The role of a Graphic Designer is both essential and highly rewarding. With the increasing demand for compelling visual communication and innovative branding, skilled graphic designers are in constant demand. Whether creating impactful campaigns for major corporations in London, developing unique visual identities for startups in Manchester, or crafting bespoke designs for creative projects in Edinburgh, professionals in this field enjoy strong career prospects and the opportunity to make a significant impact by shaping the way ideas and brands are communicated to the world.
Graphic Designer salary
Base pay £23K – £34K/yr
£28K/yr average base pay
The estimated total pay for a Graphic Designer is £29,261 per year, with an average salary of £28,069 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is £1,192 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing.
What do Graphic Designer earn
How much does a Graphic Designer make in United Kingdom?
£28,237/yr
Highest paying cities for Graphic Designer near United Kingdom
- London
£31,710 per year935 salaries reported - Oxford
£27,928 per year19 salaries reported - Watford
£27,610 per year18 salaries reported - Exeter
£27,505 per year21 salaries reported - Harlow
£27,469 per year20 salaries reported - Birmingham
£27,376 per year99 salaries reported - Nottingham
£27,261 per year41 salaries reported - Sheffield
£25,432 per year57 salaries reported - Derby
£25,250 per year19 salaries reported
What’s on Quora?
How much is the salary of a graphics designer right now?
- Age: 36
- Degree: Cum Laude at one of the best design schools in the world
- Tools: Pen, paper, mind, tools, computer, software
- Portfolio / Resume contains some international top companies
- Annual income: 25k
Only 25k?
You might think the annual income is low for someone with my credentials in western Europe, but I work no more than absolutely necessary. Most of the time I spend on the people and activities I love. Like my girlfriend and making music.
Also, I love aesthetics, print and typography, but what it comes down to is that paid Graphic Design assignments are usually just about making people buy stuff, and I only like to use my skills for products and services I believe in.
No taxes?
Yes. In my country, as a self-employed designer with an annual income like this, you pay no taxes. And I can buy all design-related stuff (which is almost anything but food) with no VAT ( = minus about 20% ).
How come you worked for top companies?
By doing a really good job when working on free projects, non-profit jobs or exhibitions. By carefully choosing the moments with the right audience and freedom as a designer you can create something truly priceless and shine in a way the rusty marketing departments of big companies can only dream of. All because of the freedom of mind you have. This is what design is about in my book, it’s a way of thinking. And sadly this way of thinking usually goes away when designers get a steady job. Design is not just a set of computer skills, it’s being able to look, hear, taste and think differently. And it’s your duty as a designer to keep your mind this way and keep inspired. If you don’t, your job will be taken over by AI / robots / computers in the next 5 years (I am not kidding, the software you use now will do what you do, this will make you obsolete).
Tools?
Of course I use computers and Adobe and other software to do my stuff, but it’s never about that. It are just some tools to make it easier to create the thing you want to create. The actual work is done in your head, and with something like pen and paper or a creative team to explore your ideas. A lot of people forget: design is a substantive discipline, its about the matter, the communication, the emotion. If what you do is not about the substance, you are not a designer but a stylist.
Top Answer
- 35
- 15 years
- Completed most of a Graphic Design degree before dropping out to work.
- Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, Unbounce, Adobe Spark
Know how to use: Dreamweaver, Acrobat, InDesign, Sketch - $130k annual + bonuses and stocks
- San Francisco, CA, USA
- Even when it feels like you’re not getting anywhere and it’s too hard, don’t give up. If it was easy it wouldn’t be worth doing.
Don’t procrastinate and don’t avoid asking questions about time-sensitive things.
Don’t get complacent with where you’re at, either in your skills or your job.
Networking at events and through classmates, friends, or colleagues is important to find or create opportunities. Help them and they’ll help you.
Design rules are guidelines, not laws. They can and should be broken when your instincts tell you it makes sense to, but it takes a solid understanding of design principles to know when to break/bend and when not to. Sharpen those senses.
Try new things all the time. Look up tutorials and guides. Learn the ins and outs of every tool you can use and practice as often as you can.
