Info on Working as a Graphic Designer in Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City, New Jersey contains almost a quarter million people, features many thousand commercial businesses and affords easy access to New York City.  It's also the adopted home town of more than 150 local artists employed as graphic designers.  Jersey City enterprises hire communications design experts for a variety of visual communications assignments.

Jersey City Schools and Training Programs for Graphic Design

Several dozen colleges  and Universities in the state of New Jersey award professional-level degrees in graphic design.  Popular design schools in the Jersey City area include Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, as well as numerous educational options in New York City, which is practically walking distance from there.  Additionally, many aspiring Jersey City designers earn their degrees online.  Among the largest fully accredited colleges with online degree programs in graphic design are The Art Institutes, ITT Tech, University of Phoenix and DeVry.  These schools also feature many physical locations throughout the United States.

Graphic artists at design schools in Jersey City often major in fine arts, photography or visual media.  A typical degree program might include computer science, psychology and online marketing, in addition to visual arts like drawing, computer art, typography and other relevant topics.

Working as a Graphic Designer in Jersey City, New Jersey

Some Jersey City graphic designers work for leading local advertising agencies like Dan-Peyton-Design, Everyday-Business and Jungle-Communications, among others.  Some local artists design film credits and promotional displays for Jersey City-based motion picture producers like 148-Productions, Silverback Creative and Walk-Like-a-Man Productions.  Other Jersey City communications designers work for retailers, art galleries, colleges, news syndicates, software developers and many privately owned businesses.  Local graphic design jobs for Jersey City artists include technical illustrations, instructional diagrams, clinical charts, company logos, instruction manuals, book covers, web pages, product packaging and even road signs. 

At least 280,000 communications designers hold ongoing positions in U.S. commercial businesses.  Starting salaries vary depending on education, experience, expertise, commitment, talent, availability and other factors.  Even place of residence plays a role in salary determination.  The average annual salary for a professional graphic designer employed in the state of New Jersey is around $50,750, with a mean hourly rate of about $24.40.  Nearly half of all graphic designers in the USA earn between $30,000 and $60,000 a year.  New Jersey ranks ninth among states in terms of average income for visual artists. 

Skills of a Graphic Designer

A graphic designer is a verbally gifted, detail-oriented, visually inclined individual.  Personality traits aside, the generally expected qualifications of professional graphic designers include drawing, photography, proficiency with graphic art software applications, some web design experience and a solid grasp of typographical techniques.