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Graphic Designers in Minnesota

Graphic Designers in Minnesota

Considering working as a Graphic Designers in Minnesota? Below are the key facts. Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects. Excludes “Web and Digital Interface Designers” (15-1255).

What do Graphic Designers Make in Minnesota?

For graphic designers working in Minnesota, the typical annual salary is $58,590 per year (or roughly $28.17/hour).Pay can range from $38,870 at the 10th percentile to $93,600 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $38,870 $18.69
25th percentile $46,990 $22.59
Median (50th) $58,590 $28.17
75th percentile $74,060 $35.60
90th percentile $93,600 $45.00
Salary ranges for Graphic Designers in Minnesota

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Minnesota compared to the national average — is 1.35, suggesting that graphic designers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, graphic designers earn a median of $66,386 per year ($31.92/hour), lower than the Minnesota median.

Graphic Designers earnings in Minnesota vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 256,099 graphic designers nationwide. In Minnesota alone, about 5,460 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 2,010 graphic designers.

Graphic Designers in Minnesota vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Graphic Designers

Top Minnesota Metros for Graphic Designers

The largest metro-area employers of graphic designers in Minnesota.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 3,750 $61,100
St. Cloud, MN 170 $50,540
Duluth, MN-WI 150 $50,780
Mankato, MN 120 $48,990
Rochester, MN 90 $54,440

Top States for Graphic Designers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most graphic designers work.

State Number Employed
California 28,310
Texas 19,360
New York 16,730
Florida 14,010
Pennsylvania 8,280
Illinois 7,900
North Carolina 7,210
Ohio 7,010
Michigan 5,990
New Jersey 5,870
Virginia 5,500
Washington 5,460
Minnesota 5,460
Georgia 5,410
Massachusetts 4,890
Colorado 4,720
Wisconsin 4,630
Indiana 4,480
Arizona 4,330
Tennessee 4,190

Highest-Paying States for Graphic Designers

These states pay the most for graphic designers.

State Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia $90,710
California $76,440
Massachusetts $76,370
Washington $76,010
New York $74,530
Virginia $70,060
New Jersey $66,600
Colorado $66,360
Maryland $66,290
Connecticut $65,360

Skills

The most important graphic designers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  3.8 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.4 / 5
0
5
Active Learning  3.2 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.2 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.2 / 5
0
5
Coordination  3.1 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Design  4.7 / 5
0
5
Computers and Electronics  4.4 / 5
0
5
Fine Arts  4.4 / 5
0
5
Communications and Media  4.3 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.8 / 5
0
5
Sales and Marketing  3.6 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for graphic designers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Originality  4.0 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.9 / 5
0
5
Fluency of Ideas  3.9 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.6 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  3.5 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, graphic designers typically:

  • Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
  • Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
  • Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
  • Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
  • Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
  • Use computer software to generate new images.
  • Prepare digital files for printing.
  • Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
  • Research the target audience of projects.
  • Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
  • Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer.
  • Study illustrations and photographs to plan presentation of materials, products, or services.

Work Activities

  • Thinking Creatively
  • Working with Computers
  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign In-demand technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Design & Applied Arts
  • General Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer Software Applications

Careers similar to graphic designers include:

Also Known As

Ad Designer (Advertising Designer), Ad Layout Worker (Advertising Layout Worker), Apparel Graphic Designer, Artist, Brand Designer, Catalogue Illustrator, Commercial Artist, Concept Artist, Creative Designer, Design Consultant, Designer, Digital Artist, Forms Designer, Graphic Art Designer, Graphic Artist.

References

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