Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for visual information specialists in the United States
Are visual information specialist jobs in demand?
Visual information specialist job and salary trends over time
Visual information specialist jobs over time
Visual information specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 255 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 252 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 270 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 272 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 271 | 0.00% |
Average visual information specialist salary over time
Visual information specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,085 | $31.29 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $63,537 | $30.55 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $61,415 | $29.53 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | $59,379 | $28.55 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $58,086 | $27.93 | +1.6% |
Visual information specialist jobs by state
Most common states for visual information specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 231 | 33% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,433 | 21% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 278 | 21% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 203 | 21% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 158 | 21% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 123 | 21% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,732 | 20% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 145 | 20% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 203 | 19% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 118 | 19% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 155 | 18% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,288 | 17% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 697 | 17% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 540 | 17% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 515 | 17% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 333 | 17% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 181 | 17% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 915 | 16% |
| 19 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 865 | 15% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 252 | 15% |
Most common cities for visual information specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natick | 1 | 3% | $85,109 |
| 2 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $90,105 |
| 3 | Kalamazoo | 1 | 1% | $72,591 |
| 4 | Mobile | 1 | 1% | $41,190 |
| 5 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $96,159 |
| 6 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $73,113 |
| 7 | Tucson | 1 | 0% | $67,795 |
Visual Information Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of visual information specialist experts
Memphis College of Art
Pennsylvania College of Technology
University of Akron
Kean University
Arkansas State University
Louisiana Tech University
Foothill College
University Of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Cincinnati- Clermont College
Highline College
Bowling Green State University
Belmont University
California State University - Stanislaus
Methodist University
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
What Visual Information Specialist 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 Visual Information Specialist?
Lucas Charles: As graphic design graduates embark on their careers, nurturing curiosity, continuous upskilling, networking, and collaboration are pivotal. Embracing curiosity sparks innovation, while ongoing learning ensures relevance in a fast-paced industry. Building connections fosters opportunities, and collaboration cultivates dynamic work environments.
What will help Visual Information Specialists increase their earning potential?
Lucas Charles: In the ever-changing field of graphic design, adaptability, digital fluency, and understanding user experience are becoming more crucial. Embracing new and emerging technologies, prioritizing empathy, and fostering a mindset of lifelong learning are paramount for success.
What general advice would you give to a Visual Information Specialist?
Kathryn Anderson: Some of the day-to-day duties of a graphic designer entail some basic skills such as the following: listen attentively; engage in and interpret research (visual, text-driven, data-based, etc.); problem-solve; process and critique creative ideas; use technology in an ethical and appropriate manner; prepare digital and other work/files for printing and/or the web; and revamp concepts as per the client’s wishes.
What general advice would you give to a Visual Information Specialist?
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 Visual Information Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
David Flynn: They like that it can be very lucrative, so rewarding when you see your work in the world, nothing like it really. Downside is that “creativity on demand” is difficult to sustain and you have to purpose to take care of your creative soul.
What will help Visual Information Specialists increase their earning potential?
David Flynn: We spend our day creating items that need to communicate a message clearly and quickly to a person or public. Information, directions, product benefits, packaging, events, advertising, anything and everything is designed to inform.
What general advice would you give to a Visual Information Specialist?
Dr. Denise Anderson: When mentoring students in developing their final portfolios and preparing them for professional practice I ask them “What makes you stand out above the line” or simply put, what separates you from all the other designers looking for a job. This could be prestigious internships, knowing motion or 3D rendering skills and then I tell them to promote their strengths. For example, my student Myesha Bennett spent four years in the Navy to pay for college. What she learned along the way shaped her as the designer she is today and these lessons made her stand above the line.
What will help Visual Information Specialists 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 Visual Information Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nikki Arnell MFA: Job flexibility is a key reason why Graphic Design is a good profession to enter now. A graphic designer can have various job titles and work in different settings, providing opportunities for freelance work or full-time positions. Having a strong portfolio is more important than a job title for future job prospects.
