| State | Avg Pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $72,820 |
| New York | $60,560 |
| California | $58,940 |
| Connecticut | $58,940 |
| Maryland | $58,440 |
| New Jersey | $56,030 |
| Washington | $55,030 |
| Virginia | $54,770 |
| Massachusetts | $54,650 |
| Rhode Island | $53,630 |
Graphic designers design or create graphics to meet specific needs such as packaging, logos, displays, websites, publications, and more. Some graphic designers even design the overall look for film and television credits. They work with sound, colors, artwork, photography, software, and even animation to produce whatever the project entails. Graphic designers work in manufacturing, specialized design services, publishing, advertising, public relations, computer systems design and related services, wholesale trade, government, aerospace, securities and commodities, and scientific research and development services. Some graphic designers work independently in an office or studio setting, while others are part of a design team. Some designers telecommute, while others are self-employed. In 2012, around 24 percent of graphic designers were self-employed.
As of March 25, 2015, the mean wage for graphic designers was $50,670, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It is important to note that average salaries vary greatly by state and industry. For example, the ten highest paying states for graphic designers are:
- District of Columbia: $72,820 per year
- New York: $60,560
- California: $58,940
- Connecticut: $58,940
- Maryland: $58,440
- New Jersey: $56,030
- Washington: $55,030
- Virginia: $54,770
- Massachusetts: $54,650
- Rhode Island: $53,630
The ten lowest paying states for graphic designers are:
- South Carolina: $39,940 per year
- Iowa: $39,500
- Alabama: $39,470
- Louisiana: $39,170
- Arkansas: $39,100
- Maine: $38,000
- Wyoming: $37,960
- Mississippi: $36,250
- North Dakota: $35,370
- South Dakota: $35,140
The states with average salaries ranging from $45,810 to $49,530 per year are Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin. Of these states, Alaska had the highest average salary at $49,530 and Wisconsin had the lowest at $45,810.
The states with average salaries ranging from $40,440 to $45,530 per year are Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.
So the state with the best pay for graphic designers? Washington, DC. The worst? South Dakota.
Schools to Consider:
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#12) - 2024
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#36) - 2024
- Online
- Top 50 Private Graphic Design Schools in the US (#46) - 2024
- Buenos Aires, Argentina & Online
- Desarrollo de Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
- Producción y Game Design (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
- Arte y Animación para Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
- Producción y Animación 3D (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
- Realización Integral de Dibujos Animados (Tecnicaturas Superiores)
- Tecnicatura Superior en Animación 3D para Videojuegos (Tecnicaturas Superiores) - NUEVA - ONLINE
- Programación de Videojuegos con Unreal, Unity y Godot (Tecnicaturas Superiores) - NUEVA - ONLINE
- Unreal Connectors (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Virtual Production (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Introducción a Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Diseño de Interacción 3D en Realidad Virtual con Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Realidad Aumentada con Unity (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Realidad Virtual para Arquitectura (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Audio Inmersivo (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Animación Profesional 3D (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Modelado Profesional 3D (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Visualización Arquitectónica (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Motion Graphics (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- VFX (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Environments para Videojuegos con Unreal Engine (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Desarrollo de Videojuegos con Unity (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Game Design (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Concept Art (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Game Art (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Game Audio (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Game Quality Analyst (Programas Profesionales - 100% Online en Vivo)
- Top 25 International Animation Schools - 2024 (#23)
- Online
- Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#18) - 2024
- Online
- Online Bachelor of Science in User Experience
- Online Master of Science in User Experience
- Online Bachelor of Science in Design in Graphic Design
- Online Bachelor of Science in Graphic Information Technology – Full-Stack Web Development
- Online Bachelor of Science in Graphic Information Technology – User Experience
Awesome Animation Fact: In 1979, two films, “The Black Hole” and “Alien” utilized raster wireframe models to depict the appropriate space scenario required on the course of the story depicted on the film. In 1982, another two films “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and “Tron” were produced, which advanced further CGI developments in filmmaking. -Knoji