How To Become A Graphics Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a graphics assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Michelle Lockwood

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a graphics assistant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $21.98 an hour? That's $45,717 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 graphics assistant?

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.

ScoreGraphics AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $45,717

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 59.48%

male 40.52%

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 graphics assistant

Explore graphics assistant education requirements

Most common graphics assistant degrees

Bachelor's

66.9 %

Associate

20.4 %

High School Diploma

6.5 %

Start to develop specific graphics assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Web Content	12.76%
Graphic Design	12.24%
Adobe Photoshop	11.33%
Flyers	7.05%
Adobe Creative Suite	6.88%

Complete relevant graphics assistant training and internships

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

Research graphics assistant duties and responsibilities

Lead team of motion designers which include brainstorming, mood boards, creation of mock-ups and presentations to clients and stakeholders.
Create HTML pages and upload onto the site.
Created/Design an online system utilizing HTML, ColdFusion, JavaScript, and SQL.
Work with a team of other artists to complete various complex VFX projects.

Prepare your graphics assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your graphics assistant 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 graphics assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable graphics assistant resume templates

Build a professional graphics assistant 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 graphics assistant resume.