About the survey

Purpose

This survey was conducted on behalf of AIGA and its partner Aquent, with the cooperation of Communication Arts magazine. The research is part of AIGA’s comprehensive program of activities that serve the professional designer by providing strategies for success as well as sources of inspiration. The survey was conducted by Readex Research, an independent research company in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Methodology

The survey was administered exclusively via the web. The sampling frame included emailable individuals from a variety of list sources: AIGA’s current and past membership, recent AIGA contacts (from conference registrations, inquiries, etc.), lists of clients and talent supplied by Aquent and domestic subscribers of Communication Arts magazine. These combined lists represented a total of 44,125 unduplicated individuals at the time of sample selection. All were invited to participate.

The survey instrument was designed jointly by AIGA and Readex Research, highly similar to prior surveys dating back to 2000. All materials production, respondent contact, data capture/validation and tabulation were handled by Readex.

Sample members were invited to participate via email in three contacts beginning December 17, 2009. The email directed participants to an access-controlled form on Readex's secure web site; a copy of the results was offered as an incentive to participate.

Responses were cut off for final editing, cleaning and tabulation on January 28, 2010, with a total of 7,537 usable returns for an overall response rate of 17 percent. Because the sample was developed from selected sources and because of the moderate response rates achieved, these data should not be viewed as a nationally representative probability sample of all design professionals. They do, however, provide a current and specific reflection of what a significant share of those in the design profession are currently earning.

Compensation is reported in terms of three statistics: the 25th percentile, the median (or 50th percentile) and the 75th percentile. The 25th percentile represents that value which is greater than 25% of all values, the median that value greater than 50 percent of all values and so on. Two quantities are reported out: 2009 wages/salary and 2009 total cash compensation (which includes not only wages and salary but other forms of cash compensation such as bonuses, profit sharing, incentives and partners' profits). Non-wage compensation is especially significant in understanding compensation for owners/partners/principals.

Compensation data are broken down by several variables: geographic region (based on the nine standard U.S. Census divisions), metropolitan area (24 select Core-Based Statistical Areas), type of organization, size of organization and organization’s client base. Results have been suppressed where fewer than ten data points or five cases were returned in a given tabulation.

Positions

Solo designer

A freelance or self-employed design professional who works independently of a company and has no employees.

Owner, partner, principal

An owner, partner, principal holds an equity position and has major business responsibility for a firm having employees.

Creative/design director

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

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

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

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

An entry-level designer is one-to-two years out of school and requires mentoring in all aspects of design conception and implementation.

Print production artist

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 InDesign, QuarkXPress, Photoshop and Illustrator. Responsibilities also include producing final files that image properly to film.

Web designer

A web designer determines and develops the look and feel for sites and is responsible for site navigation design and visual execution.

Copywriter

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.

Print production manager

The print production manager is responsible for managing the process (bids, scheduling, production and delivery) of producing publications, from concept through production, including photography, separations, 4-color press work and digital production. Print production managers are strong project managers, managing multiple jobs simultaneously. In some cases, proficiency in InDesign, QuarkXPress, Illustrator and Photoshop is desirable in this role.

Marketing manager, new business manager, director

A marketing or new business professional is responsible for seeking business opportunities, developing proposals and marketing the firm’s practices.

Web developer (front end/interface systems)

A front-end developer uses HTML/JavaScript/ASP/ColdFusion and other tools to develop static and dynamic web pages.

Web programmer/developer (back end systems)

A back end programmer works with web server systems and web databases, develops web queries to databases and programs web applications.

Web producer, senior producer, executive producer

A web producer organizes web development teams and ensures adherence to budget, schedule and design of website development.

Content developer

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/audio content on sites.

Compensation measures

Salary/wages

Average annual full-time salary/wages.

Total cash compensation

Average annual total cash compensation includes salary/wages PLUS bonuses, profit sharing, incentive pay, etc. Excludes the value of employee benefits, perks and deferred compensation.

Statistics

25th percentile

25 percent of those in this position, under these circumstances, earn less than this amount.

Median

50 percent of those in this position, under these circumstances, earn less than this amount.

75th percentile

75 percent of those in this position, under these circumstances, earn less than this amount.

Locations

Results are available for 31 major metropolitan areas (Core-Based Statistical Areas):

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• Dallas
• Denver
• Detroit
• Houston
• Indianapolis
• Kansas City
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Minneapolis/St. Paul
• Nashville
• New York
• Omaha
• Orlando
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Portland
• Raleigh
• Richmond
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• St. Louis
• Washington, D.C.

Results are also available for the nine standard U.S. Census divisions

New England

CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

Middle Atlantic

NJ, NY, PA

South Atlantic

DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, PR, SC, VA, WV

East North Central

IL, IN, MI, OH, WI

East South Central

AL, KY, MS, TN

West North Central

IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD

West South Central

AR, LA, OK, TX

Mountain

AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY

Pacific

AK, CA, HI, OR, WA