So, you’re looking for a beginner graphic design job
Breaking into the graphic design industry as a beginner can feel overwhelming, but don’t get discouraged. The key is to stay motivated, continuously learn, and be open to various opportunities, including internships, freelance work, and entry-level positions.
Related article: How to Learn Graphic Design For Complete Beginners
Let’s explore ten beginner-friendly graphic design jobs that can help you kickstart your creative career and provide solid entry points into the design world.
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1. Freelance Graphic Designer
Average salary: $48,000/year (varies widely depending on workload).
Description: Freelance graphic designers work independently, offering their design services to various clients across industries. They may take on projects such as creating logos, designing marketing materials, or crafting social media graphics.
Freelancers often use platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Behance to find clients. This role allows designers to set their schedules and select projects that align with their interests and skills.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Freelancing is an excellent way to gain hands-on experience without committing to a full-time role.
Beginners can build their portfolios by working on small projects, learning to manage client relationships, and experimenting with different design styles. Freelancing also provides flexibility, enabling beginners to work at their own pace.
I highly recommend The Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz—it’s packed with practical advice on delivering quality work and ensuring you get paid for it.
2. Social Media Content Designer
Average salary: $40,000–$50,000/year.
Description: Social media content designers specialize in creating eye-catching visuals tailored to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn. This can include designing posts, banners, ads, and short-form videos.
These roles often require proficiency with tools like Canva, Adobe Photoshop, or Adobe Illustrator, and an understanding of trends to create engaging content.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Since social media thrives on creativity and rapid content creation, beginners can learn through hands-on experimentation.
Many companies or small businesses look for affordable designers, making it easier to land a position even with minimal experience. This role helps build technical skills while fostering creativity in a highly visible space.
3. Junior Graphic Designer
Average salary: $45,000–$55,000/year.
Description: A junior graphic designer works within a team to assist senior designers in creating graphics for print and digital use. Typical responsibilities include preparing layouts, making revisions, and supporting branding projects.
This role often serves as an introduction to industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite and collaborative environments.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Junior roles are designed to help new designers grow by learning from experienced colleagues.
These positions typically offer structured mentorship, allowing beginners to develop technical expertise, understand client briefs, and gain confidence in their design decisions while contributing to real-world projects.
4. Marketing Assistant with Graphic Design Focus
Average salary: $40,000–$50,000/year.
Description: Marketing assistants with a graphic design focus work with marketing teams to create promotional materials, such as banners, infographics, and email templates.
Their role combines administrative support with creative tasks, offering insight into how graphic design aligns with broader marketing strategies.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: This role provides exposure to both design and marketing, making it ideal for someone exploring career paths.
Beginners can develop essential design skills while learning how visuals drive engagement in campaigns, giving them a well-rounded start.
Related article: 10 Ways To Make Money Online Selling Your Graphic Designs
5. Website and UX/UI Designer (Junior Role)
Average salary: $50,000–$60,000/year.
Description: Website and UX/UI designers focus on creating user-friendly and visually appealing interfaces for websites and apps.
Entry-level positions may involve designing page layouts, wireframes, and interactive elements under the guidance of senior designers. Proficiency in tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is often required.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: This field is rapidly growing, with high demand for talent. Beginners can develop in-demand skills while gaining experience working on real-world projects that blend creativity with functionality.
Many junior roles also provide training, making it easier to transition into this field. You will need a UX/UI design sketchbook for planning layouts.
6. Layout Artist
Average salary: $42,000–$50,000/year.
Description: Layout artists are responsible for arranging text, images, and graphics in a visually appealing way for print and digital publications.
Their work includes designing magazine spreads, ebooks, newsletters, and marketing brochures. They ensure the content flows logically and aligns with brand guidelines.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: This role helps new designers improve their typography, composition, and organizational skills.
It’s a great starting point for someone who enjoys structured and detail-oriented projects. Layout artists often work on smaller tasks, making it less overwhelming for beginners.
7. Branding Assistant
Average salary: $45,000–$55,000/year.
Description: Branding assistants work on projects that establish or maintain a company’s visual identity.
They may assist in creating logos, developing brand color palettes, designing stationery, or updating brand guidelines. Collaboration with marketing and creative teams is common in this role.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Branding is foundational to graphic design, and assisting in this area allows beginners to learn the essentials of creating a cohesive and memorable brand identity.
It also offers exposure to long-term projects, which can be fulfilling and great for portfolio building.
8. Entry-Level Motion Graphics Designer
Average salary: $50,000–$65,000/year.
Description: Motion graphics designers create animated visuals for ads, videos, social media, and presentations.
Their work often involves animating text, logos, or simple illustrations using software like After Effects, Blender, or Premiere Pro. Beginners may start by assisting with small animations or simple edits.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Motion graphics are highly in demand, and starting in this field allows beginners to gain skills in animation while working on exciting and visually dynamic projects.
The technical skills learned in this role can lead to more advanced opportunities in video production or 3D design.
9. Packaging Designer
Average salary: $46,000–$55,000/year.
Description: Packaging designers focus on creating labels, boxes, and other product packaging that attracts customers while staying true to a brand’s identity.
This involves working with dielines, typography, and graphics, often collaborating with product teams to meet specifications.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: Packaging design offers a mix of creative freedom and technical challenges, making it an engaging role for new designers.
Beginners can learn about print production, branding, and how design impacts consumer behavior.
10. Creative Assistant
Average salary: $38,000–$45,000/year.
Description: Creative assistants support creative teams by managing assets, organizing projects, and assisting in the development of design materials.
They may handle simple design tasks or administrative duties to keep the creative process running smoothly.
Why It’s Great for Beginners: This role provides exposure to all aspects of a creative team’s workflow, from brainstorming to final delivery.
Beginners gain valuable experience working on diverse projects while building skills and confidence in a supportive role.
How to build a graphic design portfolio as a beginner
A compelling graphic design portfolio is your most powerful tool for landing your first job, even without extensive professional experience.
Start by including academic projects, personal design experiments, passion projects, and any freelance or volunteer work that demonstrates your skills and creative problem-solving abilities.
Where to find beginner graphic design jobs
Websites like Indeed, Behance, LinkedIn, and design-specific job boards can be excellent resources for entry-level positions.
Related article: 10 High Paying Entry Level Jobs That Don’t Require Experience
Additionally, don’t underestimate the power of professional networking, connecting with design professionals on social media, and attending local design meetups or online design community events.
