AIGA|Aquent Salary Survey

AIGA|Aquent Survey of design salaries 2001

AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries 2001 was mailed to all AIGA professional members in late June 2001.

The reports list national averages of base wages and total compensation for a range of design positions. You can either download the pages that are of interest to you individually, or you can download the entire survey.

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 percent of all values; the median that value greater than 50 percent of all values, and so on.

Salary/wages overview

position 25th % median 75th % number responding
Owner, partner, principal $60,000 $84,000 $125,000 905
Creative/design director $60,000 $77,500 $100,000 846
Art director $45,000 $58,800 $72,000 1,424
Senior designer $43,000 $50,000 $60,000 1,751
Designer $34,000 $40,000 $45,100 2,130
Entry-level designer $25,000 $30,000 $35,100 871
Solo designer $40,000 $58,000 $75,000 461
Print production artist $30,000 $36,000 $43,000 565
Print production manager $38,000 $45,000 $55,000 445
Copywriter $38,000 $45,000 $58,000 489
Web designer $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 566
Web developer $42,000 $50,000 $65,000 329
Web programmer $47,500 $60,000 $75,000 204
Web producer $50,000 $61,500 $80,000 190
Content developer $36,000 $43,500 $60,000 94

 

About the full survey
AIGA/Aquent Survey of Design Salaries 2001 is the most comprehensive survey of graphic designers available. It has been published biennially by the AIGA for the past decade.

Over 2,850 designers throughout the United States responded to the survey, which was conducted by the mail and on the Internet. The survey reports average annual and hourly rates of compensation for designers of print and electronic media, from entry level employees to principals and solo practitioners.

Salary figures are broken down by region, metro area, and type, size and client base of organization. The survey also includes data about the use of retirement plans, family and medical coverage, and other employment benefits, as well as descriptions of the positions surveyed. To receive a print copy of the survey, join AIGA.