How to hire a graphic art designer

How to hire a graphic art designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step graphic art designer hiring guide:

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

What does a graphic art designer do?

Post a graphic art designer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the graphic art designer you need to hire. Certain graphic art designer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A graphic art designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, graphic art 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of graphic art designers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Graphic Art Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Graphic Art 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.	$12-33
   Web Designer	A web designer is a creative professional responsible for creating and redesigning the content and layout of websites. Web designers are required to meet clients and users to discuss the needs and goals of their clients... Show more	$20-46
   Visual Designer	A visual designer is someone who creates designs for a variety of platforms such as Internet and intranet sites, games, and wearables. The duties of visual designers depend on the specific project or industry in which they are working... Show more	$24-68

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Graphic Design
   • Web Design
   • Design
   • Autocad
   • Photography
   • Design Concepts
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Adobe Creative Suite
   • Brochures
   • Flyers
   • HTML
   • Fine Arts
   • Adobe Indesign
   • Print Design

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create ads, manage copywriting, respond to customer inquiries, generate brand unity, establish clear company identity.
   • Prep customer create art for flyers, business cards, posters, etc.
   • Create logos, flyers, business cards, marketing materials, and design websites.
   • Design a variety of print publications including brochures, programs and banners.
   • Update and maintain pages on the website including html code editing as needed.
   • Design collateral, corporate identity, brochures and direct mail from thumbnails to final mechanical.

   More graphic art designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your graphic art designer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A graphic art designer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, graphic art designers' average salary in south dakota is 60% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level graphic art designers 64% less than senior-level graphic art designers.
   • Certifications. A graphic art designer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a graphic art designer's salary.

   Average graphic art designer salary

   $42,598yearly

   $20.48 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level graphic art designer salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average graphic art designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$67,723	$33
   2	New York	$58,635	$28
   3	Maryland	$54,946	$26
   4	Texas	$42,640	$21
   5	Colorado	$38,742	$19
   6	Georgia	$38,556	$19
   7	Illinois	$37,088	$18
   8	Michigan	$36,175	$17
   9	Indiana	$35,233	$17
   10	Minnesota	$35,102	$17

   Average graphic art designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$155,061	$74.55	512
   2	University of Maryland, Baltimore	$100,776	$48.45	2
   3	Chapman University	$87,053	$41.85	3
   4	NFHS Network	$56,039	$26.94
   5	Johnson Brothers	$52,051	$25.02
   6	Proviso Township Schools	$49,105	$23.61
   7	State Bar of Michigan	$47,489	$22.83
   8	Sul Ross State University	$31,084	$14.94

4. Writing a graphic art designer job description

   A good graphic art designer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a graphic art designer job description:

   Graphic art designer job description example

   Posting Details
   
   Position Number: 121279
   Title: Senior Graphics Art Designer
   Functional Title: Senior Graphic Art Designer
   Category Status: 33-Exempt Regular
   Applicant Search Category: Staff
   University Authorized FTE: 1.0
   Unit: ARHU-College of Arts & Humanities
   Campus/College Information:
   Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation's legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation's capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.
   
   Background Checks
   Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.
   
   Vaccine Protocol
   The University of Maryland has made the safety of our students, faculty and staff, and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, the University System of Maryland ( USM ) recently announced that students, faculty, and staff on USM campuses this fall, including UMD , are required to be vaccinated against COVID . As a prospective and/or a new employee at UMD , you will be required to comply with the University's vaccination protocol. Proof of full vaccination will be required before the start of employment in order to work at any University of Maryland location. Prospective or new employees may seek a medical or religious exemption to the vaccination requirement at return.umd.edu and must have an approved exemption prior to the start of their employment. Failure to provide proof of vaccination or to obtain approval for a medical or religious exemption will result in the offer of employment being rescinded.
   
   Position Summary/Purpose of Position:
   The College of Arts and Humanities ( ARHU ) at the University of Maryland ( UMD ) seeks a Senior Graphic Designer to join the college's Marketing and Communications (MarCom) team. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Creative Strategy and in collaboration with MarCom colleagues, this position supports a wide range of campaigns and projects for the college's schools, departments and centers including arts and academic events, festivals and high-profile initiatives. The team is committed to high-quality, equitable design, smart strategies and collaborative processes.
   
   The Senior Graphic Designer brings strategy to life via captivating campaign art and visual identity for a range of programs and initiatives with primary target audiences of UMD students (current and prospective), faculty and staff and the surrounding community. The projects are part of greater marketing, branding and storytelling efforts that support event attendance and audience engagement, student recruitment, fundraising and showcase academic research.
   
   The Senior Graphic Designer is inventive and passionate about visual storytelling and research, digital-first design and industry trends. The designer is responsible for conceptual exploration and methodical development of print, digital/web, signage and merchandise design. Outstanding candidates will exhibit passion for arts and humanities along with talents around contemporary design styles and techniques. They will also have excellent communication and collaboration skills and the ability to give technical and project planning advice.
   
   The Senior Graphic Designer is versatile in artistic and technical ability, analytical and organizational skills and has solid knowledge of best practices for print and digital applications. Candidates must be able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and balance big picture thinking while knocking out quick creative deliverables. The designer will support making data-informed decisions and identify areas of advancement for digital design, motion and interactivity.
   
   Minimum Qualifications:
   EDUCATION
   Bachelor's degree preferably in graphic design, with a concentration or coursework in visual arts, illustration, photography and/or marketing & communications.
   
   EXPERIENCE
   Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in graphic design including art direction, print and digital design and production and photo editing (i.e. color correction, masking, retouching). Illustration and photography skills a plus.
   
   KNOWLEDGE , SKILLS , AND ABILITIES
   - Compelling portfolio of print and digital design work that demonstrates experience leadinglarge scale projects, a range of aesthetics and client-focused solutions to marketingchallenges. Applications without a portfolio will not be accepted.
   - A passion for design thinking, brand building and storytelling and a strong understanding ofhow to maintain and evolve design systems.
   - Self-motivated, strong work ethic with excellent communication (verbal, written, visual),problem-solving skills and ability to propose ideas.
   - Meticulous eye for detail and an active, empathetic listener able to interpret goals, and incorporate critical feedback from multiple client-partners.
   - Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat Pro, Lightroom, Bridge).
   - Strong time management and organizational skills with experience using online project management software.
   - Strong conceptual and research skills and an aptitude for developing a variety of styles.
   - Strong typography, layout and template-building skills.
   - Adept in digital design with focus on usability, accessibility and web standards.
   - Familiarity with offset and digital printing processes (pre-press, press checks, finishing) aswell as printing bids, estimates and format recommendations.
   - Contributes to a positive team spirit and ability to work collaboratively in-person and virtually.
   - Motivated by challenges and interested in professional growth.
   
   Preferences:
   - Experience in arts, higher education or cultural institution settings
   - Background or interest in arts, culture and humanities
   - In-house, agency or marketing team experience
   - Experience art directing photo shoots
   - Experience with digital media and marketing
   
   Additional Certifications:
   Additional Information:
   All applicants should submit the following documents:
   1. Cover Letter
   2. CV or Resume
   3. Design Portfolio
   4. List of 3 professional references
   
   Job Risks Not Applicable to This Position
   Physical Demands
   Typical office environment.
   
   Posting Date: 05/05/2022
   Closing Date:
   Open Until Filled Yes
   Best Consideration Date 06/03/2022
   Diversity Statement:
   The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find graphic art designers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any graphic art designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level graphic art designers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your graphic art designer job on Zippia to find and recruit graphic art designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with graphic art 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 graphic art designer

   Once you've decided on a perfect graphic art designer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a graphic art designer?