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Job outlook for associate designers in the United States
Associate designer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected associate designer job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 6,800 new jobs for associate designers are projected over the next decade.
Associate designer salaries have increased 12% for associate designers in the last 5 years.
There are over 25,599 associate designers currently employed in the United States.
There are 47,571 active associate designer job openings in the US.
The average associate designer salary is $56,770.
Are associate designer jobs in demand?
Associate designer job and salary trends over time
Associate designer jobs over time
Associate designer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,599 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 25,359 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 27,160 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 27,290 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 27,177 | 0.01% |
Average associate designer salary over time
Associate designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,770 | $27.29 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $55,419 | $26.64 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $53,569 | $25.75 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $51,793 | $24.90 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $50,665 | $24.36 | +1.6% |
Associate designer jobs by state
Most common states for associate designers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 218 | 31% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 932 | 13% |
| 3 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 483 | 12% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 787 | 11% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 135 | 10% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,383 | 9% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 792 | 9% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 268 | 9% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 98 | 9% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 56 | 9% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 825 | 8% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 462 | 8% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 74 | 8% |
| 14 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,412 | 7% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 427 | 7% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 395 | 7% |
| 17 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 211 | 7% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 96 | 7% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 642 | 6% |
| 20 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 562 | 6% |
Most common cities for associate designers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Myers | 4 | 5% | $45,612 |
| 2 | Jupiter | 2 | 3% | $45,488 |
| 3 | Hartford | 3 | 2% | $49,959 |
| 4 | Bentonville | 1 | 2% | $47,541 |
| 5 | Minneapolis | 4 | 1% | $49,342 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 3 | 1% | $45,293 |
| 7 | Bellevue | 1 | 1% | $71,849 |
| 8 | New York | 4 | 0% | $62,383 |
| 9 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $54,177 |
| 10 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $55,216 |
| 11 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $54,555 |
| 12 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $63,626 |
| 13 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $73,864 |
| 14 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $64,482 |
| 15 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $61,999 |
| 16 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $65,210 |
| 17 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $59,272 |
| 18 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $54,949 |
| 19 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $45,893 |
Associate Designer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of associate designer experts
Beloit College
Louisiana State University and A&M College
University of Akron
Merrimack College
San Francisco State University
Highline College
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College
Eastern Illinois University
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
What general advice would you give to an Associate Designer?
Shelbi Wilkin: Day to day work can vary when working as a designer for theatre. When not researching and analyzing plays, designers work on rendering designs, budgets, and sourcing materials. Designers can expect regular meetings with a production team and shop supervisors for their discipline. As a costume designer my role would be to meet with costume shop managers and drapers to ensure designs are realized per my vision, attend fittings for actors, tech rehearsals, photo calls, and strike for a performance. How much the costume designer engages with a shop or builds costumes themselves depends on the institution hiring.
What Associate Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Shelbi Wilkin: Theatre is a highly collaborative artistic space. It allows artists the freedom to create and present their art while receiving a steady paycheck. This collaborative environment produces strong community ties to other theatre artists. As a designer, I get to wear many hats, I enjoy the diverse research and analysis that goes into every design for a production. I then get to use that research to create dynamic costume designs for the stage.
What will help Associate Designers increase their earning potential?
Shelbi Wilkin: Not all theater's pay wages proportionately to the work and expertise asked of theatre artists. Many established theatre artists are working to change this culture in the industry, especially for early career professionals.
What general advice would you give to an Associate Designer?
Dr. Mary Elliott: Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What Associate Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mary Elliott: The fashion industry is one of the largest industries in the world. According to McKinsey & Company, if the fashion industry were a country measuring GDP, it would be the 7th largest economy in the world. The fashion industry encompasses all of the processes needed to take raw product to finished textiles and then to the finished product ready for purchasing by the consumer. This diverse, fast-paced, constantly changing industry is generally divided into two categories for preparation purposes: the creative side and the business side.
