How to hire a graphic engineer

How to hire a graphic engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step graphic engineer 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 engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new graphic engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a graphic engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a graphic engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect graphic engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

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

   Type of Graphic Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Graphic Engineer	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.	$37-74
   Design Internship	As the name entails, graphic design interns learn about the career in graphic design in a hands-on setting. They have varied tasks and duties, including taking part in every meeting of the design team, conducting client research, assisting with social media and design projects, and working closely with experienced designers... Show more	$15-30
   Production Artist	A production artist is responsible for managing digital content, meeting clients' standard specifications and requests for successful project completion. Production artists must have computer proficiency, especially on utilizing various software tools and applications to create illustrations and layouts... Show more	$19-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • C++
   • OpenGL
   • Unity
   • Debugging
   • Animation
   • Windows
   • Photoshop
   • Mac
   • User Interface
   • Linux
   • Unix
   • Graphic Design
   • CAD
   • Lua

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and update all as built cad files.
   • Manage digitizer plans, develop and, coordinate and modifications to the GIS.
   • Support DOD agency needs in accomplishing engineer technical and non-technical goals associate with wireless LAN technology products.
   • Job include various other tasks from debugging software issues to developing various plugins.
   • Render game lights, graphics and effects using OpenGL, Maya and XNA game studios.
   • Streamline and preflightfinal art files for production.

   More graphic engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, graphic engineers' average salary in south dakota is 55% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level graphic engineers 50% less than senior-level graphic engineers.
   • Certifications. A graphic engineer 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 engineer's salary.

   Average graphic engineer salary

   $110,329yearly

   $53.04 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level graphic engineer salary

   $78,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average graphic engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$148,412	$71
   2	California	$136,924	$66
   3	Nevada	$116,729	$56
   4	Maryland	$116,298	$56
   5	Arizona	$107,430	$52
   6	Utah	$106,584	$51
   7	Massachusetts	$105,344	$51
   8	Colorado	$102,937	$49
   9	New York	$101,657	$49
   10	Florida	$101,501	$49
   11	West Virginia	$96,132	$46
   12	Georgia	$95,032	$46
   13	Texas	$94,130	$45
   14	Wyoming	$93,545	$45
   15	Minnesota	$88,338	$42
   16	New Hampshire	$87,681	$42
   17	Iowa	$86,371	$42
   18	Michigan	$86,063	$41
   19	North Carolina	$85,791	$41
   20	South Carolina	$85,432	$41

   Average graphic engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$164,707	$79.19	18
   2	Unity Technologies	$150,374	$72.30	6
   3	Apple	$149,538	$71.89	39
   4	Tencent	$149,342	$71.80	3
   5	Bloomberg	$148,065	$71.19	7
   6	Microsoft	$146,578	$70.47	58
   7	CyberCoders	$142,110	$68.32
   8	Trion Worlds	$141,465	$68.01
   9	Schell Games	$141,301	$67.93
   10	Zynga	$138,353	$66.52
   11	Activision Blizzard	$137,496	$66.10	1
   12	NVIDIA	$136,005	$65.39	73
   13	Glu Mobile	$135,744	$65.26
   14	ZeniMax Media	$135,468	$65.13	2
   15	Resilience	$134,421	$64.63
   16	Amazon	$134,250	$64.54	53
   17	Halon Entertainment	$133,689	$64.27
   18	Sony Pictures	$133,213	$64.04	7
   19	Randstad North America, Inc.	$133,189	$64.03
   20	Certain Affinity	$131,379	$63.16

4. Writing a graphic engineer job description

   A job description for a graphic engineer 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 a graphic engineer job description:

   Graphic engineer job description example

   With expertise in all areas of game programming, our engineers are adept at writing code from scratch as well as working with middleware and existing tools. Our flexibility allows us to partner with our clients to determine the best technology plan that enables the successful execution of each project.
   We are seeking an experienced Senior Graphics Programme r to be a key contributor to our team. At Schell, you will have an opportunity to help build and create a rendering pipeline from the ground up and help set the vision for how our graphics should look and feel. You will be responsible for designing, developing and maintaining both high-level and low-level graphics-related systems in partnership with artists and designers. You will also stay on top of new industry trends and updates to game engines used by the studio. We are in particular looking for a render generalist with an aesthetic eye who can work closely with our artists to make our worlds come to life.
   
   AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
   
   Serve as a technical expert on topics such as optimization, multi-threaded programming, and hardware capabilities Profiling/Optimization of CPU and GPU Create clean, efficient, and well-tested code Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in order to establish budgets for art assets and design concepts, along with serving as liaison to non-engineering disciplines Develop and implement new and existing rendering techniques Implement efficient and stunning industry-defining visuals
   DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
   
   8+ years experience with Unity and/or Unreal Engine 4 required Excellent 3D math skills (linear algebra, vector math) Strong graphics background Strong knowledge of C and C++ programming languages Strong knowledge of industry-standard graphics APIs (DirectX, OpenGL, lib GCM, Gnm Library) Self-motivated individual with excellent problem-solving skills Desire to understand hardware at a low level Good oral and written communication skills Knowledge of shader programming languages (PSSL/HLSL/GLSL/Cg) *Preferred* Experience with GPGPU or Compute Shaders *Preferred*
   Expectations of Senior level roles at Schell Games:
   
   You are an expert in your discipline and share your knowledge with the studio. You have formed strong relationships inside and outside of the studio that allow you to leverage your expertise for the greatest impact. You think strategically about your craft and contribute heavily to your discipline community. You can be relied upon by your Vice President to represent your craft discipline.
   
   You consistently build highly productive relationships by respecting your team members and clients, while effectively giving and addressing feedback. You set a high bar for delivery and hold others accountable, leveling up your team. You do this by demonstrating humility and empathy, building others' trust in you, and defaulting to trusting others. You maintain composure in the face of change and challenges.
   
   You are deeply familiar with development methodologies and best practices. You identify and help improve faulty processes. You help solve problems. You drive consensus and move your projects toward their goals. You recognize and build off others' contributions.
   
   Others consistently look to you as a leader (whether or not you are formally in that role). You quickly resolve conflicts, involving yourself or among others. You use empathy to seek understanding and common ground. You are a prime example to others of what a member of your discipline should be, and you actively promote those values. You respect and empathize with your colleagues and clients.
   
   Education Background:
   
   B.S. in Computer Science and/or Mathematics or equivalent work experience
   
   DEI COMMITMENT
   
   Our studio is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive work environment that ensures that all applicants and team members are treated with dignity and respect. We will not tolerate any type of discrimination or harassment directed at any applicant or employee because of their gender, race, religion, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, veteran, family or parental status or any other protected group characteristic. This equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.
   
   Prohibiting discrimination and harassment is only one part of the equation. "Diversity makes us strong" is more than just something we say. We value diversity in all forms because it is essential to our success, and we want every member of our team to feel their best creative self. Our development environment and social culture are based on welcoming, respecting, and celebrating differences among our team members and our players. We rely on each person to add their own unique skills and perspective to our culture. Every member of our team is responsible for making the studio as inclusive and equitable as possible.
   
   Candidate selected for this position will be subject to standard employment verification and criminal background check upon offer of contingent employment.
   
   Return to the studio's home page.

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5. Post your job

   To find graphic engineers 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 engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level graphic engineers 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 engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit graphic engineer 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

   During your first interview to recruit graphic engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 engineer

   Once you've selected the best graphic engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new graphic engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 a graphic engineer?