Graphic designer demographics and statistics in the US
Graphic designer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates graphic designer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our graphic designer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about graphic designers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 111,578 graphic designers currently employed in the United States.
- 50.2% of all graphic designers are women, while 49.8% are men.
- The average graphic designer age is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of graphic designers is White (70.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (10.6%), Asian (10.4%) and Unknown (5.0%).
- Graphic designers are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The technology industry is the highest-paying for graphic designers.
- 13% of all graphic designers are LGBT.
On this page
Graphic designer demographics by:
Graphic designer gender statistics
50.2% of graphic designers are women and 49.8% of graphic designers are men.
- Female, 50.2%
- Male, 49.8%
Graphic designer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 50.2% |
| Male | 49.8% |
Graphic designer gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$49,902
Female income
$47,567
Graphic designer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in graphic designer positions over time. Currently, 50.2% of graphic designers are female.
Graphic designer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 52.18% | 47.82% |
| 2011 | 52.44% | 47.56% |
| 2012 | 51.62% | 48.38% |
| 2013 | 54.08% | 45.92% |
| 2014 | 51.88% | 48.12% |
| 2015 | 52.63% | 47.37% |
| 2016 | 51.52% | 48.48% |
| 2017 | 50.54% | 49.46% |
| 2018 | 52.76% | 47.24% |
| 2019 | 49.56% | 50.44% |
| 2020 | 49.62% | 50.38% |
| 2021 | 49.75% | 50.25% |
Graphic designer related jobs gender ratio
We compared graphic designers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, exhibit builder and senior industrial designer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Decorating Consultant | 9% | 91% |
| Floral Designer | 11% | 89% |
| Floral Manager | 11% | 89% |
| Graphic Designer | 50% | 50% |
| Craftsman | 88% | 12% |
| Senior Industrial Designer | 91% | 9% |
| Exhibit Builder | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Graphic designer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among graphic designers is White, which makes up 70.2% of all graphic designers. Comparatively, 10.6% of graphic designers are Hispanic or Latino and 10.4% of graphic designers are Asian.
- White, 70.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 10.6%
- Asian, 10.4%
- Unknown, 5.0%
- Black or African American, 3.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Graphic designer race
| Graphic designer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 70.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10.6% |
| Asian | 10.4% |
| Unknown | 5.0% |
| Black or African American | 3.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Graphic designer race and ethnicity over time
See how graphic designer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Graphic designer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 80.32% | 3.37% | 6.45% | 8.15% |
| 2011 | 79.15% | 3.38% | 7.00% | 8.33% |
| 2012 | 78.60% | 3.42% | 6.69% | 9.26% |
| 2013 | 79.01% | 3.39% | 7.37% | 8.05% |
| 2014 | 78.43% | 3.15% | 7.37% | 8.85% |
| 2015 | 77.58% | 3.31% | 7.11% | 9.89% |
| 2016 | 77.09% | 3.54% | 7.72% | 9.34% |
| 2017 | 77.04% | 3.17% | 8.01% | 9.29% |
| 2018 | 74.98% | 3.33% | 8.26% | 10.34% |
| 2019 | 76.12% | 3.50% | 7.60% | 10.19% |
| 2020 | 74.32% | 3.04% | 7.13% | 10.91% |
| 2021 | 70.17% | 3.42% | 10.42% | 10.63% |
Graphic designer wage gap by race
According to our data, asian graphic designers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White graphic designers have the lowest average salary at $48,033.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $51,435 |
| White | $48,033 |
| Black or African American | $48,160 |
| Asian | $53,310 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $48,785 |
Average graphic designer age
See how the average age of graphic designers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Graphic designer age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 40 | 33 |
| White | 40 | 35 |
| Black or African American | 38 | 34 |
| Asian | 36 | 33 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36 | 31 |
Graphic designer age breakdown
The average age of graphic designers is 40+ years years old, representing 42% of the graphic designer population.
Graphic designer age breakdown
| Graphic Designer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 42% |
| 30-40 years | 35% |
| 20-30 years | 24% |
Graphic designer educational attainment
The most common degree for graphic designers is bachelor's degree, with 68% of graphic designers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 23% and associate degree degree at 3%.
- Bachelor's, 68%
- Associate, 23%
- Master's, 3%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Graphic designers by degree level
| Graphic designer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 68% |
| Associate | 23% |
| Master's | 3% |
| High School Diploma | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Graphic designer jobs you might like
Graphic designer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, graphic designers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $58,581 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, graphic designers earn a median annual income of $53,661 compared to $48,143 for graphic designers with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $58,581 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $53,661 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,143 |
Graphic designer employment statistics
Most graphic designers work for a private in the media industry.
Company size where graphic designers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where graphic designers work.
Graphic designer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 11% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 16% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 32% |
Graphic designer jobs by company type
Employees with the graphic designer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most graphic designers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Graphic designer jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 12% |
| Public | 28% |
| Private | 59% |
| Government | 1% |
Graphic designer jobs by industry
The most common industries for graphic designers are media, professional and retail.
Graphic designer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Media | 17% |
| Fortune 500 | 15% |
| Professional | 12% |
| Retail | 11% |
| Education | 10% |
| Technology | 9% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Graphic designer turnover and employment statistics
Graphic designer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for graphic designers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Graphic designer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Graphic designer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.84% |
| 2011 | 7.82% |
| 2012 | 7.12% |
| 2013 | 5.32% |
| 2014 | 4.78% |
| 2015 | 4.60% |
| 2016 | 4.15% |
| 2017 | 3.61% |
| 2018 | 3.55% |
| 2019 | 3.78% |
| 2020 | 6.80% |
| 2021 | 7.79% |
Average graphic designer tenure
The average graphic designer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 120,919 graphic designers resumes in Zippia's database.
Graphic designer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 24% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Graphic designer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of graphic designers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Art Director And Production Manager | 11.32% | 59,938 |
| Home Stager | 12.35% | 39,061 |
| Graphic Designer | 13.05% | - |
| Floral Arranger | 14.26% | 469 |
| Display Specialist | 16.91% | 20,915 |
| Fashion Director | 17.98% | 9,325 |
| Design Specialist | 22.51% | 68,347 |
Similar graphic designer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Art Director And Production Manager | 11.32% | 59,938 |
| Home Stager | 12.35% | 39,061 |
| Floral Arranger | 14.26% | 469 |
| Display Specialist | 16.91% | 20,915 |
| Fashion Director | 17.98% | 9,325 |
| Design Specialist | 22.51% | 68,347 |
Foreign languages spoken by graphic designers
The most common foreign language among graphic designers is Spanish at 49.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 9.6% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 5.8%.
- Spanish, 49.7%
- French, 9.6%
- Chinese, 5.8%
- Mandarin, 4.8%
- Japanese, 4.3%
- Other, 25.8%
Graphic designer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 49.7% |
| French | 9.6% |
| Chinese | 5.8% |
| Mandarin | 4.8% |
| Japanese | 4.3% |
| Other | 25.8% |
