How to hire a layout designer

How to hire a layout designer, step by step

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

What does a layout designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The layout designer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

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   Hiring the perfect layout designer 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.

   This list presents layout designer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Layout Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Layout 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.	$28-71
   User Experience Designer	A User Experience (UX) designer is an individual who measures and optimizes applications to improve the experience of end-users. His/Her or her duties and responsibilities include considering a design's human-computer interaction element, defining interaction models, and working with creative directors and designers... Show more	$31-61
   Graphic Designer, Marketing	A graphic designer of marketing specializes in developing creative imagery as part of a company's marketing efforts. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with the marketing team to share insights and strategies, conceptualizing designs in adherence to objectives and deadlines, and preparing presentations... Show more	$16-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CAD
   • CMOS
   • Layout Design
   • Cadence Virtuoso
   • Virtuoso
   • Analog Circuits
   • DFM
   • ERC
   • ESD
   • IC
   • Verification Tools
   • Capacitors
   • RC
   • IR

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead development team to manage CMOS projects to meet short time frames, keep schedules sharp with excellent time management practices.
   • Accomplish number of I/O libraries for use in many successfully products.
   • Lead efforts for debugging DRC, ERC and LVS layout and verification issues.
   • Modify SRV-1 source code using JavaScript software to attain tracking at any instantaneous time.
   • Perform reliability verification, DRC, ERC and LVS.
   • Debug DRC, LVS, and DFM errors in device-level and block-level layout.

   More layout designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the layout designer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A layout designer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a layout designer in South Carolina may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level layout designer. Additionally, a layout designer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average layout designer salary

   $94,509yearly

   $45.44 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level layout designer salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 11, 2025

   Average layout designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$124,663	$60
   2	Texas	$101,994	$49
   3	Oregon	$99,023	$48
   4	Washington	$95,930	$46
   5	New York	$92,111	$44
   6	Arizona	$91,166	$44
   7	Pennsylvania	$90,752	$44
   8	Colorado	$89,392	$43
   9	Virginia	$89,282	$43
   10	Massachusetts	$89,150	$43
   11	Maryland	$85,426	$41
   12	New Jersey	$81,238	$39
   13	New Mexico	$78,884	$38
   14	North Carolina	$73,784	$35
   15	Missouri	$72,575	$35
   16	Georgia	$71,266	$34
   17	Wisconsin	$71,062	$34
   18	Iowa	$64,772	$31
   19	Michigan	$64,588	$31
   20	Florida	$63,374	$30

   Average layout designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$141,756	$68.15	60
   2	Cadence Design Systems	$122,624	$58.95	12
   3	Amd	$121,407	$58.37	5
   4	ARM	$116,027	$55.78
   5	Texas Instruments	$114,837	$55.21	8
   6	Seagate Technology	$111,920	$53.81	1
   7	Oshkosh	$109,660	$52.72	2
   8	Skyworks Solutions	$109,167	$52.48	4
   9	IBM	$108,754	$52.29	26
   10	Cirrus Logic	$108,541	$52.18
   11	Silicon Labs	$107,780	$51.82
   12	MaxLinear	$102,250	$49.16
   13	Qualcomm	$101,389	$48.74	2
   14	Micron Technology	$100,500	$48.32	3
   15	CVS Health	$100,414	$48.28
   16	Maxim Integrated	$98,342	$47.28
   17	Vanderlande	$97,825	$47.03
   18	Meijer	$96,021	$46.16	1
   19	Schindler Elevator	$95,747	$46.03
   20	Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display)	$94,986	$45.67	8

4. Writing a layout designer job description

   A good layout 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 layout designer job description:

   Layout designer job description example

   In this position, you will work closely with design engineering to complete the layout and verification of high-performance mixed-signal CMOS Integrated Circuits using Cadence Virtuoso XL and Mentor's Calibre tools, and work with circuit engineers to generate topological layouts to ensure optimal circuit performance.
   Responsibilities
   Solving layout design issues and applying proactive intervention Proactively work with design engineers to achieve efficient circuit performance Design analog & mixed-signal layouts Understand device matching techniques Understand signal conditioning/protection techniques Strong collaboration skills, including written and verbal communication Outstanding layout planning and integration skills Experience in routing at the block level and chip top-level using assisted/automated tools Required Skills and Qualifications
   Associates Degree in Electronic/IC layout CAD specialization or related program and 10+ years of IC layout experience Ability to layout analog circuitry in a size/time constrained environment Understand layout techniques such as common centroid, matching, isolation, shielding, and the use of dummy devices Solid understanding of ESD, Latch-up, STI, WPE, electro-migration, IR drop, cross-coupling capacitance, DFM, and Antenna effect Ability to solve design problems while using a combination of technical skills, intuition, and creativity Proficiency in floor planning activities with block assembly, and block-level routing LVS trouble shooting and debug skills Proven track record of working in a fast-paced team-oriented environment Great teammate and works well with others Preferred Skills and Qualifications
   BS Degree in Electronics Engineering or related program Comfortable with multiple IC design CAD tools and foundry PDKs Demonstrated ability to contribute ideas for improved efficiency and automation of layout tasks Knowledge of analog, digital, and mixed-signal fundamentals
   This position is located in Cupertino, CA
   
   This is a hybrid position and will follow a 2+ day in-office work schedule, with in-office days based on business needs and team preference. You must be based within commutable distance of the work location listed on the job posting, or willing to relocate prior to beginning employment with Cirrus Logic.
   
   Cirrus Logic is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We strive to select the best qualified applicant for any opening and to reward employees based on their skills, experience and performance. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, pregnancy status, marital status, gender, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   #LI-MM1
   #Li-hybrid

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find layout designers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your layout designer job on Zippia to find and recruit layout 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

   To successfully recruit layout designers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 layout designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the layout designer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 layout designer?