Oregon Labor Market Information System
Occupational Information Center
Occupational Report for Graphic Designers (27-1024) , Oregon Statewide
Occupational Description

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

Employment Outlook for Graphic Designers
Statewide Employment Analysis 2006 employment is estimated to be larger than the statewide average This occupation is expected to grow at about the statewide average. Total job openings are projected to be somewhat higher than the statewide average.

Reasonable employment opportunities exist for trained workers.

Data Sources and Limitations
Current Job Openings for Graphic Designers There are 6 current openings for this occupation. Openings 1 through 6 are listed below.
Job Title Date Posted Location Wage Offered
Art Outsourcing Manager - 599 11/14/09 Eugene DOE
Graphic Designer - Part Time 11/13/09 Portland DOE
Project Coordinator (Web / Graphic Design) 11/5/09 Beaverton DOE
Analog Designer 10/27/09 Hillsboro
Catalog Designer 9/24/09 Grants Pass DOE
Graphic Designer Ii 9/23/09 Medford $35,000/yr to $45,000/yr DOE
State of Oregon License Information for Graphic Designers No statewide license is required for this occupation.
Wages for Graphic Designers
Region ---------------- 2009 Wages ----------------
Percentiles (hourly wages) Avg
Hourly
($/hr)
Avg
Annual
10th 25th 50th
(median)
75th 90th
Oregon Statewide $12.86 $15.58 $19.28 $24.70 $30.71 $20.79 $43,249
Multnomah / Washington 14.29 17.02 21.19 25.60 31.53 22.28 46,345
Marion / Polk / Yamhill 13.05 14.96 18.02 22.29 27.51 18.97 39,462
Benton / Lincoln / Linn 13.19 14.82 17.25 20.01 26.48 18.13 37,715
Lane 10.17 13.51 17.01 20.45 27.97 18.01 37,468
Coos / Curry 11.27 13.13 14.84 17.43 21.02 15.39 32,001
Jackson / Josephine 12.73 14.62 18.37 24.95 31.77 20.73 43,119
Crook / Deschutes / Jefferson 13.47 16.52 18.58 20.96 24.97 18.84 39,189
Clackamas 13.65 16.73 20.94 29.28 37.59 23.70 49,280
Data Sources and Limitations
Regional Employment Projections for Graphic Designers
Region Employment Change % Change Projected Annual Openings
2006 2016 Growth Replacement Total
Oregon Statewide 2,438 2,816 378 15.5% 38 35 73
Multnomah / Washington 1,321 1,531 210 15.9% 21 19 40
Lane 280 318 38 13.6% 4 4 8
Clackamas 171 200 29 17.0% 3 3 5
Marion / Polk / Yamhill 149 171 22 14.8% 2 2 4
Jackson / Josephine 134 148 14 10.4% 1 2 3
Crook / Deschutes / Jefferson 96 120 24 25.0% 2 1 4
Benton / Lincoln / Linn 79 92 13 16.5% 1 1 2
Klamath / Lake 25 24 -1 -4.0% 0 0 0
Douglas 24 33 9 37.5% 1 0 1
Morrow / Umatilla 16 21 5 31.2% 1 0 1
Gilliam / Hood River / Sherman / Wheeler / Wasco 16 17 1 6.2% 0 0 0
Coos / Curry 15 17 2 13.3% 0 0 0
Clatsop / Columbia / Tillamook 13 15 2 15.4% 0 0 0
Grant / Harney / Malheur 6 7 1 16.7% 0 0 0
Baker / Union / Wallowa 6 8 2 33.3% 0 0 0

