“How Much Are You Getting Paid As A Graphic Designer?” — Designers Share Their Salaries
As designers, one of the most elusive topics we face is salary — what are others making, and how does our own pay compare? In a thought-provoking Reddit post, user Waste-Dark-8356 asked the design community to share their earnings, years of experience, and whether they work freelance, in-house, or for an agency.
It’s a refreshingly open conversation that touches on an important issue for anyone working in the creative field. After all, transparency around salary can be a game-changer when it comes to understanding industry standards and navigating your own career growth.
The post not only highlights how much designers at various stages of their careers are making, but also invites us to reflect on the different paths available in the design industry.
Whether you’re just starting out, looking for new opportunities, or curious about how others have navigated their way to success, these kinds of discussions provide valuable insights. Read below.
Senior designer Sydney $110k working 4 days a week. I’m very valuable to the place I’m working and asked for these terms after 6 months on $100k at 5 days
– @Dizzy-Passage-505
❤️ 73
4.
i make 60k in house (4 years of experience). when hired, was making 55k
i do freelance on the side, my rate is $50-65/hour. on average making about 2000 a month
im us-based
– @[deleted]
❤️ 32
i have 2 consistent clients since 2022
one i found on linkedin at a starting rate of $35/hr and have been able to raise my rates to $50 since starting
another i got through word of mouth at a starting rate of $50 and raised to $65 since starting
ive gotten a couple temporary clients over the past 2 years through linkedin, and referrals from my current clients. my in-house role and clients are all remote and not located in my state
– @[deleted]
❤️ 14
5.
In house non profit, sole graphic designer in SoCal with 5 YOE – $100,000
– @ThatCarGuy1
❤️ 21
6.
Just got my first job as a new grad, getting 60k in Connecticut
– @gorillaspinner
❤️ 24
7.
175k as a design director.
– @cerebralvision
❤️ 21
8.
Design Director, Corporate Communications with 8yrs experience making $120k in NYC.
I occasionally freelance on the side but my rate is inconsistent. I’ll do stuff for friends for free and occasionally work with an old manager on projects for a lower rate or flat fee per project.
But I also have $60k left in student loans, down from almost $100k when I graduated, so yeah lol
– @lbgrim
❤️ 12
9.
My best design job was in-house for a sizable non-profit hospice. About $57k near the end with decent benefits. That was 2015-2019. After a lot of instability in life, including moving cross country and passing up a job to support my ex-spouse’s career, ADHD issues, and then a divorce, I’ve made progressively less and less. Starting all over in a new state multiple times is hard. My latest job was as the sole designer for a print shop in SoCal, $21/hr, 37 hrs a week, no benefits, and a yeller for a boss. I’m 43 now, not sure what to do.
– @throwawaydixiecup
❤️ 11
10.
Senior Visual Designer, in-house. $300Kish
– @[deleted]
❤️ 11
11.
im a freelancer and i only do project fees, no hourly. i charge btwn 2-5k per artwork (im more illustration based). my clients are mostly fashion and makeup brands. took me 10 years of shameless self promotion in NYC to get my name out and build to that fee. i waitressed on an off for 10 years before i was steady enough to just freelance
– @pinkus_fingerhut
❤️ 9
12.
Freelance, and most of my job is designing and developing WordPress sites, so there is a development aspect.
But right at $130,000 for the past 3 years, and over $100,000/yr on average over the past 14 years.
– @[deleted]
❤️ 6
13.
I run my own solo freelance business. Last year I made close to $60k, on track for that again this year though I’d like it to be more but I also don’t typically work a full 40 hours cause I don’t want to.
Edit to add: I’ve been a designer for 10 years, mostly freelance
– @walkaway2
❤️ 6
14.
Around 44k (5~6 years of experience) in Honolulu. :'(
Update: got a raise!! It’s 46k 😂😂💀
– @helloditto
❤️ 6
15.
https://www.creativeearners.ca/
Every designer in Canada (and probably USA) should be checking this survey.
60k is way too low unless you are in a very LCOL area.
For context, in 2016 making 65k (50k USD) working in Toronto, I had 6 years experience.
My Freelance rate is $65 and I am going to increase it.
15yrs experience, Senior designer in-house, Bay Area. With bonus $170-190k. Salaries on LinkedIn have dropped tremendously now.
– @millenialbets
❤️ 9
18.
75K … Designer II/mid level… 9 years experience but job hopped a lot! Also recently took a 5K pay cut with new job
– @seemaysee
❤️ 4
19.
This is making me cry in South American
– @schoelerdebt
❤️ 4
20.
I barely make 500-700usd a month in my third ass country, knowing that with my experience and abilities I could easily double that, is just sad. I have 5 years of experience and I’m a freelancer, if I were on an agency or in house I’d probably make the same or less
– @Refroc
❤️ 4
21.
11 years experience making124k in San Diego as the sole designer for a telecom company. I was hired as a UI designer, but have taken over every bit of design work. Right now I’m on a huge project of taking and revising all our internal and external work instructions and moving them from Zendesk to Confluence. I also do quite a bit of project management and new vendor research.
I am lucky my wife makes the same money and Biden just cancelled my $60k in Art Institute student loans.
I never thought I would make this much. Did 6 years making slightly over minimum wage at a PowerPoint design studio out of college. I’m on my second $100k+ job.
– @blakejustin217
❤️ 3
22.
$800 a month as a Junior but I’m from Brazil. It’s a lot in BRL but I wonder if I should be getting more.
– @Disastrous-Ranger661
❤️ 2
23.
$34K per year in Czech Republic.
– @Payne_66
❤️ 1
24.
I am twenty five years old, living in Mexico City, currently I am earning around 20K. After reading your salaries I want to move to a foreign country 😭
– @dangerousmangopie
❤️ 1
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