancing can be quite a profitable option with earning up to 57,000 in year.
The size and the location of the firm influence a designer’s opportunity for a higher income level. Larger design and advertising firms are located in the metropolitan areas. Graphic designers are looking for more competitive wages and will have to look for the job opportunities in the larger cities. Moreover, the most sought after and competitive firms are available in West Coast. Senior most designers and mangers are employed by all these companies and they make an average of 60,000 every year, while the department heads and directors increase their pay to around $95,000 every year. The best paid jobs in terms of salary in this industry go to the partners and owners who can bring an excess of 100,000 per year.
