How To Become A Computer Graphic Designer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a computer graphic designer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Michelle Lockwood

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a computer graphic designer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $26.75 an hour? That's $55,644 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 6,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a computer graphic designer?

Michelle Lockwood

Associate Professor, Graphic Design Art, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Flexibility, adaptability, and problem-solving. I would say that these three characteristics will be essential to all recent and upcoming graduates' survival and success, obtaining degrees in design and applied arts. Flexibility is their willingness to look at all situations, projects, and job opportunities through a lens that considers multiple approaches, solutions, and out-of-the-box thinking. Adaptability -- in their understanding that the ground beneath them will continuously change, and they need to move with that change and balance themselves amid a career, which will likely look nothing like it does today, a year, or two years from now. Problem-solving -- in their use of intelligence and intuition to look carefully, listen actively, and continuously learn about the tools, technologies, and issues from which their projects and areas of focus will arise.

ScoreComputer Graphic DesignerUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $55,644

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 32.56%

male 67.44%

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

Key steps to become a computer graphic designer

Explore computer graphic designer education requirements

Most common computer graphic designer degrees

Bachelor's

52.1 %

Associate

28.8 %

High School Diploma

8.7 %

Start to develop specific computer graphic designer skills

Skills	Percentages
Adobe Photoshop	14.37%
Graphic Design	12.80%
Adobe Illustrator	11.39%
Layout Design	6.39%
Design Brochures	5.41%

Complete relevant computer graphic designer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New computer graphic 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 a computer graphic designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real computer graphic designer resumes.

Research computer graphic designer duties and responsibilities

Create ads, manage copywriting, respond to customer inquiries, generate brand unity, establish clear company identity.
present: Macintosh and PC platform.
Create slides for speaker support, image slides from both PC & Macintosh platforms, and slide duplication.
Design and typesetting of e-manuals, brochures, and flyers.

Prepare your computer graphic designer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your computer graphic 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 a computer graphic 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 computer graphic designer resume templates

Build a professional computer graphic 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 computer graphic designer resume.

Apply for computer graphic designer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a computer graphic 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 computer graphic designers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Computer graphic designer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

There is so much to like about working as Graphic Designer ... the seeing how all the elements of words, space, colors, visuals (photos, graphics, charts,...) come together on a page...sharing info with others to learn and use

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".