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 58,703 unduplicated individuals at the time of sample selection. All were invited to participate.  In order to potentially broaden representation beyond these list sources, a separate survey link, accessible by anyone, was created for AIGA to post on websites, at their discretion.

The Survey of Design Salaries has been conducted since 2000 using the same survey content, in order to facilitate trending.  However, based on feedback from survey respondents and users of the data, the 2011 survey instrument was changed to refine position definitions and expand the number of positions studied, with the goal of better representing current industry conditions.  The survey instrument was designed jointly by AIGA and Readex Research.  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 February 8, 2011. 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 March 2, 2011, with a total of 8,470 usable returns for an overall response rate of 14%.  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% of all values, and so on. Two quantities are reported out: 2010 wages/salary, and 2010 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 (number of employees), and the nature of their 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 solo designer is a freelance or self-employed design professional who works independently of a company and has no employees.

Owner, Partner, or Principal

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

Operations Director

An operations director works for a mid-sized or larger firm and is responsible for issues related to financial management, human resources, contracts and legal matters, technology resources, and facilities. The operations director oversees project management and makes sure there is a very close connection between project-level finances and the overall performance of the company. All financial and administrative staff report directly to the operations director.

Strategy Director or Design Strategist

A strategy director or design strategist is responsible for the overall strategic direction of client initiatives through the research and development phase, in which a clear understanding of end user's or target audience's needs is gained, to the execution phase, where findings are applied to create solutions. This position would include design or account planning.

Creative or Design Director

A creative of design director is responsible for communicating strategic goals into actionable design solutions, establishing the conceptual and stylistic direction for design staff and orchestrating their work, as well as the work of production professionals. Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, industrial, interaction, motion, video, research/strategic, 3-D design, prototyping, interior design, environmental design or for print media or use on the web. Creative/design directors typically engage in a good deal of supervisory and administrative work. The role ensures the right resources are in place, from designers to developers to copywriters and more, so that the interactive produced is visually compelling and able to drive revenues.

Marketing or New Business Manager/Director

A marketing or new business manager or director is responsible for seeking business opportunities, developing proposals and/or marketing the firm's practices.

Executive Producer

An executive producer is a manager responsible for running an entire motion design studio; developing executive-level client relationships; and identifying and expanding strategic development of new business.

Head of Production

A head of production is responsible for managing and coordinating an entire production department.

Account Services Director

An account services director is responsible for client interactions and direction of a staff of project managers to ensure that design execution remains on strategy.

Account Manager

An account manager is responsible for client interactions and account management without supervisory responsibility.

Production Manager

A production manager is responsible for running the process of producing design projects, overseeing bids, production schedules and delivery.

Producer, primarily print

A producer, primarily print is a producer for whom a majority of their work is with the print medium.  They are responsible for overseeing the planning, management and delivery of projects from concept through completion by working externally, interfacing with clients and helping them navigate key milestones; and internally, with creative directors, designers and animators through all project phases.

Producer, primarily Web/interactive

A producer, primarily Web/interactive is a producer for whom a majority of their work is with Web/interactive mediums.  They are responsible for overseeing the planning, management and delivery of projects from concept through completion by working externally, interfacing with clients and helping them navigate key milestones; and internally, with creative directors, designers and animators through all project phases.

Producer, print AND Web/interactive

A producer, print and Web/interactive is a producer whose work is about equally split between print and web/interactive mediums. They are responsible for overseeing the planning, management and delivery of projects from concept through completion by working externally, interfacing with clients and helping them navigate key milestones; and internally, with creative directors, designers and animators through all project phases.

Project Manager, primarily print

A project manager, primarily print is a manager whom a majority of their work is with the print medium.  They are responsible for coordination and administration of individual print projects which may include: scheduling, developing budgets, procurement and acting as liaison between the client and the design team.  Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, research/strategic, environmental design primarily for print media.

Project Manager, primarily Web/interactive

A project manager, primarily Web/interactive is a manager for whom a majority of their work is with Web/interactive mediums.  They are responsible for coordination and administration of individual web and interactive projects which may include: scheduling, developing budgets, procurement and acting as liaison between the client and the design team. Areas of work include digital, interaction and motion design.

Project Manager, print AND Web/interactive

A project manager, print and Web/interactive is a manager whose work is about equally split between print and web/interactive mediums.  They are responsible for coordination and administration of both individual print and web and interactive projects which may include: scheduling, developing budgets, procurement and acting as liaison between the client and the design team. Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, interaction, research/strategic, or environmental design for print media or digital delivery.

Senior Designer, primarily print

A senior designer, primarily print is a designer for whom a majority of their work is with the print medium.  They are responsible for conceptualization and design of solutions to their completion. In some firms, a senior designer directs the work of one or more junior designers. In some cases, senior designers do not manage staff but are designated "senior" because of their authority in design decision making. Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, research/strategic, environmental design primarily for print media.

Senior Designer, primarily Web/interactive

A senior designer, primarily Web/interactive is a designer for whom a majority of their work is with the Web/interactive mediums.  They are responsible for conceptualization and design of solutions to their completion. In some firms, a senior designer directs the work of one or more junior designers. In some cases, senior designers do not manage staff but are designated "senior" because of their authority in design decision making. Areas of work include digital, interaction and motion design.