Replacement openings are caused by existing workers permanently leaving their occupation. Many additional job openings occur due to job changes within occupations.
Data Sources and Limitations
Industries of Employment for Graphic Designers
Industry
Click links to view infoUSA employers
Ownership 2006
Employment
Total, All Industries All 2,438
Total, All Industries Private 2,308
Manufacturing Private 459
Paper Manufacturing Private 29
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Private 29
Printing and Related Support Activities Private 193
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing Private 44
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing Private 20
Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing Private 20
Miscellaneous Manufacturing Private 99
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing Private 96
Wholesale Trade Private 220
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods Private 25
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods Private 183
Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers Private 135
Retail Trade Private 92
Nonstore Retailers Private 29
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses Private 29
Information Private 505
Publishing Industries (except Internet) Private 402
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers Private 320
Software Publishers Private 82
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries Private 58
Motion Picture and Video Industries Private 58
Broadcasting (except Internet) Private 28
Radio and Television Broadcasting Private 28
Finance and Insurance Private 24
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Private 773
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services Private 39
Specialized Design Services Private 315
Computer Systems Design and Related Services Private 76
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services Private 20
Advertising and Related Services Private 298
Management of Companies and Enterprises Private 81
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services Private 48
Administrative and Support Services Private 48
Health Care and Social Assistance Private 21
Other Services (except Public Administration) Private 36
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations Private 31
Religious Organizations Private 19
Total, All Industries Federal 25
Federal Government (Non-Postal) Federal 25
Total, All Industries State 21
Educational Services State 21
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools State 21
Total, All Industries Local 72
Educational Services Local 24
Public Administration Local 23
Educational Requirements for Graphic Designers Workers must have an associate degree to gain the necessary skills for this occupation. However, those with a bachelor's degree have a competitive advantage in this labor market.
Skills for Graphic Designers
  • Apply Airbrush Techniques
  • Apply Art Theory And History
  • Apply Creativity To Graphics
  • Apply Creativity To Image
  • Apply Graphic Arts Techniques
  • Apply Page Layout And Composition Techniques
  • Confer With Clients To Discuss And Determine Layout Design
  • Create Art From Ideas
  • Design Advertising Layouts
  • Determine Optimum Process For Reproduction Of Printed Materials
  • Distinguish Details In Graphic Production Setting
  • Interpret And Apply Copyright Laws
  • Make Presentations
  • Meet Deadlines
  • Organize Commercial Artistic And Design Projects
  • Perceive Color, Balance And Proportion
  • Prepare Artwork For Camera And Press
  • Use Computer Design And Graphics Software
  • Use Creativity In Graphic Design
  • Use Desktop Publishing Software
  • Use Marketing Techniques
  • Use Paper Characteristics In Selecting Publishing And Printing Processes
  • Utilize Characteristics Of Materials In Graphic Or Floral Design
Schools and Training Providers for Graphic Designers The training providers listed below offer one or more of the following programs:

Chemeketa Community College
4000 Lancaster Dr NE
Salem, OR 97305
Phone: (503) 399-5000
Programs of Training:
Mt Hood Community College
26000 SE Stark St
Gresham, OR 97030
Phone: (503) 491-6422
Programs of Training:
Pacific Northwest College of Art
1241 NW Johnson
Portland, OR 97209
Phone: (503) 226-4391
Programs of Training:
Tillamook Bay Community College
2510 First St
Tillamook, OR 97141
Phone: (503) 842-8222
Programs of Training:
Portland State University
724 SW Harrison
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (503) 725-4433
Programs of Training:
The Art Institute of Portland
1122 NW Davis St.
Portland, OR 97209
Phone: (503) 228-6528
Programs of Training:
Clackamas Community College
19600 South Molalla Ave
Oregon City, OR 97045
Phone: (503) 657-6958
Programs of Training:
Southwestern Oregon Community College
1988 Newmark Ave
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone: (541) 888-2525
Programs of Training:
Portland Community College
12000 SW 49th Avenue
Portland, OR 97219
Phone: (503) 244-6111
Programs of Training:
ITT Technical Institute-Portland
6035 NE 78th Ct
Portland, OR 97218
Phone: (503) 255-6500
Programs of Training:
Lane Community College
4000 E 30th Ave
Eugene, OR 97405
Phone: (541) 463-3000
Programs of Training:
Career Pathway Roadmaps for Graphic Designers These Oregon community colleges have defined career pathway roadmaps to facilitate entry into this occupation:

Clackamas Community College
Related Occupations The scores listed below indicates how closely the skills for Graphic Designers matches the occupation in the list. A score of 100% means the occupations have identical skill sets. A maximum of 10 occupations are displayed below.
Occupation Skill Overlap
Designers, All Other 78%
Art Directors 58%
Artists And Related Workers, All Other 51%
Multi-Media Artists And Animators 49%
Fashion Designers 41%
Commercial And Industrial Designers 37%
Set And Exhibit Designers 28%
Desktop Publishers 25%
Floral Designers 23%
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, And Illustrators 22%