AIGA/Aquent Salary Survey, 2008

Median Salaries

Owner/Partner/Principal: $95,000
Holds equity position and has major business responsibility for a firm with employees.

Creative/Design Director: $95,000
A creative director or design director is the creative head of a design firm, advertising agency or an in-house corporate design department. In all of these areas, key responsibilities can include the development of graphic design, advertising, communications and industrial design publications.

Art Director: $70,000
The art director establishes the conceptual and stylistic direction for design staff and orchestrates their work as well as the work of production artists, photographers, illustrators, prepress technicians, printers and anyone else who is involved in the development of a project. The art director generally selects vendors and, if there isn't a creative director on staff, has final creative authority.

Senior Designer: $60,000
The senior designer is responsible for conceptualization and design of solutions from concept to completion. In some firms, a senior designer directs the work of one or more junior designers, who generate comps and create layouts and final art. In some cases, senior designers do not manage staff but are designated senior because of their authority in design decision-making.

Designer: $45,000
A designer is responsible for conceptualization and design of graphic applications such as collateral material, environmental graphics, books and magazines, corporate identity, film titling and multimedia interfaces, from concept to completion.

Entry-Level Designer: $35,000
1-2 years out of school.

Solo (Freelance) Designer: $57,000

Print Production Artist: $45,000
A print production artist has a working understanding of layout, type and color and is able to take instructions from a designer and create a complete layout, working proficiently in QuarkXPress, Photoshop and Illustrator. Responsibilities also include producing final files that image properly to film.

Copywriter: $60,000
A copywriter is able to write, edit and proof promotional or publicity copy for print or electronic publications. At higher levels, copywriters are often responsible for strategic and conceptual development of messages and stories.

Web Designer: $52,000
A web designer determines and develops the look and feel for sites, and is responsible for site navigation design and visual execution.

Web Developer/Interface: $65,000
A front-end developer uses HTML, JavaScript, ASP, ColdFusion and other tools to develop static and dynamic web pages.

Web Programmer: $62,400
A back-end programmer works with web server systems and web databases, develops web queries to databases and programs web applications.

Web Producer: $72,000
A web producer organizes web development teams and ensures adherence to budget, schedule and design of web site development.

Content Developer: $55,000
A content developer is also known as a web writer or editor. He or she is responsible for the production and repurposing of text, graphic and audio content on sites.

Marketing Manager: $74,000
A marketing or new business professional is responsible for seeking business opportunities, developing proposals and marketing the firm's practices.

Source: http://www.designsalaries.org/ © AIGA/Aquent Survey of Design Salaries 2008