How to hire an associate designer

How to hire an associate designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an associate designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your associate designer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an associate designer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An associate designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, associate designers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents associate designer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Associate Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Designer	Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for various applications such as advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports.	$19-38
   Visual Merchandiser	A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans... Show more	$12-25
   Graphic Designer/Production	A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company... Show more	$16-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sketch
   • CAD
   • Customer Service
   • Design Projects
   • PowerPoint
   • Space Planning
   • Product Development
   • Design Concepts
   • Adobe Illustrator
   • Tech Packs
   • Design Process
   • Graphic Design
   • Apparel
   • Product Knowledge

   Check all skills

   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
   • Establish new grade rules in PLM.
   • Operate POS & other computerize cash registers.

   More associate designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate designer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An associate designer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, associate designers' average salary in south dakota is 46% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate designers earn 50% less than senior-level associate designers.
   • Certifications. An associate designer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an associate designer's salary.

   Average associate designer salary

   $56,770yearly

   $27.29 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate designer salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 26, 2025

   Average associate designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$74,671	$36
   2	Washington	$71,912	$35
   3	Massachusetts	$63,626	$31
   4	New York	$62,383	$30
   5	District of Columbia	$61,999	$30
   6	New Jersey	$59,484	$29
   7	Virginia	$59,272	$29
   8	Oregon	$59,073	$28
   9	Michigan	$56,818	$27
   10	Arizona	$55,471	$27
   11	Colorado	$55,216	$27
   12	North Carolina	$55,085	$26
   13	Maryland	$54,949	$26
   14	Indiana	$54,192	$26
   15	Illinois	$54,177	$26
   16	Pennsylvania	$53,913	$26
   17	Ohio	$52,891	$25
   18	Texas	$52,588	$25
   19	Minnesota	$49,342	$24
   20	Florida	$46,459	$22

   Average associate designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$106,250	$51.08	49
   2	Google	$105,642	$50.79	94
   3	Bed Bath & Beyond	$93,166	$44.79
   4	Amazon	$90,635	$43.57	199
   5	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$88,062	$42.34	23
   6	Uber Technologies	$86,038	$41.36
   7	American Eagle Outfitters	$83,820	$40.30	7
   8	Yahoo	$83,779	$40.28
   9	PVH	$81,727	$39.29	18
   10	RH	$81,649	$39.25	114
   11	IBM	$81,454	$39.16	37
   12	Stitch Fix	$80,723	$38.81	2
   13	The Children's Place	$79,626	$38.28
   14	Macy's	$79,306	$38.13	20
   15	Maxim Integrated	$78,842	$37.90
   16	Hanesbrands	$78,691	$37.83
   17	Deckers Brands	$77,832	$37.42
   18	McKinsey & Company Inc	$76,197	$36.63
   19	Gap Inc.	$75,792	$36.44
   20	Pacifi	$74,615	$35.87

4. Writing an associate designer job description

   A job description for an associate designer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an associate designer job description:

   Associate designer job description example

   Job DescriptionSalary:
   

   Gupta Media was founded 20 years ago on the idea that advertising could create huge leverage in our client's business. Our early work was focused on the entertainment industry, specifically live events (Boston Calling, among others) and recorded music (Sony Music, Universal Music & Disney are all clients). More recently, we have dramatically grown our work with big brands (Amazon, Fender) and cult/challenger brands (Island Creek Oysters, Walden Local). We have a global client base with a growing local roster.

   Gupta Media is seeking an Associate Designer within our creative group. We’re looking for people who are driven to create enviable work and we’ll push you to do the best work of your career (even if your career is just getting going). People who want to tell great stories through ads, branding, events, motion/video, print, social, and other ways we haven’t yet thought of.

   We love people who are driven and hard-working, who love the craft, are team players and can run with concepts yet take feedback well. You are thoughtful, can be nimble when you have to be but know when to keep going back at it when it needs to be perfect. (And we know it will never be “perfect” but if you understand the nuance of that statement we definitely want to speak with you).

   Said differently, if you’re someone who wakes up wanting to craft enviable work for brands we love – please apply.

   
   

   Other requirements:

   • A degree in Design or related field along with relevant internship or experience within an agency.
   • An expert in Adobe Creative Cloud with bonus points for skills in motion graphics using Adobe Animate and After Effects.

   • Possess a combination of design thinking and strong technical skills, be highly organized and have a passion to make work that everyone else is jealous of.
   • A strong portfolio that showcases your best thinking and executional craft.

   
   

   At Gupta Media, we work hard every day to be better at all that we do. This commitment extends to being better at fostering a diverse and inclusive community that encourages and respects a myriad of backgrounds, experiences and ideas. Join us, and help us make ourselves better.

   
   

   To apply, please submit a resume, portfolio of relevant work, and a quick note on why you are the perfect candidate for Gupta Media.

   
   

   Gupta Media is an office-first (with flexibility) organization and we are excited to have our team working together again.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right associate designer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find associate designer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with associate designer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the associate designer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new associate designer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an associate designer?