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Job outlook for graphics illustrators in the United States
Graphics illustrator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected graphics illustrator job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 6,800 new jobs for graphics illustrators are projected over the next decade.
Graphics illustrator salaries have increased 12% for graphics illustrators in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,282 graphics illustrators currently employed in the United States.
There are 2,854 active graphics illustrator job openings in the US.
The average graphics illustrator salary is $64,943.
Are graphics illustrator jobs in demand?
Graphics illustrator job and salary trends over time
Graphics illustrator jobs over time
Graphics illustrator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,282 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,227 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,532 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,571 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,558 | 0.00% |
Average graphics illustrator salary over time
Graphics illustrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $64,943 | $31.22 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $63,398 | $30.48 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $61,281 | $29.46 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | $59,249 | $28.49 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $57,959 | $27.87 | +1.6% |
Graphics illustrator jobs by state
Most common states for graphics illustrators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 46 | 7% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 179 | 3% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 44 | 3% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 27 | 3% |
| 5 | California | 39,536,653 | 884 | 2% |
| 6 | New York | 19,849,399 | 424 | 2% |
| 7 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 172 | 2% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 171 | 2% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 155 | 2% |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 119 | 2% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 111 | 2% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 97 | 2% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 88 | 2% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 76 | 2% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 73 | 2% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 55 | 2% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 30 | 2% |
| 18 | Delaware | 961,939 | 17 | 2% |
| 19 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 12 | 2% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 10 | 2% |
Most common cities for graphics illustrators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schaumburg | 1 | 1% | $79,113 |
Graphics Illustrator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of graphics illustrator experts
University of Akron
Kean University
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
University of Cincinnati- Clermont College
Highline College
Marywood University
Bowling Green State University
Belmont University
Eastern Illinois University
Flagler College
California State University - Stanislaus
Kansas City Art Institute
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Southern Methodist University
Wayne State University
University of Oklahoma
Saint Xavier University
Duke University
University of Findlay
What Graphics Illustrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tiffany Prater: Never stop learning because life never stops teaching. This quote by Kirill Korshikov rings true for new designers, who must know the latest trends and tools to be uniquely creative, improve their skills, and land a better design job. Knowledge and inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere in our daily lives.
What general advice would you give to a Graphics Illustrator?
David Flynn: Everything that you see has been touched by a designer. The field is expanding with technology, but basic communication design principals remain paramount. It doesn’t matter if it’s a newspaper ad or a social post, you must have a professional that knows how to communicate a message, move the viewer's eye, and make the point. Designers work in every company and in every industry, worldwide.
What will help Graphics Illustrators increase their earning potential?
Dr. Denise Anderson: Similar to question 1, leverage what you have done prior to entering the field. It takes my students 6-8 weeks to complete their resumes and personal because the image and content needs to be authentic. Perception is a lot in our field and I train students to feel confident about themselves. Portfolios get students an interview but they need to communicate their value to get hired.
What Graphics Illustrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Allen Garcie MFA: One way that a new graduate can maximize their earning potential is by gaining professional experience as soon as possible. Freelance work is a great way to do this! Another way is for a new graduate to work towards earning a field-specific professional certificate (For example, both the American Institute for Graphic Arts [AIGA] and the American Marketing Association [AMA] offer these.), a software-related certification (Adobe and Autodesk offer these.), or an advanced degree (Such as an MA or MFA.). While gaining employment in the design field is primarily related to your portfolio and related experience, additional credentials can still make you more competitive.
Dr. Andy Curran
Professor, Area CoordinatorUniversity of Cincinnati- Clermont College
Digital Media Communications
What hard/technical skills are most important for Graphics Illustrators?
Dr. Andy Curran: -File management
-Computer literacy skills
-Software proficiency
What skills will help Graphics Illustrators earn the most?
Dr. Andy Curran: Creative skills, particularly knowing how to craft an appropriate message for each project.
What soft skills should all Graphics Illustrators possess?
Diana Boyd: -Collaboration/Teamwork
-Interpersonal
-Reliability
-Ethical behavior
-Self-starter
Sue Jenkins
Associate ProfessorMarywood University
Art Department
What type of skills will young Graphics Illustrators need?
Sue Jenkins: A strong understanding of the Principles and Elements of Art and Design, killer typography skills, an understanding of color theory, some training in sociology and psychology to gain a better understanding of user experience, creative and critical thinking skills, attention to details, a strong conceptual framework that supports the project goals, the ability to speak up, take critical feedback and be a team player, and above all the courage to be authentic and bring something fresh to the table.
