Graphic Designer Salaries

For the most accurate prediction of what your graphic designer salary will be, you need to take several factors into consideration. Making use of online services that will give you customized salary information based on your personal data can be a great tool to help you negotiate a competitive salary when you're looking for a job.

But if you're just starting to consider graphic design training, and you're curious about how much you can actually make, the following table will give you a basic idea of what your graphic designer salary would be like in a variety of jobs:

Since your salary relies on a variety of factors, accurately calculating what you'll make as a graphic designer is tricky. Here are some of the biggest influences on your graphic designer salary:

Job Title – As you can see in the chart above, ofter having words like "senior" or "manager" in your title mean that you'll be earning more. When you're starting out in the business, some of these titles may be out of reach, but it's never to early to think about where you'd like to go in your career and make a plan to get there.

Geographic Location – If you work in a city, the odds are good that you'll earn a larger graphic designer salary than if you live in a small town. In part, this is because the cost of living in metropolitan areas is much greater than in rural areas. But your location may also affect the number and type of clients you will attract, which can also play a part in your earnings.

Education Level – If you plan to work for yourself, your degree level may not matter much. But education level can play a big part in making you more attractive to employers or putting you in line for a promotion.

Years of Experience – As you work in the field, you'll gain experience and insight that will increase your skill and value to employers. You can generally expect pay increases as you prove yourself in the field.

Where You Work – Will you be self-employed, work for a small business or work at a large design firm? Your choice will affect your graphic designer salary.

Ready to start earning graphic designer salaries? Getting your degree is an essential first step. Find graphic design schools in our directory, and request information from schools in your area.

• _{Information comes from the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) | Aquent 2010 Survey of Design Salaries.}