What will help Associate Designers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mary Elliott: Because this industry is constantly changing and adapting to economic forces around the world, its employees need to be highly flexible critical thinkers who love working in fast-paced environments.
What will help Associate Designers increase their earning potential?
Georges Fares: Starting a career in interior design can be both exciting and challenging. My advice is to stay curious and keep learning because the field of interior design is ever-evolving. Staying updated with the latest trends, materials, and technologies is crucial. Networking actively is also essential. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with peers and mentors, as these connections can open doors to opportunities and collaborations. Seek diverse experiences by gaining exposure to different types of projects and environments, whether residential, commercial, or hospitality. This will make you a more versatile designer. Lastly, stay resilient. The design field can be competitive and demanding, but by continuously honing your skills and maintaining a positive attitude, you can navigate through challenges successfully.
What general advice would you give to an Associate Designer?
David Flynn: Everything that you see has been touched by a designer. The field is expanding with technology, but basic communication design principals remain paramount. It doesn’t matter if it’s a newspaper ad or a social post, you must have a professional that knows how to communicate a message, move the viewer's eye, and make the point. Designers work in every company and in every industry, worldwide.
What Associate Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Gina Pisut Ph.D.: In addition to being well versed in computer design software for Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising graduates, students need to truly be open to learning, have strong communication skills, and be able to work well in a team. The most common feedback we get from fashion and retail companies is students must be willing to do the work, be open to learning and doing different aspects of the business, and be adaptable and able to pivot when changes come within this fast-paced industry.
What will help Associate Designers increase their earning potential?
Gina Pisut Ph.D.: Students should think in terms of always gaining experience or transferrable skills in every part-time job or volunteer experience. This can be incremental over time. In these positions, think in terms of build something with the company you are at. This may be a customer experience, a product, or a process. What this does is show your value to a new company and provide you a means to negotiate your worth.
What will help Associate Designers increase their earning potential?
Nancy Wynn: There are many different ways to intersect the creative field of graphic design or Design. You can enter utilizing production skills centered on working with an Art Director-you produce their designs with various handwork and software platforms. If you enter as a junior graphic designer-you collaborate with an Art Director and brainstorm concepts / designs for projects. You may intersect working in the service industry where you help customers produce their designs. Day-to-day tasks can be specific if you work at a very large company, or more comprehensive if you work at a smaller agency. They can range from meetings with Art Directors or marketing people; collaboration with fellow designers or other team members based on the project components; brainstorming, research, and ideation for projects; learning new technology by producing designs and client presentations; meetings with focus groups or testing of projects; and finally debrief sessions on projects results.
What general advice would you give to an Associate Designer?
Saskia Van Kampen: On a day-to-day basis a newly hired graphic designer must engage in any number of stages of the design process (research, ideation, iterating, testing, refinement, and/or finalization) - this is not a linear process. On top of this they may be asked to interact with clients and with colleagues (collaborating and critically engaging with work being produced).
What soft skills should all Associate Designers possess?
Diana Boyd: -Collaboration/Teamwork
-Interpersonal
-Reliability
-Ethical behavior
-Self-starter
Lorrie Ivas
Full-time FacultySanta Monica College
Photo, Fashion Department
What skills stand out on Associate Designer resumes?
Lorrie Ivas: Knowledge of the "entire" design process - from hand sketch to drape, draft, construction, digital skills in pattern drafting and design (i.e., Tukatech, Clo or similar), Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop/Illustrator for presentation (look books, colorways, etc.) - is a standout, even though the actual position applying for may not require seasoned skills in every single step. The employer likes to know that the designer "gets" the process.
Companies like to see versatility... so even if a designer shows amazing swimwear in their portfolio, it is always important to show versatility in other design categories (and obviously whatever category the hiring company sells). Companies like to see what you can do for them and what they didn't realize you can do for them - i.e., new ideas in product collaborations, your genuine sustainability commitment, social media skills, etc.
What soft skills should all Associate Designers possess?
Lorrie Ivas: Love the actual definition of "soft skills": personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.
