Once you have completed your Design degree you will need to decide which
particular design field you wish to enter. This decision can be based
upon your creative talents, specialized course work or personal interests.
One huge factor in deciding what field to enter is the income potential
for someone holding this particular degree. A design degree holder can
earn a wide range of salaries dependant on the type of work done and the
amount of experience in the field.
Graphic Designer
The graphic designer uses the knowledge acquired from a design degree
to effectively communicate a message to the populace. They use various
techniques and layouts to design eye catching advertisements and the production
of various types of visual media. The median starting salary (in the United
States) for this job is about $32,000 per year. Within five years it jumps
to $40,000 and to $50,000 by ten years. The highest salaried graphic designers
live in New York and make about $63,000 per year.
Web Designer
Web designers take their design degree skills and knowledge to the internet.
Their job is quite similar to a graphic designer with the addition of
programming knowledge and a firm idea about how internet users view advertisement
and textual information. Starting web designers average about $42,000
per year. Within five years a web designer earns about $51,000 and in
ten years it goes up to $73,000 or more. The internet is only gaining
users in the foreseeable future which indicates the need for web designers
will increase as will the pay rates.
Art Director
Art directors’ salaries vary widely. It often depends on the amount
of art programs in the region and the focus on the types of art. In areas
like New York and California, the median starting salary for this job
is $60,000 because there are large art museums, art colleges and art based
programs on lower educational levels. If you travel to areas where there
is less stress put on the physical arts, like the south eastern or mid
western areas, the median salary can decrease to about $40,000 per year.
