# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/graphic-designers
- SOC code: 27-1024.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $62,960 (10th percentile $39,520, 90th percentile $104,910)
- Projected growth: Decline, -1.7%
- Openings a year: 16,000
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ACE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 40 |
| Investigative (I) | 31 |
| Artistic (A) | 100 |
| Social (S) | 19 |
| Enterprising (E) | 41 |
| Conventional (C) | 49 |

## What you'd do

- Thinking Creatively (importance 98/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 94/100)
- Getting Information (importance 90/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 80/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 75/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 74/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 66/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Active Learning, Critical Thinking, Writing, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness

## Knowledge

Design, Computers and Electronics, Fine Arts, Communications and Media, English Language, Sales and Marketing, Customer and Personal Service, Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Administrative

## Also called

Ad Designer (Advertising Designer), Ad Layout Worker (Advertising Layout Worker), Apparel Graphic Designer, Artist, Brand Designer, Catalogue Illustrator, Commercial Artist, Concept Artist, Creative Designer, Design Consultant

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Design and Applied Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5004) (CIP 5004, 1,175 colleges)
- [Computer Software and Media Applications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1108) (CIP 1108, 701 colleges)
- [Visual and Performing Arts, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5001) (CIP 5001, 571 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Design and Applied Arts | $91,413 | $138,588 | $21,000 |
| [DigiPen Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/digipen-institute-of-technology-819) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $66,593 | $122,375 | $27,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $95,396 | $115,839 | $19,968 |
| [Lawrence Technological University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lawrence-technological-university-michigan-1459) | Design and Applied Arts | $62,595 | $99,444 | $27,000 |
| [Wellesley College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wellesley-college-3189) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $67,236 | $98,816 | $11,875 |
| [DePaul University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/depaul-university-illinois-795) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $68,868 | $96,616 | $22,500 |
| [Worcester Polytechnic Institute](https://www.collegesref.com/college/worcester-polytechnic-institute-3303) | Computer Software and Media Applications | not reported | $95,430 | not reported |
| [University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-seattle-main-campus-3075) | Design and Applied Arts | $51,789 | $89,193 | $15,000 |

## Related careers

- [Special Effects Artists and Animators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/special-effects-artists-and-animators): $102,030 median pay
- [Art Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-directors): $114,850 median pay
- [Web and Digital Interface Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-and-digital-interface-designers): $104,000 median pay
- [Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fine-artists-including-painters-sculptors-and-illustrators): $55,490 median pay
- [Desktop Publishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/desktop-publishers): $55,290 median pay
- [Video Game Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/video-game-designers): $104,000 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.