Graphic Artist | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Graphic Artist via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Grand Canyon University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering graphic design courses to train individuals to become top-notch graphic designers, animation designers, fashion designers, web designers, graphic artists, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 200,870 people employed as graphic designers alone in America, and their average annual salary is $47,820. Desktop publishers make on average $38,960 per year and there are about 22,810 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Grand Canyon University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Graphic Artist
  • from home
  • in an office
  • in an art studio
  • for a gaming company
  • for a newspaper
  • for a website
  • in a coffee shop
  • in a design studio
  • for a magazine
  • for a large company
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Graphic Artist
  • express your creativity
  • web or print flexibility
  • huge client base
  • do freelance online
  • run your own studio
  • work in house
  • easy to get info
  • you can learn on your own
  • few expenses
  • easy online marketing
Potential Drawbacks
  • need for continuous updates and changes
  • increased chances of plagiarism
  • creates imbalance between work and life
  • distraction and diversion
  • limitation of a platform for healthy discussions
  • creating and build an identity connecting with the design community
  • mass media can be quite costly for graphic designers to advertise their portfolio
  • finding clients and opportunities
  • overindulgence in social media can prove to be disastrous
  • creating and building an identity
Related Professions to Consider
  • Creative Director
  • Art Director
  • Art Production Manager
  • Logo Designer
  • Visual Image Developer
  • Multimedia Developer
  • Visual Journalist
  • Interface Designer
  • Web Designer
  • Package Designer
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Graphic Artist
  • What did you like or dislike in your current job?
  • Describe the types of things you have done previously or do now as part of a team which have led the?
  • How would you talk to a subordinate about meeting a deadline?
  • Explain the belt of stability?
  • What is one way to reach long-term purchasing goals?
  • What does a employee do in a bad situation with a costumer?
  • An example of introduction?
  • Why do you want to work in an office environment?
  • Give specific example of an important goal you set and tell me about your progress in reaching that?
  • Who influenced you?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Journalist
  • Editor
  • Marketing specialist
  • Business management
  • Public affairs specialist
  • Photographer
  • Advertising assistant
  • Museum director
  • Forensic investigator
  • News anchor
Graphic Artist Training books Graphic Artist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Elements and Principles of Graphic Design
  • Creative Process and Solutions
  • Typography
  • Graphic Design Technology
  • Web Site Design
  • Applied Graphic Design 1
  • Applied Graphic Design 2
  • Applied Graphic Design 3
  • Portfolio and Production Studio
  • Graphic Design Technology

Graphic Artist Salary Information

Category: Graphic designers

Total # Employed in the US 200,870
Average Hourly Wage: $22.99/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$12.71 $15.93 $20.76 $27.95 $36.75
Average Yearly Salary $47,820
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$26,440 $33,130 $43,180 $58,140 $76,450
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.7% 13.0% 19.3% 14.1% 42.5% 7.1% 1.1%
Graphic designers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $32.74/hr $68,110
Colorado $27.49/hr $57,180
Oklahoma $27.25/hr $56,680
Delaware $26.82/hr $55,780
Mississippi $24.94/hr $51,880
Missouri $24.66/hr $51,290
Virginia $24.6/hr $51,170
Kansas $24.56/hr $51,080
North Dakota $24.45/hr $50,850
District of Columbia $23.28/hr $48,420
Idaho $23.13/hr $48,100
Indiana $22.76/hr $47,340
New York $22.35/hr $46,490
Nebraska $22.22/hr $46,220
Connecticut $21.68/hr $45,100
Wyoming $21.32/hr $44,350
Arkansas $21.3/hr $44,290
New Hampshire $21.24/hr $44,180
Tennessee $21.23/hr $44,150
Alabama $21.22/hr $44,130
Montana $20.67/hr $42,980
Ohio $20.62/hr $42,890
Utah $20.61/hr $42,870
Puerto Rico $20.5/hr $42,630
Guam $20.46/hr $42,550
Oregon $20.45/hr $42,540
South Carolina $20.39/hr $42,410
North Carolina $20.24/hr $42,100
Hawaii $20/hr $41,600
Alaska $19.83/hr $41,250
Maine $19.29/hr $40,120
Wisconsin $19.19/hr $39,910
Washington $19.07/hr $39,660
Michigan $18.89/hr $39,280
Kentucky $18.64/hr $38,780
Louisiana $18.62/hr $38,730
New Mexico $18.41/hr $38,290
New Jersey $17.99/hr $37,420
Massachusetts $17.52/hr $36,440
California $17.32/hr $36,030
Maryland $17.26/hr $35,910
Iowa $17.24/hr $35,860
South Dakota $17.12/hr $35,610
Nevada $16.64/hr $34,610
Pennsylvania $16.17/hr $33,630
West Virginia $15.44/hr $32,120


Category: Desktop publishers

Total # Employed in the US 22,810
Average Hourly Wage: $18.73/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$10.54 $13.67 $17.53 $23.02 $28.45
Average Yearly Salary $38,960
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$21,920 $28,430 $36,470 $47,870 $59,180
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.8% 24.8% 30.9% 11.7% 22.4% 6.5% 0.9%
Desktop publishers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Missouri $22.82/hr $47,470
Idaho $21.84/hr $45,420
Delaware $21.83/hr $45,410
Oklahoma $21.69/hr $45,110
Mississippi $21.66/hr $45,050
North Dakota $21.34/hr $44,380
Colorado $20.77/hr $43,200
Indiana $20.48/hr $42,590
District of Columbia $19.66/hr $40,890
Wyoming $19.52/hr $40,600
Nebraska $19.31/hr $40,170
Kentucky $19.02/hr $39,550
North Carolina $18.83/hr $39,160
New Hampshire $18.35/hr $38,170
Kansas $18.31/hr $38,090
Arkansas $18.27/hr $38,010
Nevada $18.05/hr $37,540
Virginia $17.9/hr $37,240
Maryland $17.71/hr $36,840
Utah $17.61/hr $36,620
New York $17.53/hr $36,460
Wisconsin $17.23/hr $35,840
Montana $17.22/hr $35,820
Tennessee $17.14/hr $35,660
Puerto Rico $17/hr $35,360
Guam $16.89/hr $35,140
Washington $16.87/hr $35,090
Oregon $16.75/hr $34,830
South Carolina $16.57/hr $34,480
Iowa $16.46/hr $34,250
California $15.88/hr $33,020
Massachusetts $15.69/hr $32,630
Hawaii $15.62/hr $32,480
Maine $15.18/hr $31,570
Louisiana $14.95/hr $31,100
Alabama $14.6/hr $30,370
Michigan $14.36/hr $29,860
New Jersey $13.79/hr $28,690
New Mexico $12.29/hr $25,550
South Dakota $12.19/hr $25,360
Pennsylvania $11.43/hr $23,780
West Virginia $10.26/hr $21,350


Category: Multi-Media Artists and Animators

Total # Employed in the US 28,800
Average Hourly Wage: $30.2/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15.56 $20.76 $28.01 $37.21 $47.66
Average Yearly Salary $62,810
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$32,360 $43,170 $58,250 $77,410 $99,130
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
3.1% 11.2% 19.6% 10.0% 42.3% 12.3% 1.6%


Graphic Design Programs by State & City