A free, editable graphic designer job description template — job summary, essential functions, required and preferred qualifications, and a pay-range example to replace with your own. Use it to prefill the generator, tailor it to your organization, and download a formatted Word doc or PDF.
Role snapshot
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this occupation as Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024), with about 250K workers nationally and median annual pay of $62,960. Pay data: BLS OEWS May 2025.
That’s the scale this template is built for: a full essential-functions list, separated required and preferred qualifications, and a pay-range placeholder for your actual range. The range stays a placeholder deliberately — posting requirements differ by state, so the finished pay language should reflect where you’re hiring, not just the national figures above.
Use the template to prefill the generator, or check it against your state’s pay-transparency law first.
Job Summary
Makes the brand impossible to ignore. Designs digital and print materials that communicate clearly and look unmistakably on-brand — from campaign visuals to everyday collateral.
Essential Functions
Design digital and print materials, including web graphics, social content, presentations, and collateral
Develop visual concepts from creative briefs, presenting directions for feedback
Maintain brand consistency across every asset, evolving the system where it needs it
Prepare production-ready files for print vendors and digital platforms
Incorporate stakeholder feedback through structured revision rounds without losing the concept
Manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously, communicating status proactively
Collaborate with copywriters, marketers, and developers from concept through launch
Create templates and design systems that let non-designers produce on-brand work
Stay current on design trends and tools, bringing fresh ideas to the team
Uphold accessibility standards — contrast, type scale, and readable layouts — in all deliverables
Qualifications
Required:
2+ years of graphic design experience across digital and print
Expert proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) or Figma
A portfolio demonstrating design work and visual range
Ability to take a brief from concept to finished asset independently
Preferred:
Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or a related field
Motion graphics or video editing experience (e.g., After Effects, Premiere)
Education & Certifications
Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or a related field preferred; equivalent experience and a strong portfolio considered
Pay range example: $55,000–$75,000 per year (adjust to your market)
Pay transparency verdict for this template
15 states require a pay range
This template ships with a pay-range example — replace it with your approved range before posting. Here's what the states in our dataset require in the posting itself:
15
states require a pay range in the posting
7
also require a benefits description
1
also require an application deadline
Plus 2 states require pay information later in the process (on request or before an offer) rather than in the posting. Browse every state's requirements →
Design roles are often filled by freelancers and contractors — confirm the employment classification matches how the work will actually be performed. Posting requirements vary by state and change over time: 15 of the jurisdictions in our state-by-state coverage require a pay range in job postings. This template ships with a pay-range example placeholder — replace it with your actual range, then run the finished posting through the free pay-transparency checker for each state you're hiring in.
Is a graphic designer exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
Staff graphic designers are typically classified as exempt under the creative professional exemption, which is how this template marks the role — the work requires invention, imagination, and originality. Confirm the classification against the duties test before you post.
Should this posting be for an employee or a contractor?
Many designers work freelance, so be deliberate: if the role is genuinely full-time employee work with set hours and direction, say so and classify it as employment. Misclassification carries real penalties — when in doubt, confirm with counsel before posting.
What should a graphic designer posting ask for?
Portfolio over pedigree: require the portfolio, name the actual tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma), and describe the work (campaigns, systems, production). A strong portfolio requirement filters better than a degree line for this role.
What should a graphic designer pay range look like?
Post a range that matches the actual market for the skill mix — designers compare offers closely and specialize (brand, digital, motion) at different rates. Replace the template's pay-range placeholder with your real range.