Survey of Design Salaries 2010
The most comprehensive study of its kind, the AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries is commissioned annually by AIGA and presented by Aquent, in cooperation with Communication Arts magazine.
The survey results are available to the public, along with an interactive salary calculator tool, and can be accessed online at www.designsalaries.org.
“The AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries 2010 includes a summary of job types by region to give users an idea of the salaries at various job levels. In addition, this year’s survey provides insights and advice from prominent design professionals on remaining competitive and successful in today’s economy.”
Split into a wide range of design roles — from entry-level designer to partner/principal — the survey results are solely from the United States, but it’s an interesting read regardless of your location.
As well as the salaries, this year’s survey provides insights and advice from respected design professionals on remaining competitive in today’s economy. Here’s one of Debbie Millman‘s five tips to living a remarkable life:
“Consider what you would do if you knew you would never fail, and pursue that as if your life depended on it — because it does! Only you can create a remarkable life for yourself. Only you.”
— DEBBIE MILLMAN
On a somewhat related note, you can take a look inside Debbie’s gorgeous Manhattan home over on Apartment Therapy.
Is there a similar survey for us in the UK? I’d like to see that.
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There is usually a similar set of results published by one of the creative magazines, I forget which. I try not to look at them anymore as I’m so far outside of where I should be. Some companies unfortunately have no idea of what a designer earns anywhere outside of their office.
Great post David! I’m always interested in seeing how the regions differ from one another in pay scale. Unfortunately, I believe I am underpaid ;)
Good thing I love what I do!
I take it these are all American dollars? I know a few years ago they did a Canadian one which was a huge help when I was in salary negotiations. Too bad I didn’t know about it earlier.
Thanks.
Very interesting, not too surprising either. I hope one focuses specifically on Australia.
As far as money goes, the best thing a designer can do is pick up web development skills. Those with hybrid skill sets get up to and over 100k, especially in the corporate sphere.
@Douglas, I took a class of flash last semester, just to try it, learn something new. My professor suggested(more like our lives depended on it) that we should really take on the web, that if we ever wanted to earn good money that’s the path we should take…
Valentino, Robyn, I remember years ago when a prospective employer asked what salary I expected. He gave what I wanted, no questions asked. That’s when I regretted not going-in higher. I think a lot of folk have a tendency to undersell themselves.
That’s right, Carson. USD.
Doug, Victor, even a little knowledge of coding can be a great help for designers who specialise in areas other than web — especially if they want to manage one day, when knowing a little about a lot is the way forward.
It would be interesting to know if these studies can also identify what skills/specialization determine each of these salary brackets… aside from the obvious reasons like education, experience and location. For example : the designer’s paid top dollar these days are mostly in web design, branding, packaging… ?
Hi David, very interesting stuff. There’s a new issue of Design Week this week which has the British salary survey in – check it out!
Owen
Thanks for posting this, David! I will be starting a job search in a few weeks, and it’s great to know how much I can reasonably ask for.
I’m not surprised about San Fransisco being so highly-paid. I’ve been glancing at authenticjobs.com for postings in California, and a good 90% of them are in the Bay Area.
Thanks for letting me know, Owen. Sounds good.
Anna, good luck with the job search. Here are two posts from Lee Newham that might be helpful:
Getting your foot in the door
15 graphic design interview tips
Good luck Anna.
@Victor and @Douglas:
It is good to have some web and flash knowledge (unless you’re web designers, where it is mandatory), but what really pays in this business are great and well-developed ideas. Some people get so passionate about tools (read: photoshop, illustrator, flash, etc) that completely forget about the creative product. Designers that deliver unique and well-thought solutions supported by good research, experience and passion are the ones that get the bucks.
In my country most graphic artists are quite underpaid because of the lack of orgs that publish these stuff. I get paid more in doing freelance than my day job
I agree with Alejandro. I started out learning photoshop when I was in high school because of the cool tricks I saw like outer glow and bevels..that was actually before web 2.0!…My first boss actually told us that if you want to get rich..start your own business (I also observed that I get paid more in freelance works)..which is only for those who are brave enough to take risks. And those who are really creative get paid more than those who are just talented because they climb up the ladder faster than most of us. Right now I’m working on the creative side of things because I want to go up! and technically adept folks work for the creative ones. Almost everyone wants to go digital…..but to learn new things is not bad either. Just don’t focus too much on trends and what has been done.
In Nigeria the average graphic designer earns any where from £200 a month – £2000 a month.
I work for myself.