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Graphic designers can be found in a range of fields, from advertising to motion pictures. They create logos, packaging, signs, multimedia and more. Getting the proper training can boost your earning potential as a graphic designer.

Graphic Designer Salary: 2009 Information

The median annual graphic designer salary in 2009 was $43,180, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Similar figures come from Salary.com, which estimates that graphic design specialists earned median annual salaries of $46,704 in 2010. Take a look at annual mean salaries in 2009 for graphic designers in the highest-paying occupations:

• Federal executive branch: $74,030
• Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing: $66,250
• Motion picture and video industries: $64,710
• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing: $63,750
• Consumer goods rental: $59,040

Those working in specialized design services earned high wages in a popular position, with 28,100 graphic designers earning mean annual wages of $50,280. In comparison, only 1,640 graphic designers worked in the federal executive branch.

GlassDoor.com reports average annual salaries for graphic designers across the country. Take a look at salary figures from 2010 for specific job titles within graphic design:

• Graphic designer (technical director): $116,637
• Graphic designer (animator): $105,942
• Graphic designer (set dresser): $97,507
• Senior graphic designer: $59,375
• Assistant graphic designer: $39,559

Top paying states for the occupation in 2009, according to the BLS, included the District of Columbia ($68,110), California ($57,180), New York ($56,680), Connecticut ($55,780), and Maryland ($51,880).

The following were the top-paying metropolitan areas for graphic designers in 2009:

• San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA: $74,660
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $68,810
• Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $67,610
• Framingham, MA: $61,350
• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $60,160

Cost of living was 39 percent higher than the national average in the Washington D.C. area in 2009, according to ACCRA, and 32.6 percent higher in the Framingham area. Despite higher-than-average numbers, that's still a lower cost of living than the other cities on the list above, making the D.C. and Framingham areas good potential employment options for graphic designers.

Explore Graphic Designer Training Online

Looking for a training course that blends flexibility and focused career training? Consider graphic designer training online. Distance learning career training gives you the freedom to log on from anywhere in the world to complete your education. Students may maintain a full-time or part-time job, keep up with family commitments, and even travel while pursuing graphic design training. It's one way to secure the training you need on your own schedule.

Graphic Designer Career Outlook

Careers for graphic designers are expected to see a moderate boost in the coming years. The BLS projects that 36,900 new jobs should enter the industry between 2008 and 2018, leading to a 13 percent growth for graphic designers. Explore your training options and boost your potential for securing a career in a growing industry.