How to hire a junior graphic designer

How to hire a junior graphic designer, step by step

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

What does a junior graphic designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your junior graphic designer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a junior graphic designer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a junior graphic designer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a junior graphic designer that fits the bill.

   This list presents junior graphic designer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Junior Graphic Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Junior Graphic 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.	$14-29
   Graphic Artist	A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project... Show more	$16-40
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Graphic Design
   • Adobe Creative Suite
   • PowerPoint
   • HTML
   • Digital Marketing
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Adobe Illustrator
   • CSS
   • WordPress
   • Brochures
   • Adobe Indesign
   • Animation
   • Sketch
   • Design Solutions

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage website redesign including copywriting and updating all website content.
   • Assist in creation and launch of Google banners, newspaper advertisements, and the design of client PowerPoint presentations.
   • Help in the development of their marketing and advertising collateral, mainly coupons, flyers, posters, etc.
   • Design advertisement campaign for newspapers, magazines, grocery shoppers, flyers, banners and a wide range of print media.
   • Code HTML email templates to be send out to a mailing list weekly.
   • Implement a model for advertising to online real estate search engines using HTML language.

   More junior graphic designer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, junior graphic designers' average salary in south dakota is 54% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level junior graphic designers 50% less than senior-level junior graphic designers.
   • Certifications. A junior graphic 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 junior graphic designer's salary.

   Average junior graphic designer salary

   $44,518yearly

   $21.40 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level junior graphic designer salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average junior graphic designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$57,377	$28
   2	New York	$53,101	$26
   3	California	$51,840	$25
   4	Massachusetts	$48,847	$23
   5	Virginia	$48,105	$23
   6	Maryland	$45,983	$22
   7	Pennsylvania	$45,638	$22
   8	North Carolina	$44,189	$21
   9	Colorado	$41,982	$20
   10	Illinois	$41,823	$20
   11	Oregon	$40,322	$19
   12	Arizona	$40,072	$19
   13	Minnesota	$38,153	$18
   14	Utah	$37,388	$18
   15	Texas	$34,422	$17
   16	Nevada	$34,387	$17
   17	Georgia	$33,504	$16
   18	Ohio	$33,037	$16
   19	Florida	$32,932	$16
   20	Oklahoma	$32,070	$15

   Average junior graphic designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	McKinsey & Company Inc	$85,085	$40.91
   2	R/GA	$69,532	$33.43	2
   3	Carrier	$69,494	$33.41
   4	HDR	$67,650	$32.52	77
   5	L'Oréal	$66,034	$31.75	4
   6	Enterprise Information Services	$65,825	$31.65
   7	Trideum	$64,020	$30.78
   8	Small Army	$60,702	$29.18
   9	The Jewish Museum	$60,014	$28.85
   10	American Enterprise Institute	$59,702	$28.70
   11	Movement Strategy	$59,051	$28.39
   12	Proverbs 31 Ministries	$58,486	$28.12
   13	Grunley Construction	$57,940	$27.86
   14	Cognosante	$56,555	$27.19
   15	IA Interior Architects	$55,491	$26.68	20
   16	Happylucky	$55,071	$26.48
   17	American Pharmacists Association	$54,625	$26.26	1
   18	Peraton	$54,530	$26.22	23
   19	Formica Group	$54,161	$26.04
   20	Jelly Belly	$53,991	$25.96

4. Writing a junior graphic designer job description

   A good junior graphic 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 junior graphic designer job description:

   Junior graphic designer job description example

   **To be considered for this position, a link or attachment to your portfolio MUST be included in your resume or application.**
   
   To be successful as a Junior Designer, you should be able to follow brand guidelines and existing design templates as well as create original designs that meet the requirements detailed in a creative brief. Must also be fluent across Adobe Creative Suite, primarily in InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.
   Creative/Hands-on Work (100%)
   
   Support the Associate Creative Director with the execution of creative assets Attend Creative Review meetings Take notes on feedback and implement that feedback Collaborate with writers and other designers on projects Take on appropriate projects and own them, start to finish Manage and work independently, under tight deadlines, while juggling multiple projects
   
   Qualifications
   
   1+ years agency/design experience BA degree (Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or related field preferred) Evidence of creative ability and judgment A portfolio of work
   
   At Caesars Entertainment, Inc., our Team Members create the extraordinary. We are the largest casino-entertainment company in the U.S. and one of the world's most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through the development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Our resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah's®, Horseshoe® and Eldorado® brand names. We focus on building loyalty and value with our guests through a combination of impeccable service, operational excellence and technological leadership. The company is committed to its Team Members, suppliers, communities and the environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework.
   
   Our Caesars family is driven by our Mission, Vision and Values. We take great pride in living these values - Together We Win, All In On Service and Blaze the Trail - every day. Our mission, "Create the Extraordinary". Our vision, "Create spectacular worlds. That immerse, inspire and connect you. We don't perform magic; we create it with excellence. #WeAreCaesars". If you are ready to create some magic, we invite you to explore our dynamic, yet unique, career opportunities.
   
   To be considered for this position, a link or attachmentto your portfolio MUST be included in your resume or application. To be successful as a Junior Designer, you should be able to follow brand guidelines and existing design templates as well as create original designs that meet the requirements detailed in a creative brief. Must also be fluent across Adobe Creative Suite, primarily in InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

   Recruiting junior graphic designers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 junior graphic designer

   Once you've selected the best junior graphic designer 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 junior graphic designer 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 junior graphic designer?