What is often overlooked is communicating professionally via email, text, phone, and/or personal interactions. Basic business etiquette is very important. Fashion is a creative field, yet it is also a business ... and professionalism always stands out... Attention to detail will set one apart from the others. So many resumes come in with spelling errors! It is often just one page! Not proofing once - and then proofing again, and then having someone else's fresh eyes proof it one more time - shows a lack of attention to detail.
Design is a collaborative proposition, so the ability to share ideas with a team is vital.
And again, knowledge of social media platforms, where professional and creative communication/writing skills are as important as the photographs, represents someone who will be a valuable addition to a design firm.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Associate Designers?
Lorrie Ivas: The ability to communicate your design concepts to the team (or future boss/interviewer) is vital. Hand and digital fashion sketching and illustration skills are necessary at every step. Scholarships, competitions, or internships often request a sample portfolio, so it doesn't go any further if the illustrations don't "wow" the judging viewer. One can sew/tailor beautifully, but knowing how to "show" that skillset to the judge or employer is vital - i.e., photographing the step-by-step process with close-up details of tailoring skills and presenting it digitally... will win. One may not show actual garments... so knowing how to "sell" your skills is crucial.
What skills will help Associate Designers earn the most?
Lorrie Ivas: Digital skills are the "unique" differential in being the most valuable to a company today, as international communication resampling and production are all done online. And as mentioned in the above questions, the traditional "hands-on" skills coupled with digital skills are the best mix.
I co-authored a Fairchild/Bloomsbury fashion textbook years ago (2006) entitled "From Pencil to Pen Tool: Understanding and Creating the Digital Fashion Image" since there wasn't a formalized curriculum including Photoshop and Illustrator training for fashion students. All the job opportunities required software skills, but graphic designers were applying because they had those software skills... but didn't have the fashion skills. Now, thankfully, college programs across the country provide appropriate training.
Lorrie Ivas
Full-time FacultySanta Monica College
Photo, Fashion Department
What general advice would you give to an Associate Designer?
Lorrie Ivas: The most important skills are to be technically proficient - whether it means in the product development phase (Adobe Creative Suite, TukaTech, CLO, et al) or production tracking and/ or sales arena (AIMS360, et al). It is important to know both the "hand" skills as well as the "digital" skills, as both are important to the company you will work for as you begin your career.
What Associate Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lorrie Ivas: Know that every single class you may have thought didn't specifically apply to 'what career you thought you wanted' will definitely benefit you and your success in the fashion industry. Your major in apparel and textiles has prepared you for the business and the art of this industry, as it is truly an art and a business. You have picked a career that you will never tire of, as you will be exposed to so many facets of the creation of fashion apparel / accessories/ textiles/interiors, et al. The fashion industry works with so many other industries that a textile designer may use their color knowledge in the beauty industry or may want to enter the lifestyle merchandising area (interiors, set design, etc.). Fashion promotion may steer one to fashion photography or styling while creating lookbooks or working on a fashion editorial. Long story short, take a chance in entering any facet of the apparel industry, as you will experience so many interesting paths that you never thought existed.
Samantha Osborne
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Owner, Samantha Osborne DesignEastern Illinois University
Art + Design
What soft skills should all Associate Designers possess?
Samantha Osborne: Three soft skills stand out most: an ability to see the big picture, an ability to "read" people, and an ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s).
i. An ability to see big picture: there are an infinite number of details in graphic design, whether you work in website design on the front or back end, or in print media with physical outputs. It's easy to get caught up on the details, especially when clients are making specific demands about things such as paper type. A skilled designer must be able to see beyond the details and look at the big picture for an effective design solution. For example, a client may be asking for an invitation design for an up-coming event. A skilled designer will ask questions and dig in, eventually uncovering that perhaps for a successful event, the client also needs a splash page and social media, either in place of or in addition to an invitation. A skilled designer addresses design problems holistically, rather than minutely.
