Freelance Graphic Designer Salaries

Graphic desidngers should be creative and knowledgeable about various design tools.

Graphic designers are in charge of creating imagery to help clients convey a message. They often work on marketing teams to design company logos, brochures or websites. Graphic designers are also heavily involved in the development of advertisements that appeal to people, helping attract new customers and expand a company's brand. Freelance graphic designers work on contracts as opposed to working as a salaried employee.

Average Salary

According to PayScale as of May 2011, the average salary range for graphics designers is between $27,493 and $56,218. The Simply Hired website indicates the average salary for freelance graphic designers is $53,000 as of June 2011. However, how much a freelance designer earns depends on a number of factors. Freelance designers set their own rates, so how much they charge affects their salary. Also, the number of clients they have and the amount of work they have affect their salaries as well; those without a lot of work will earn less money than those with plenty of work that charge the same rates.

Experience

The amount of experience a graphic designer has affects their salaries as well. Freelance graphic designers with plenty of experience have a larger portfolio and more client references that improve their reputation than those just starting out, and as a result, might have an easier time finding new work. According to PayScale as of May 2011, graphic designers with less than one year of experience earn between $20,479 and $41,470, while those with one to four years of experience earn between $25,681 and $47,519. Graphic designers with 10 to 19 years of experience earn between $30,963 and $67,198.

Location

Freelance graphic designers earn different amount in various locations. Some locations have a higher market rate for graphic designers than other locations. For example, graphic designers in San Francisco have the highest salary range reported by PayScale as of May 2011, between $33,973 and $72,989. Designers in Dallas earn the lowest salary range reported by PayScale, between $27,759 and $51,892. Those in Chicago earn between $28,857 and $53,468; those in New York City earn between $30,335 and $69,282; and those in Los Angeles earn between $29,836 and $66,320.

Industry

Freelance graphic designers work for clients in a number of different industries, which affect their salaries as well. For example, according to PayScale as of May 2011, graphic designers working in the graphic arts and design industry earn between $25,585 and $57,681, while those in the publishing industry earn between $27,371 and $52,938. Designers in the advertising agency industry earn between $28,017 and $55,527, while those in the advertising, branding, sales and promotion industry earn between $25,985 and $57,507.

References

• Simply Hired; Average Freelance Graphic Design Salaries; June 2011