Tom Futrell
Associate ProfessorLouisiana Tech University
Design And Applied Arts
What general advice would you give to a Visual Information Specialist?
Tom Futrell: For recent graduates, my advice is to embrace curiosity and consistently work hard. Dedicate time to experimentation, reading, writing, asking questions, and developing a robust design process. This effort will stand out in your work, offering potential employers valuable insight into who you are and how you think.
Carolyn Brown
ProfessorFoothill College
Graphic Communications
What will help Visual Information Specialists increase their earning potential?
Carolyn Brown: AI will continue to grow in importance in the next 3-5 years. AI is useful in many ways. Right now, AI is mostly used for writing which is great for brainstorming and writing the messaging that graphic designers create the visuals for. AI is becoming an important tool for generating images, videos, animations, 3D, and AR/VR content. The most important skill is the ability to learn new skills and/or adapt your current skills to new technologies.
Dak Kopec Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator, BA Interior Architecture and Design and Master of Design ProgramUniversity Of Nevada, Las Vegas
School of Architecture
What Visual Information Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dak Kopec Ph.D.: 1. have a great portfolio demonstrating your design skills’ diversity of design abilities. I.e., show you how you can create designs that are historic, contemporary, and cutting-edge. 2. Demonstrate your ability to think critically and apply information. While AI will soon be able to take over the graphical representation of the design, it is unlikely that it will be able to use critical thinking and deductive reasoning. 3. Use your interview to show your employer you have skills they don’t have in the office and those skills will get them clients. I would research their projects and website, identify a weakness, and then demonstrate in your portfolio that I have the skills to help address existing weaknesses. Once an employer sees that what you bring to the table has value, you’ll be in a better negotiation position.
Dr. Andy Curran
Professor, Area CoordinatorUniversity of Cincinnati- Clermont College
Digital Media Communications
What hard/technical skills are most important for Visual Information Specialists?
Dr. Andy Curran: -File management
-Computer literacy skills
-Software proficiency
What soft skills should all Visual Information Specialists possess?
Diana Boyd: -Collaboration/Teamwork
-Interpersonal
-Reliability
-Ethical behavior
-Self-starter
Jenn Stucker
Associate Professor, Chair of The Graphic Design DivisionBowling Green State University
School of Art
What hard/technical skills are most important for Visual Information Specialists?
Jenn Stucker: Technical skills in the Adobe Creative Cloud are necessary as it is the industry standard. Additionally, good designers should know the basics of HTML and CSS and work in digital collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Miro, and Figma.
Doug Regen
Professor of PracticeBelmont University
Graphic Design Department
What skills will help Visual Information Specialists earn the most?
Doug Regen: Brilliant Ideas are executed flawlessly. Team player. Ability to motivate and lead others. Strong communicator and presentation skills.
Tori Jordan Hord
Assistant Professor of Graphic DesignMethodist University
Department of Art
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visual Information Specialists to find work opportunities?
Tori Jordan Hord: Many students have the tendency to flock to a "big name" area, like New York City, upon graduation. While these areas have excellent job opportunities, they can quickly become oversaturated, making it difficult for recent graduates to get their foot in the door. I would suggest cities like Raleigh, NC, Nashville, TN, or Austin, TX. These are areas that are up and coming, as far as population and industry are concerned, making them prime places for new graphic designers seeking work opportunities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visual Information Specialists?
Michelle Lockwood: Oh, yes! There will be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates, and all of us. It has already changed so much about how we interact, do business, socialize, learn, love, and just plain live. There is no way that it could not impact the future of this field, or any area, in my opinion. I think the job market will look very different in the months and years to come. We will adapt, and there will be more opportunities for creativity, more problems to solve, and more chances to engage and inform. But those practicing will need to remain flexible, adapt gracefully to changing circumstances, and find pockets where they can solve problems, and use their unique skillset to illuminate, inform, and delight -- just as we have always done -- only differently.