Jenn Stucker
Associate Professor, Chair of The Graphic Design DivisionBowling Green State University
School of Art
What soft skills should all Graphics Illustrators possess?
Jenn Stucker: A good designer's soft skills include empathy, critical thinking, context, collaboration, leadership, networking, and the ability to present and articulate ideas.
What skills will help Graphics Illustrators earn the most?
Jenn Stucker: Along with good visual design skills, creative thinking, problem-solving, and strategy will set a designer apart from others. These kinds of designers can understand the big picture of design in relation to context, culture, and meaning.
Doug Regen
Professor of PracticeBelmont University
Graphic Design Department
What skills will help Graphics Illustrators earn the most?
Doug Regen: Brilliant Ideas are executed flawlessly. Team player. Ability to motivate and lead others. Strong communicator and presentation skills.
Samantha Osborne
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Owner, Samantha Osborne DesignEastern Illinois University
Art + Design
What skills stand out on Graphics Illustrator resumes?
Samantha Osborne: Soft skills are equally important to hard skills. Graphic designers are visual communicators. Visual communication is a universal learned skill, vs. a linguistic capability. This means that graphic designers must learn to recognize and effectively utilize mood and tone in their own visual compositions in regard to color theory and psychology, gestalt principles, and font or lettering design. Essentially a well-skilled graphic designer becomes part psychologist in working through design problems and deciphering client direction, part problem-solver in developing an effective solution to the design problem, and part artist in bringing astonishing and original visual communication and graphics to reach a solution.
What soft skills should all Graphics Illustrators possess?
Samantha Osborne: Three soft skills stand out most: an ability to see the big picture, an ability to "read" people, and an ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s).
i. An ability to see big picture: there are an infinite number of details in graphic design, whether you work in website design on the front or back end, or in print media with physical outputs. It's easy to get caught up on the details, especially when clients are making specific demands about things such as paper type. A skilled designer must be able to see beyond the details and look at the big picture for an effective design solution. For example, a client may be asking for an invitation design for an up-coming event. A skilled designer will ask questions and dig in, eventually uncovering that perhaps for a successful event, the client also needs a splash page and social media, either in place of or in addition to an invitation. A skilled designer addresses design problems holistically, rather than minutely.
ii. An ability to "read" people: designers are trained in art-specific vocabulary. Hue, saturation, pixels, gestalt...most non-art folks don't use or speak that language. When clients are describing their goals, they aren't using art-vocabulary. It's a designer's job to translate what the client is saying into an advanced and effective creative solution. They must be able to speak and understand the language of non-creative folks, as well as the language of the broader creative industry.
iii. An ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s): many young and inexperienced designer tend to get their hearts broken when a client smashes one of their [very well thought-out] ideas. Rather than rolling over, a designer must learn to navigate how best to build support for their idea(s). That might mean in some instances you work more fluidly with the client throughout the design process, so that they feel they have ownership in the development of the solution. In other instances it might mean that the designer is presenting options, rather than a single solution, so that the client feels empowered to make choices throughout the design process. And in some instances, it might be a matter of better explaining and presenting your idea to a client; perhaps the designer needs to push back more, perhaps they need to provide more research as to why their solution is best, or maybe they simply need to present it with more excitement and enthusiasm.
Diana Lodi
Assistant Professor of Graphic DesignFlagler College
Department of Visual and Performing Arts
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Graphics Illustrators?
Diana Lodi: Adobe certifications are available for software skills; however, courses focused on understanding diversity and inclusion best practices are more desirable. As brands continue to become more aware of the non-negotiables of their brand followers, designers also need to be well-versed in guiding the client to make informed choices on representation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Graphics Illustrators?
John Ferry: I believe so - how can we have something this significant happen and not have it affect our lives in a noticeable way. I actually think there are advantages to having this happen . . . If you look for the positives you'll find them . . . if you look for the negatives you'll find them . . . I can't speculate on what that impact will be - but, we'll all be impacted, Professors and Students. At the very least we are all a lot more familiar with how to navigate virtual meetings.
What general advice would you give to a Graphics Illustrator?
Abby Guido: We've all heard the buzz about networking, and there is so much buzz because it works. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is both up to date and active. Connect with all of your past professors, classmates, and anyone and everyone you meet in a professional setting. I often tell students to get into the habit of searching for any classroom guests, or guest lecturers, to connect, thank them for their time, and build their network. Share content. Write articles, or reshare those you find interesting.
Every job I have ever received in my career has been through someone else I know. I share this with students to help them see the value in relationships. I always remember the students that took the time to write a handwritten thank-you note. And I think of them when I get an email asking if I know any students are looking for work.
