So you’ve got a talent for print graphic design and an interest in the print industry—you may be asking yourself, “where do I go from here?” It can be intimidating breaking into a new field or looking for a new job opportunity, especially if you’re not aware of the types of career options you might have.

Before you settle for making print design something you do “on the side,” take a look at some of this exciting graphic design career info within the print industry. Each one of them can help you support yourself while you explore your interest in print design.

Part 1 - General Hands-On Design Careers

Entry Level Print Designer

Job Description: The definition of what constitutes “entry level” design work will vary from employer to employer, but for the most part, entry level designers are in charge of all the small stuff that the higher level designers don’t have the time to deal with. This can be everything from retouching photos, making small design fixes in pre-existing designs, converting files or even helping the design become print-ready.

There isn’t a lot of creative work to be had at this level—an entry level designer’s focus is on the little things, not the big-picture ideas. In some cases, the work will be so minimal that an entry level designer might be expected to pull his or her weight by pouring coffee or doing menial tasks around the office.

Why You Need to Know Print: Every entry level designer wants to move up in the ranks, so having knowledge and experience working with print can help you get the leg up you need to break free of the “entry level” stigma. Being an entry level print designer is a good way to learn about designing for print, but the more you know beforehand, the better chances you have at securing a career path.

Education/Experience: Entry level work requires the least amount of design experience, but employers are going to want to at least see some examples of your work. The amount of education and experience required is going to depend on the employer and the work itself-a designer with a strong enough portfolio could feasibly obtain entry level employment even without previous work or educational experience. However, you’ll have to know any of the design programs the employer utilizes, which may include Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel, Quark and the Windows Office Suite.

Estimated Salary: $36,000 annually

Pros:

• Fewer educational/work experience requirements make it easier to obtain employment while still in school or right after graduation
• Entry level designers rarely do any big-picture work, so the job tends to be less stressful with fewer responsibilities

Cons:

• Often low-paying work and many entry-level design jobs are unpaid internships
• High competition for jobs
• Little to no creative freedom or input
   

Mac Operator

Job Description: When you see a job listing for a Mac Operator, that’s usually just a fancy way for companies to say they’re looking for an entry-level designer that’s comfortable with a Mac. The term is basically a catch-all to describe someone who knows all of the major programs in a Mac design environment. Many employers use this term if their firm only works with Mac computers, as a way to separate out the designers that prefer to work on a PC. You can expect to do most of the same tasks as an entry-level designer, just strictly on a Mac.

Why You Need to Know Print: Mac Operators need to be able to feel comfortable designing anything on a Mac; that often includes print design. Knowing the ins and outs of designing for print (as well as being able to do all of that on a Mac operating system) will make you a valuable candidate for these types of positions.

Education/Experience: As with any entry-level design job, the amount of experience and education required will vary depending on the employer. However, proficiency with a Mac computer operating system is a must.

Estimated Salary: $36,000 annually

Pros:

• Many design firms use Mac, so designers who can work in a Mac environment are highly sought after
• Fewer educational and experience requirements
• Typically lower stress due to having fewer responsibilities

Cons:

• Excludes designers who are used to working in Windows or Linux
• Typically lower paying work, sometimes offered as an unpaid internship
• Less creative input or autonomy
   

Mid Level Print Designer

Job Description: If you thought it was hard pinning down what an entry-level designer looks like, a mid-level print designer is even harder to define. Typically, mid-level designers are given some creative work and their input is valued as part of the design team. Mid-level designers report to higher level designers, but may have entry-level print designers working underneath them or alongside them. They may be expected to pick up the slack and do some of the lower level design work, while getting the chance to do advanced design work as well.

Why You Need to Know Print: Simply put, you won’t be able to pull yourself out of the entry-level tier until you know enough about working with print-and have plenty of hands-on experience to boot. A mid-level print designer has to be completely comfortable working in all different types of print media.

Education/Experience: A moderate level of design experience is required-once again, this will depend on the employer. Some employers will require at least a bachelor’s degree in design or a related field and anywhere from 2-6 years of professional experience. In some cases, mid-level designers may be hired in as entry-level workers and then have to work their way up the ranks.

Estimated Salary: $37,750 to $69,500 annually

Pros:

• Given some creative responsibilities and more design input
• Plenty of opportunity to grow further and work your way up to bigger design jobs

Cons:

• May still have to do plenty of low level design work
• Can be a little stressful since you may have designers working above you and below you
   

Senior Level Print Designer

Job Description: A senior level print designer can expect a hefty amount of control. Senior level print designers are typically in charge of a project or the head of a design team, and many of the ideas they implement might be further passed down to the other designers working alongside them. However, there’s just as likely a chance that they could be the only designer working at a company, as “senior level” is a title given by experience. If a company only has the budget for one or two designers, they’ll want the most experienced designers they can find.

Why You Need to Know Print: You can really only get this kind of position after you’ve been in the trenches of print design long enough to deserve it. You need to know print inside and out, because you’ll likely be in charge of entire print campaigns involving an array of different print mediums.

Experience/Education: Your average senior level print designer usually has at least six or more years of professional design experience. Many employers will also want you to have a bachelor’s degree in design or marketing. Requirements will vary depending on the employer, but the more experience you have, the better your chances for finding senior level work.

Estimated Salary: $63,000 to $86,000 annually

Pros:

• High paying profession with plenty of creative control
• Often work as the head of a team so you can delegate smaller tasks to other teammates
• Highly valuable to employers, giving you more job security and a better chance at finding work

Cons:

• Requires a great deal of experience and education
• Highly stressful with a lot of creative pressures
   

Freelance/Self-Employed Print Designer

Job Description: A freelance or self-employed print designer works for themselves instead of being a permanent employee at a company. This allows them great flexibility for picking which projects they work on and setting their own work schedule, but with that flexibility also comes uncertainty.

Many times, a freelance print designer can be left in a position where they don’t know where their next job is going to come from, or where one project with a client has finished before they’ve had a chance to find a new client to replace them. Making money as a freelance designer is essentially running a small business, and these designers have to worry as much about the business aspect as keeping their clients happy.

Why You Need to Know Print: The more you know about print, the better your chances of finding a client and the more you can charge for your services. You can also sell yourself as a specialized designer. For example, if you do your best work as a presentation folder designer, you can present yourself as a folder expert to your potential clients, and possibly even support yourself working only in your medium of choice.

Experience/Education: Technically, there are no requirements for doing freelance work. It all depends on your potential clientele and what kind of skills they’re looking for. Some freelancers have been able to jump into the field without much professional or educational experience, but like in any field, the stronger your background, the more likely it will be that you’ll find clients who want to work with you. Your experience level will also determine the amount of money you’ll be able to charge for the work you do. Though it’s not mandatory, the more you know about running a business, the more success you’ll have as a freelancer.

Estimated Salary: Varies greatly depending on experience and location

Pros:

• Work from home, set your own schedule, pick your own clients
• Set your own rates and have a greater degree of control over your career
• Can hit the ground running as soon as you find a client, or work freelance on the side as you go to school or work at a job outside of the design industry

Cons:

• A greater level of uncertainty and instability
• A high level of stress, as you need to focus on both keeping your clients happy and keeping your business running smoothly
• May have to take on work that is beneath your level in order to make ends meet

Source: companyfolders.com