ii. An ability to "read" people: designers are trained in art-specific vocabulary. Hue, saturation, pixels, gestalt...most non-art folks don't use or speak that language. When clients are describing their goals, they aren't using art-vocabulary. It's a designer's job to translate what the client is saying into an advanced and effective creative solution. They must be able to speak and understand the language of non-creative folks, as well as the language of the broader creative industry.
iii. An ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s): many young and inexperienced designer tend to get their hearts broken when a client smashes one of their [very well thought-out] ideas. Rather than rolling over, a designer must learn to navigate how best to build support for their idea(s). That might mean in some instances you work more fluidly with the client throughout the design process, so that they feel they have ownership in the development of the solution. In other instances it might mean that the designer is presenting options, rather than a single solution, so that the client feels empowered to make choices throughout the design process. And in some instances, it might be a matter of better explaining and presenting your idea to a client; perhaps the designer needs to push back more, perhaps they need to provide more research as to why their solution is best, or maybe they simply need to present it with more excitement and enthusiasm.
What general advice would you give to an Associate Designer?
Abby Guido: 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.
Barbara Anderson
Professor and HeadKansas State University
Department of Interior Design and Fashion Studies
What type of skills will young Associate Designers need?
Barbara Anderson: Technology in buildings and using technology to design buildings and communicate with teams and clients will be more critical than ever.
What experience really stands out on Associate Designer resumes?
Barbara Anderson: The experiences individuals can describe on a resume are meaningful, but soft skills are most impressive in a new hire. My top two soft skills areas are communication (listening, speaking, writing, digital and analog visualization) and being productive in a team (cooperation, constructive conflict, continual personal improvement, taking responsibility, anticipating others' needs).
Barbara Anderson
Professor and HeadKansas State University
Department of Interior Design and Fashion Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Associate Designers?
Barbara Anderson: Design students graduating after experiencing the pandemic as a student will have a greater awareness of the health impacts of design because they will have a greater sensibility to the design challenges presented by airborne diseases. I believe they are also learning about working remotely and taking the initiative for their success, even though they do not have the usual social prompts to influence their behavior.
How do you envision technology impacting Associate Designers in the next 5 years?
Barbara Anderson: The integration of technology in buildings and the use of technology to design and communication design to clients and users will continue to accelerate in the next five years. I expect technology integrated into buildings to focus on communications, health and well-being, and Net Zero and water efficiency with the goal of resilience/sustainability.
Barbara Anderson
Professor and HeadKansas State University
Department of Interior Design and Fashion Studies
How do you envision technology impacting Associate Designers in the next 5 years?
Barbara Anderson: The integration of technology in buildings and the use of technology to design and communication design to clients and users will continue to accelerate in the next five years. I expect the technology integrated into buildings to focus on communications, health and well-being, and Net Zero and water efficiency with the goal of resilience/sustainability.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Associate Designers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Lockwood: A year ago, even six months ago, we would never have expected our lives to have taken the turns they have, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In that same sense, we cannot know what obstacles we will encounter in the next year, six months, or even next week. The aspect of technology that seems most important now is software that can bring the human experience of connection into our individual and separated lives. Technology has enabled those of us in design and applied arts, to continue creating and communicating. As always has been, technology is a tool, but it is not usually the entire idea. Yes, every message is altered and influenced by the medium with which it was created. Still, those beginning in this field need to remember that their uniqueness comes from the union of what is in their mind and their heart, and how they articulate and communicate that union.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Associate Designers?
Michelle Lockwood: Oh, yes! There will be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates, and all of us. It has already changed so much about how we interact, do business, socialize, learn, love, and just plain live. There is no way that it could not impact the future of this field, or any area, in my opinion. I think the job market will look very different in the months and years to come. We will adapt, and there will be more opportunities for creativity, more problems to solve, and more chances to engage and inform. But those practicing will need to remain flexible, adapt gracefully to changing circumstances, and find pockets where they can solve problems, and use their unique skillset to illuminate, inform, and delight -- just as we have always done -- only differently.