Dr. B. Kathleen Gallagher Ph.D.
Assistant Professor - Arts Management and Arts EntrepreneurshipSouthern Methodist University
Meadows School of the Arts
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Graphics Illustrator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. B. Kathleen Gallagher Ph.D.: The creative industries are a broad category and includes for-profit and non-profit organizations. These categories have experienced different effects of the pandemic.
Museums and theaters had to shut down as a result of the pandemic. There were furloughs and layoffs. Some have connected with their audience through online delivery of performances but the experience and pricing structure have been different. All are watching their financial positions carefully.
Given my research on population dynamics of nonprofit arts organizations, we should be particularly concerned about small and new organizations. And these venues are often where recent graduates as well as emerging artists and performers get their first opportunities. So, this will definitely present some additional challenges to job seekers.
In the for-profit industry it's something of a tale of two cities.
Movie theaters and commercial music venues are suffering from the same issues as the non-profits. AMC may file for bankruptcy (Bloomberg).
Simultaneously, many Americans have really relied on entertainment from streaming platforms to adjust to a pandemic lifestyle. Disney+ made headlines in April when they announced more than 50 million paid subscribers (Barrons). But the simultaneous release of movies in theaters and streaming creates a scenario unthought of when contracts with the talent were written that will require significant adaptation (Nytimes).
Individually and organizationally, we have had to adapt to current conditions in order to remain healthy. I think one of the positive lessons is that organizations have been forced to revisit practices and procedures and innovate. Those working in creative and entertainment fields are trained to innovate and think creatively. In 2004, Daniel Pink argued that the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) is the new MBA in the New York Times. Speaking to an audience at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in December 2018, Pink observed:
I think the data and analytics skills have become much more important than they were 13 years ago, but you still have to have those artistic skills," Pink said, adding that the artistic trait of composition was critical all manner of business endeavors. (DardenVirginia)
Maria Bologna
Wayne State University
What skills stand out on Graphics Illustrator resumes?
Maria Bologna: Highly sought after skills that employers are looking for related to interactivity (motion graphics, animation, video editing)
What general advice would you give to a Graphics Illustrator?
Tess Elliot: Stay true to yourself. Be patient and have confidence in yourself and your work. Artists early in their careers often don't make money from their work. This is okay. Find a way to support yourself while continuing to make and share your work and things will fall into place. Seek out that unique path to career fulfillment.
What experience really stands out on Graphics Illustrator resumes?
Cathie Ruggie Saunders: Experiences that stand out on resumes include ones that challenge the student beyond their known capabilities. Experiences that acquaint them with diverse modes of seeing, thinking, collaborating. Travel opens their perspectives and calls upon them to dig deep within themselves to find solutions to problems they have never encountered before. Internships are the usual, but not the only. In my youth, I spent a summer on an archeological expedition, literally digging up artifacts from previous civilizations and trying to piece together their culture, in hopes of understanding mine better. My daughters spent a summer working at a World Bird Sanctuary, rehabilitating birds of prey and raptors, learning captive breeding, and for educational outreach, carrying 12-foot long snakes for children's viewing on school field trips. It can be anything that you have never done before, or thought you could never do. Because that demonstrates your courage and resilience. And that is needed to succeed.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Graphics Illustrators to find work opportunities?
Victoria Szabo Ph.D.: Information science training offers opportunities in lots of sectors. You can go into IT management or support, data analyst positions in industry, work web development, database design, user instruction, or systems administration in libraries and archives. You could also get into data journalism, educational administration, or human resources - the needs are everywhere.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Graphics Illustrator job market given the pandemic?
Anne Beekman: According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected job outlook in Graphic Design is down 4%, with a loss of 10,900 jobs in the next ten years.
For students entering the job market as graphic designers, finding a position may be more difficult, but not necessarily due to Covid. Stay-at-home restrictions may be an advantage for some entry-level graphic designers. They may be able to work from home, not incurring the costs of relocation to a larger city.
This downward trend can be attributed to many things, foremost the movement from print to digital. As many magazines and newspapers cease publishing, there is no longer a need for page layout designers to go to an online format.
However, this trend may also be because those who have an education in graphic design do not report graphic designers. After all, their positions are so much broader; designers may list their occupation as advertising, marketing, social media, website development, technology, and more. Conversely, the availability of easy to use, low-cost design software, stock images, free fonts, and do-it-yourself web builders means that more people who are not graphic designers by profession are doing graphic design.
What Graphics Illustrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anne Beekman: Designers with a broad range of skills- technology, creativity, and communication-with a strong aesthetic will continue to find jobs.