Becoming a Graphic Designer 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. Fashion designers make on average $74,410 per year and there are about 15,780 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 Designer
  • from home
  • from an office
  • on a website
  • at a newspaper
  • at a magazine
  • for a movie studio
  • for an art studio
  • for a business
  • for a restaurant
  • at a coffee shop
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Graphic Designer
  • express your creativity
  • web or print flexibility
  • huge client base
  • easy freelancing
  • run your own studio
  • work in-house
  • easy to get into
  • you can learn on your own
  • few expenses
  • easy online marketing
Potential Drawbacks
  • fulfill irregular demands and needs
  • be creative
  • be good in drawing
  • know designer software
  • have good imagination
  • updated with the latest software
  • know the latest trends
  • have good thinking skills
  • have communications skill
  • have a good sense in art
Related Professions to Consider
  • Creative Director
  • Art Director
  • Art Production Manager
  • Illustrator
  • Multimedia Developer
  • Logo Design
  • Layout Artist
  • Web Designer
  • Brand Identity Developer
  • Sign Maker
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Graphic Designer
  • What are your previous job experiences?
  • What are your expectations for this job?
  • How are your decision making skills?
  • What are your leadership qualities?
  • What are your technical skills?
  • Are you well versed in Web Design?
  • What is your management attitude?
  • What is your availability?
  • Are you able to learn quickly?
  • What are your goals as a Graphic Designer?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Graphic Designer
  • Creative Graphic Designers
  • Interactive Web Designer
  • Senior Web Designer
  • Flash Designer
  • Senior User Experience Designer
  • Graphic HTML Designers
  • Web Designers
  • Drupal ThemerHTMLCSS Designer
  • Digital Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer Training books Graphic Designer (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Art Teacher Education
  • Commercial and Advertising Art
  • Communication and Rhetoric
  • Graphic Design
  • Photography
  • Studio Arts
  • Art Direction
  • Web Design
  • Desktop Publishing
  • Industrial Design

Graphic Designer Salary Information

Category: Fashion designers

Total # Employed in the US 15,780
Average Hourly Wage: $35.78/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15.54 $21.21 $30.9 $43.28 $62.93
Average Yearly Salary $74,410
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$32,320 $44,110 $64,260 $90,020 $130,900
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%
Fashion designers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
North Carolina $41.08/hr $85,460
Michigan $39.2/hr $81,540
Colorado $39.18/hr $81,490
Delaware $38.98/hr $81,070
Oklahoma $38.37/hr $79,800
Wisconsin $38.32/hr $79,700
North Dakota $34.41/hr $71,570
Connecticut $32.66/hr $67,930
Maine $31.36/hr $65,230
Oregon $28.93/hr $60,180
Wyoming $27.9/hr $58,030
Tennessee $27.27/hr $56,720
Idaho $27.14/hr $56,450
South Carolina $27.14/hr $56,460
Hawaii $24.93/hr $51,840
Missouri $24.74/hr $51,460
Utah $24.65/hr $51,270
Montana $24.64/hr $51,240
Nebraska $24.59/hr $51,150
Kansas $23.17/hr $48,200
Washington $21.48/hr $44,680
Kentucky $21.25/hr $44,210
Indiana $21.17/hr $44,040
New Hampshire $19.52/hr $40,610
New York $19.22/hr $39,970
Iowa $18.57/hr $38,620
Mississippi $18.13/hr $37,710


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: 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: Web Developers

Total # Employed in the US 195,890
Average Hourly Wage: $37.5/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$20.04 $28.11 $37.02 $46.58 $55.31
Average Yearly Salary $78,010
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$41,680 $58,460 $77,010 $96,890 $115,050
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.6% 6.4% 17.0% 10.5% 44.3% 18.7% 2.5%


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