AIGA|Aquent Salary Survey

AIGA|Aquent Salary Survey 2005

AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries 2005 was mailed to all AIGA professional members and arrived in mid-June 2005.

View the full survey (PDF)

Compensation is reported in terms of three statistics: the 25th percentile, the median (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 $90,000 $125,000 510
Creative/design director $65,000 $82,000 $100,000 688
Art director $50,000 $62,000 $76,400 759
Senior designer $45,000 $54,000 $65,000 1,047
Designer $35,000 $40,000 $48,000 1,070
Entry-level designer $28,000 $30,000 $35,000 573
Solo designer $38,000 $53,500 $75,000 668
Print production artist $31,900 $40,000 $48,000 247
Print production manager $45,000 $50,000 $65,000 284
Copywriter $40,000 $53,800 $67,000 251
Web designer $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 285
Web developer front-end/interface systems $45,000 $58,000 $70,000 137
Web programmer/developer back-end systems $48,000 $60,000 $75,500 88
Web producer $53,000 $63,000 $77,000 68
Content developer $46,000 $60,000 $75,000 40
Marketing manager, new business manager, director $50,000 $70,000 $95,300 205

 

About the full survey
AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries 2005 is the most comprehensive survey of graphic designers available, published annually by AIGA.

Over 3,685 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 access to the full survey results online as well as a print copy of the survey, join AIGA.