Careers · Explore one path
Graphic Designers
Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.
Other titles employers use
Artist · Brand Designer · Designer · Graphic Artist · Graphic Design Coordinator · Graphic Designer · Online Producer · Production Artist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
- Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
- Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
- Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
- Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
- Use computer software to generate new images.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to creative, organizing and persuading work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
Subjects to know
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Fine Arts
- Communications and Media
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Originality
- Fluency of Ideas
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.8 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.9 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.6 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 65%
- High school or less 15%
- A master's degree 10%
- A certificate or some college 5%
- A two-year degree 5%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Web platform development software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
- Video creation and editing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 38,400
- Job openings each year
- 3,180
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 4.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 38,400 | 3,180 | 4.9% |
| New York | 24,320 | 70 | 3.0% |
| Texas | 20,010 | 1,760 | 15.6% |
| Florida | 19,740 | 1,710 | 13.0% |
| Illinois | 12,480 | 1,020 | 2.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 11,370 | 930 | 4.1% |
| Washington | 9,890 | 1,030 | 18.0% |
| Ohio | 9,490 | 760 | — |
| North Carolina | 9,280 | 800 | 11.5% |
| New Jersey | 7,710 | 620 | 1.8% |
| Colorado | 7,650 | 670 | 14.0% |
| Michigan | 7,650 | 620 | 2.7% |
| Georgia | 7,510 | 630 | 8.2% |
| Virginia | 6,870 | 560 | 3.6% |
| Minnesota | 6,450 | 530 | 4.4% |
| Wisconsin | 6,120 | 520 | 8.9% |
| Arizona | 5,310 | 460 | 13.7% |
| Tennessee | 5,180 | 450 | 13.3% |
| Missouri | 4,950 | 410 | 7.1% |
| Maryland | 4,690 | 400 | 8.8% |
| Indiana | 4,450 | 370 | 4.7% |
| Oregon | 4,420 | 390 | 15.1% |
| Utah | 3,680 | 330 | 19.9% |
| South Carolina | 3,160 | 270 | 11.7% |
| Alabama | 2,870 | 240 | 6.7% |
| Kentucky | 2,860 | 230 | 3.6% |
| Iowa | 2,850 | 240 | 6.3% |
| Nebraska | 2,620 | 220 | 7.4% |
| Connecticut | 2,610 | 220 | 6.1% |
| Kansas | 2,580 | 210 | — |
| Idaho | 2,300 | 200 | 16.8% |
| Massachusetts | 2,130 | 170 | 4.4% |
| Puerto Rico | 2,100 | 180 | 13.5% |
| Mississippi | 2,090 | 180 | 12.4% |
| Oklahoma | 2,070 | 170 | 4.5% |
| District of Columbia | 1,920 | 160 | 4.3% |
| Arkansas | 1,840 | 160 | 8.9% |
| Louisiana | 1,710 | 140 | 5.6% |
| Nevada | 1,640 | 140 | 14.7% |
| Rhode Island | 1,350 | 110 | 5.5% |
| New Mexico | 1,240 | 110 | 13.8% |
| New Hampshire | 950 | 80 | 8.0% |
| Montana | 910 | 80 | 12.3% |
| Vermont | 860 | 80 | 13.2% |
| Maine | 850 | 70 | −1.2% |
| West Virginia | 820 | 70 | 2.5% |
| North Dakota | 650 | 50 | 6.6% |
| South Dakota | 630 | 50 | 1.6% |
| Delaware | 550 | 40 | 3.8% |
| Wyoming | 310 | 30 | 10.7% |
| Alaska | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Guam | 90 | 10 | 28.6% |
| Virgin Islands | 20 | 0 | 100.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 970
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Degrees each year
- 755
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $49,000
Fashion Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 633
- Admit rate
- 58%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
The New School
- Degrees each year
- 682
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $56,000
Pratt Institute-Main
- Degrees each year
- 369
- Admit rate
- 53%
- Annual cost after aid
- $49,000
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Degrees each year
- 322
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Kent State University at Kent
- Degrees each year
- 271
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Columbia College Chicago
- Degrees each year
- 258
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000