Senior Designer, print AND Web/interactive

A senior designer, print and Web/interactive is a designer whose work is about equally split between print and web/interactive mediums.  They are responsible for conceptualization and design of solutions to their completion. In some firms, a senior designer directs the work of one or more junior designers. In some cases, senior designers do not manage staff but are designated "senior" because of their authority in design decision making. Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, interaction, research/strategic, or environmental design for print media or digital delivery.

Designer, primarily print

A designer, primarily print is a designer for whom a majority of their work is with the print medium.  They are responsible for creating and executing design concepts as well as maintaining visual appearance, usability and brand continuity.  Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, research/strategic, environmental design primarily for print media.

Designer, primarily Web/interactive

A designer, primarily Web/interactive is a designer for whom a majority of their work is with Web/interactive mediums.  They are responsible for creating and executing design concepts as well as maintaining visual appearance, usability and brand continuity. Areas of work include digital, interaction and motion design.

Designer, print AND Web/interactive

A designer, print and Web/interactive is a designer whose work is about equally split between print and web/interactive mediums.  They are responsible for creating and executing design concepts as well as maintaining visual appearance, usability and brand continuity. Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, interaction, research/strategic, or environmental design for print media or digital delivery.

Junior Designer, primarily print

A junior designer, primarily print is a designer for whom a majority of their work is with the print medium.  They are a designer up to three years out of school who needs supervision in all aspects of design conception and implementation.  Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, research/strategic, environmental design primarily for print media.

Junior Designer, primarily Web/interactive

A junior designer, primarily Web/interactive is a designer for whom a majority of their work is with Web/interactive mediums.  They are a designer up to three years out of school who needs supervision in all aspects of design conception and implementation. Areas of work include digital, interaction and motion design.

Junior Designer, print AND Web/interactive

A junior designer, print and Web/interactive is a designer whose work is about equally split between print and web/interactive mediums.  They are a designer up to three years out of school who needs supervision in all aspects of design conception and implementation. Areas of work may include: branding, graphics, communications, interaction, research/strategic, or environmental design for print media or digital delivery.

Web Content Strategist

A Web content strategist is responsible for planning content creation, delivery, and governance. Tasks may include: web editorial strategies, guidelines, content analysis including metadata, taxonomy and search engine optimization. Often works with a writer.

Motion/Video Editor

A motion/video editor is an editor responsible for organizing and executing post-production of motion-based imagery and design projects and for finalizing the presentation of material to clients.

Writer/Copywriter

A writer/copywriter is responsible for writing, editing and proofing message and story copy for print or interactive projects. Writers may also be responsible for strategic and conceptual development of messages and stories.

Social Media or Online Community Manager

A social media or online community manager is a professional responsible for developing and executing a clearly defined social media strategy and responsible for evaluating, planning, organizing, managing and contributing to all social media channels.

Mobile Interface Designer

A mobile interface designer is a designer responsible for designing mobile web solutions, from icons to sitemaps and navigational models, for a range of devices.

User Experience Designer

A user experience designer is a designer with expertise in human factors that impact interactive experiences. Skills include: user analysis, wireframing, prototyping, architecture and interaction modeling, persona development, writing and graphic illustration.

Information Architect

An information architect is a designer who applies user-centered research concepts and techniques to organize websites and applications to best support the needs of users, through the development of navigation, labeling and searching systems that make it easy for users to find what they are looking for.

Usability Analyst/Researcher/Engineer

A usability analyst/researcher/engineer informs business strategy and design approach by applying user-centered research concepts and techniques to understand the needs of users and how those needs can be best satisfied.

Motion Graphics Designer/Animator

A motion graphics designer/animator is a designer who creates moving imagery for immersive experiences across digital platforms; possible expertise in Adobe Flash, Actionscript or Flex, illustration or 3-D modeling.

Web Developer (front end/interface systems)

A web developer (front end/interface systems) is a software engineer responsible for utilizing any number of web technologies and scripting languages to create sites based on illustrations, wireframes, HTML markup and CSS provided by design team.

Web Programmer/Developer (back end systems)

A web programmer/developer (back end systems) is a back end developer/programmer responsible for working with web server systems, databases, web applications and APIs.

Mobile App Developer

A mobile app developer specializes in designing interactive experiences for an increasing variety of mobile platforms utilizing emerging technologies including Java, Objective-C, C++ and HTML/CSS.

Web-based Rich Media and Motion Graphics Developer

A Web-based rich media and motion graphics developer is a designer/developer working in scripting languages (such as Actionscript or JavaScript) to develop rich, immersive experiences such as online advertising, games, landing pages and dynamic websites.

Chief Design Officer

A chief design officer is a member of a company's executive-level team who sets the overall strategy, vision and direction of the design capability; is responsible for multiple categories of products and disciplines of design; is responsible for organizational development of design including innovation and design sourcing strategies; and ensures that design objectives are matched to strategic corporate intent. This role also includes vendor and talent recruiting, development and leadership.

Design Manager

A design manager is a manager of people and processes necessary in the development of design projects for a business unit or product category. The role involves design organization responsibility including staff coaching; managing internal and external design resources; project and budget management; and ensuring customer requirements are met.

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 34 major metropolitan areas (Core-Based Statistical Areas):

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Bridgeport
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• Dallas
• Denver
• Detroit
• Houston
• Indianapolis
• Kansas City
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Milwaukee
• Minneapolis/St. Paul
• New York
• Orlando
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Portland
• Raleigh
• Richmond
• St. Louis
• Salt Lake City
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Jose
• Seattle
• 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