Graphic designers create visual content, by hand or on a computer. They develop the visual design and overall layout of products such as magazines, advertisements, mobile phone applications, video games, and more. Famous graphic designers, like David Carson or Henry Steiner, are known for developing distinct design sensibilities which makes their work instantly recognizable, the way you would a Da Vinci or a Reubens. But you don’t have to be a Carson or a Steiner to make money as a graphic designer. Here are four of the best-paying graphic design jobs available in the US today.
What do you need to become a graphic designer?
Graphic Designer Jobs
Successful graphic designers, with more than 5 years of experience in a wide variety of projects, are always in demand and can expect to get paid well. The average yearly salary of an experienced graphic designer in the U.S is around $80,000. Entry-level designers can expect to earn around $30,000 per annum. These are some of the highest-paid graphic designer jobs available in the US today:
Concept Artist
A concept artist designs the first depiction of a product or design element. They work on video games, films, cartoons, and animation. They are responsible for the style and look of the product. For example, in a video game, a concept artist would be involved in creating the character designs and visual world-building that defined the look of the game. Concept artists also design logos for companies, website graphics, and user interfaces for applications.
Average salary: A concept artist earns around $82,000 per annum.
Digital Designer
Digital designers specialize in animation and special effects. Digital designers are in major demand within the entertainment industry today. Digital designers are also known as multimedia artists and animators. They do not work with print as much as some other graphic designers do, focusing instead on digital media.
Average salary: They work to animate graphics, visual effects, and other visual elements. A digital designer is paid about $92,000 per annum.
Front – End Developer
A front-end developer has one major responsibility—making sure that visitors to the website find it easy to use. To become a front-end developer, you need to have a background in both graphic design and web development. In addition to using design tools and software, front-end developers are also well versed in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
Average salary: On average, a front-end developer can expect to earn $110,000 per year.
Product Designer
Product designer is arguably the highest-paid graphic design job in the US today. To become a product designer, you need a background in UI/UX as well as design. Product designers work closely with product managers to ensure that their product is tactile and easy to use. Product designers help with information architecture and system design as well.
Average salary: Product designers get paid about $120,000 a year in the US.
What do you need to become a graphic designer?
To become a graphic designer, you would be expected to have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field. However, you could also obtain the necessary qualifications by completing technical training in the field.
Graphic designers use digital design technology in their work and need to keep pace with the latest developments in computer software and design technology to stay competitive. In addition to pen and paper design tools, they also use creative software such as Adobe’s Photoshop and Illustrator, 3D design tools such as Blender, and hardware such as Wacom sketch pads.
Because graphic design is such a large part of the visual design field, the two terms are frequently used interchangeably. The biggest difference between a graphic designer and a visual designer is that the former is tasked with communicating a particular message and uses visual elements to help with this communication, and the latter focus on creating themes and design elements used in brand imaging.
Conclusion
Becoming a graphic designer can be the path to a lucrative professional career. Graphic designers are artists as much as they are techies. They bridge the gap between art, visual design, and digital communication. Recent studies show that the graphic design industry generated $15 billion in revenue in 2019, and has been steadily growing at an average rate of 2.5% to 3% per annum. If you are looking to flex your creative muscles, and think graphic design is the way to go, there are plenty of well-paid opportunities available.
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