What Does a Graphic Designer Do?
Graphic Designers create visual concepts and designs that communicate ideas, captivate audiences, and reinforce brand identities across print and digital media. They use typography, imagery, color, and layout to produce marketing materials, websites, packaging, and more. This role blends creative artistry with strategic communication to produce designs that get a message across.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Artist, Brand Designer, Designer, Graphic Artist, Graphic Design Coordinator, Online Producer, Production Artist, Publications Designer.
Graphic Designer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a graphic designer include:
- Create visual designs for marketing materials including brochures, advertisements, and social media graphics.
- Develop brand identity elements such as logos, color palettes, and typography systems.
- Design digital assets for websites, email campaigns, and online advertising.
- Prepare print-ready files with correct specifications for various production methods.
- Collaborate with marketing teams and copywriters to create cohesive campaigns.
- Present design concepts to clients and stakeholders and incorporate feedback.
- Maintain brand consistency across all visual materials and touchpoints.
- Retouch and manipulate photographs for use in design projects.
- Stay current with design trends, tools, and best practices in visual communication.
- Manage multiple design projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a graphic designer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Strong understanding of typography, color theory, and composition
- Experience with both print and digital design production
- Knowledge of branding principles and visual identity development
- Familiarity with web design tools and basic HTML/CSS
- Excellent attention to detail and commitment to quality
- Strong creative thinking and conceptual development abilities
- Effective time management and ability to handle multiple projects
Education and Training
Graphic Designer positions typically require a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or Fine Arts with a design concentration. Associate degrees in graphic design are accepted for some entry-level roles. A strong portfolio demonstrating a range of design skills and creative problem-solving is often the most important factor in hiring decisions. Coursework in typography, layout design, color theory, digital imaging, and print production provides essential skills. Certifications like Adobe Certified Professional in Visual Design validate technical proficiency. Many designers supplement their education with online courses and workshops to stay current with evolving tools and design trends.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $49,040 - $81,830 per year, with a median of $62,960.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Graphic Designers.
BLS projects employment of graphic designers to decline about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 16,000 openings a year. Graphic design continues to be a viable career path, though the field is competitive and evolving rapidly. While traditional print design demand has slowed, digital design needs have grown substantially as businesses invest in online presence, social media marketing, and digital advertising. Designers who expand their skills into UX/UI design, motion graphics, or video production have the strongest employment prospects. The proliferation of design tools and templates has increased competition at the entry level, making a distinctive portfolio and specialized skills essential for career differentiation. Freelance and contract opportunities are plentiful in addition to full-time positions.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Graphic designers.
Graphic Designer Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $39,520 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $49,040 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $62,960 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $81,830 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $104,910 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as graphic designers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 90% use email every day
- 83% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 78% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 74% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 70% work against deadlines every day
- 58% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 65% |
| High school diploma or GED | 15% |
| Master's degree | 10% |
| Some college | 5% |
Tools and Software Graphic Designers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy creative work and self-expression as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension.
Knowledge areas used most: Design, Computers and Electronics, Fine Arts, Communications and Media, English Language.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Graphic Designer Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 27-1024.00 (Graphic Designers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.