What is an associate designer and how to become one

Q: How much do associate designers make?

Associate designers make about $58,000 yearly or $28 hourly. On the lower end of the salary range, they can make about $41,000, typically the starting number for entry-level positions. On the higher end, they can make $80,000, typically for senior-level positions.

Q: Is an associate designer higher than a designer?

No, an associate designer is not higher than a designer. The term "associate" is usually attached to starting positions within a company, usually an entry-level position. An associate designer also may not have many years of experience before joining the company.

Q: What does associate mean in a job description?

Associate in a job description usually means an entry-level or junior position. It's typically used for workers just starting with the company when you may or may not have much experience.

Q: What is an associate product designer?

An associate product designer is part of the team that focuses on optimizing user experience. In general, a product designer's key responsibilities are to perform design research, select the best materials, and develop user storyboards for the client and users' best interests.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a designer?

The qualifications you need to be a designer are dependent on which industry you plan to enter. In general, getting a college degree and gaining relevant skills will better your prospects.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Abby Guido

An associate designer is junior-level and works in collaboration with senior designers to create concepts for various projects. They may work in a variety of fields including fashion, graphic design, and other design fields. The role involves analyzing market trends, creating prototypes, selecting materials and colors, and presenting ideas to clients or senior designers. Associate designers may also assist in the production process and ensure that designs meet quality standards.

What general advice would you give to an associate designer?

Abby Guido

Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University

We've all heard the buzz about networking, and there is so much buzz because it works. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is both up to date and active. Connect with all of your past professors, classmates, and anyone and everyone you meet in a professional setting. I often tell students to get into the habit of searching for any classroom guests, or guest lecturers, to connect, thank them for their time, and build their network. Share content. Write articles, or reshare those you find interesting.

Every job I have ever received in my career has been through someone else I know. I share this with students to help them see the value in relationships. I always remember the students that took the time to write a handwritten thank-you note. And I think of them when I get an email asking if I know any students are looking for work.

ScoreAssociate DesignerUS Average

Salary

4.4

Avg. Salary $56,770

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.2

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%

Asian 10.42%

Black or African American 3.42%

Hispanic or Latino 10.63%

Unknown 4.99%

White 70.17%

Gender

female 65.24%

male 34.76%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress level

4.2

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.9

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an associate designer?

Pros

Opportunity to learn from experienced designers
Chance to build a professional network
Potential for advancement within the company
Access to industry-standard software and tools
Opportunity for personal and professional growth

Cons

Dealing with difficult clients or team members
Limited opportunities for leadership or decision-making roles
Possibility of working on projects that do not interest you
Limited job security, as many associate designer positions are contract-based
Potential for burnout or career stagnation if not proactive about learning and growth

Key steps to become an associate designer

Explore associate designer education requirements

Most common associate designer degrees

Bachelor's

66.7 %

Associate

23.0 %

Master's

5.4 %

Start to develop specific associate designer skills

Skills	Percentages
Sketch	10.44%
CAD	7.72%
Customer Service	7.31%
Design Projects	4.24%
PowerPoint	4.16%

Complete relevant associate designer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate designers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate designer resumes.

Research associate designer duties and responsibilities

Create & manage PPC advertising campaigns and perform basic SEO maintenance to improve web traffic.
Select all fabrics and trims, develop styles from first sketch through production, manage sample room, and extensive fittings.
Develop marketing and brand awareness initiatives through social media outlets; create and manage company Facebook and Houzz profiles.
Design print collateral such as brochures and promotional products

Prepare your associate designer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your associate designer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an associate designer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable associate designer resume templates

Build a professional associate designer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your associate designer resume.

Apply for associate designer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an associate designer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do associate designers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Associate designer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2023

Pros

Creative work feels more like playing rather than working. It's delightful to make something that is from your own imagination that is truly unique. Even when the work it challenging it can still be very rewarding in the end.

Cons

There are slow moments in this business, therefore a designer must prepare financially for down times. In between seasons is when you find the time to be more innovative with the processes of jewelry design.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Cons

When working with others who can not make up their minds as deadline approaches nor take responsibility and blames others for their own "misdoings".

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020

Pros

Making people look sweet and smart

Cons

Not satisfying the need of my client.... And not able delivering my work as discussed with the client

What is an associate designer and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an associate designer?

What are the pros and cons of being an associate designer?

Associate designer career paths

Key steps to become an associate designer

Explore associate designer education requirements

Most common associate designer degrees

Start to develop specific associate designer skills

Complete relevant associate designer training and internships

Research associate designer duties and responsibilities

Prepare your associate designer resume

Choose from 10+ customizable associate designer resume templates

Apply for associate designer jobs

How did you land your first associate designer job

Average associate designer salary

How do associate designers rate their job?

Associate designer reviews

Associate designer FAQs

How much do associate designers make?

Is an associate designer higher than a designer?

What does associate mean in a job description?

What is an associate product designer?

What qualifications do you need to be a designer?

Search for associate designer jobs

Associate designer jobs by state