Graphic Designer Salary in India: A Detailed Guide (2024)
Did you know that the graphic designing industry has been growing by over 13% annually? As marketing shifts towards a more digital approach, the demand for skilled graphic designers is steadily increasing. Graphic designers play a crucial role in shaping and reinforcing brand identity by crafting visually engaging content for both personal and business purposes. Their ability to create designs that leave a lasting impression has made them essential in today’s marketing landscape. In this blog, we will explore the average salary of a graphic designer in India, the factors influencing their earnings, and the top skills needed to excel in this field.
Average Salary of Graphic Designer in India
Since most of the audience in recent years has been consuming content on Instagram or YouTube, companies are extensively hiring graphic designers to create unique and appealing content to market their products or services while maintaining their brand identity. A graphic designer’s minimum salary in India can range from anywhere between 2.5 LPA to 3 LPA. However, this can vary based on several factors, such as the experience, specialization of the candidate, the company they are working for, and the location of the company.
Graphic Designer Salary Based on Skill
Possessing strong skills is one of the key factors that significantly impact a graphic designer’s salary. Candidates can be paid a higher salary depending on their knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and Adobe Illustrator. We have listed some of the key skills that graphic designers need and how a niche-based specialization in these skills can influence a graphic designer’s salary in India.
| Essential Skills | Salary (in INR) |
| Adobe Illustrator | ₹3 LPA – ₹4 LPA |
| Adobe Photoshop | ₹3 LPA – ₹3.5 LPA |
| Corel Draw | ₹2.5 LPA – ₹3 LPA |
| Branding | ₹3.3 LPA – ₹4 LPA |
| Design | ₹3 LPA – ₹4 LPA |
| Graphic Design | ₹3 LPA – ₹3.5 LPA |
| Web Design | ₹3.5 LPA – ₹4.5 LPA |
Also Read: Highest Paying Design Jobs
Graphic Designer Salary Based on Experience
As it is with any other profession, more experience usually translates to a higher salary. As more experienced candidates demonstrate proficiency with various tools, companies typically adjust salaries according to experience levels. Aspiring designers need to understand the fresher graphic designer’s salary in India. Additionally, seasoned designers should be aware of these experience-based pay ranges to effectively negotiate their worth in the market. Here’s a breakdown of typical salary ranges based on experience levels.
| Experience | Salary (in INR) |
| Fresher level (0-5) | ₹3.5 LPA – ₹4 LPA |
| Intermediate level (6-10) | ₹8.5 LPA – ₹9 LPA |
| Senior level (11-15) | ₹12 LPA – ₹14 LPA |
| Executive level (16-20) | ₹17 LPA+ |
Graphic Designer Salary Based on Company
Salaries can vary significantly based on the industry, with sectors like technology and advertising typically offering more competitive pay than non-profits or smaller firms. Understanding these factors is essential for designers seeking to navigate their career paths effectively. Here is a list of the top companies that offer competitive packages to graphic designers in India.
| Top Companies | Salary (in INR) |
| Adobe | ₹8 LPA – ₹9 LPA |
| Infosys | ₹7 LPA – ₹8 LPA |
| Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) | ₹5 LPA – ₹6 LPA |
| Myntra | ₹5.2 LPA – ₹6 LPA |
| Wipro | ₹4 LPA – ₹5 LPA |
| BYJU’s | ₹5.5 LPA – ₹6.5 LPA |
| Graphic Designer.co | ₹3.5 LPA – ₹4.5 LPA |
| Paytm | ₹5 LPA – ₹6 LPA |
| Zomato | ₹5.5 LPA – ₹6.5 LPA |
| Flipkart | ₹4 LPA – ₹5 LPA |
| Amazon | ₹6.5 LPA – ₹7.5 LPA |
| Ad2Pro Media Solutions Private Limited | ₹4 LPA – ₹5 LPA |
| R.R. Donnelley | ₹3 LPA – ₹4 LPA |
Graphic Designer Salary Based on Specialization
Graphic designers function across various domains in different specializations. Usually, specializations in UI/UX and motion graphics tend to command higher salary. However, this can at times vary based on market trends. As technology and design practices evolve, so does the demand for specialized skills, making it essential for designers to stay informed about the current landscape.
Check out some of the popular specializations for graphic designers from the table below.
| Key Specializations | Salary (in INR) |
| Illustration and infographics | ₹4 LPA – ₹5 LPA |
| Packaging design | ₹5 LPA – ₹6 LPA |
| UI/UX design | ₹5.5 LPA – ₹6.5 LPA |
| General graphic design | ₹4 LPA – ₹5 LPA |
| Motion graphics and animation | ₹6 LPA – ₹7 LPA |
| Web design | ₹5 LPA – ₹6 LPA |
| Print Design | ₹4 LPA – ₹5 LPA |
| Branding and identity design | ₹5 LPA – ₹6 LPA |
Graphic Designer Salary Based on City
Cities can play a significant role when it comes to influencing the salary of a graphic designer. Factors such as industry presence, demand for graphic designers, and local economic conditions can profoundly impact the salary. Cities such as Mumbai, which has more creative companies can pay significantly higher salaries than cities where the job role is scarce. In order to optimize their earning potential and make well-informed professional decisions, designers must have a thorough understanding of these local compensation variances.
Let’s take a look at these top cities and how the salary of a graphic designer changes based on it.
| Top Cities | Salary (in INR) |
| Delhi | ₹4.5 LPA – ₹5.5 LPA |
| Mumbai | ₹5.5 LPA – ₹6.5 LPA |
| Hyderabad | ₹3.34 LPA – ₹4.34 LPA |
| Chennai | ₹4 LPA – ₹5 LPA |
| Gurugram | ₹3.5 LPA – ₹4.5 LPA |
| Ahmedabad | ₹2.5 LPA – ₹3.5 LPA |
| Noida | ₹3 LPA – ₹4 LPA |
| Bangalore | ₹3.5 LPA – ₹4.5 LPA |
Also Read: What is Salary Breakup?
Skills Required to Become a Graphic Designer
In the ever-evolving world of graphic designing, it is crucial to possess a wide range of soft skills to ensure quality work and punctual deliveries. Graphic designers are not only responsible for creating engaging pieces; they also need strong communication, interpersonal, and time management skills. These skills are essential to ensure that each design aligns with the client’s ideas and requirements. Since graphic designers often work on multiple projects simultaneously, effective time management is vital to ensure each project is completed on time.
Being aware of the graphic designer’s salary in India can serve as a motivating factor for professionals to further refine their skills and enhance their career prospects. Furthermore, keeping up with the market trends is also crucial. As the field of graphic design field is constantly evolving, there is always a demand for new creative styles. Given below are some of the most important skills graphic designers need to deliver quality content.
- Adobe Photoshop: Adobe Photoshop is one of the most commonly used software by graphic designers. It helps in creating digital artwork, retouching existing photos, and making advanced edits. This can help in producing high-quality graphics for various media platforms.
- Adobe Illustrator: Adobe Illustrator helps graphic designers create crisp vector art ideal for print and digital applications. These illustration pieces are essential for branding and identity design.
- Branding: Strong branding knowledge enables graphic designers to create art pieces that resonate with the brand’s target audience. These art pieces also help create a unique connection between the brand and its audience. Some of the designs involved in branding include colour palettes, logo design, typography, and overall brand messaging.
- Web Design: With the growing significance of digital platforms, graphic designers need to have an extensive knowledge of web design. Understanding the fundamentals of responsive design, user interface and user experience (UI/UX) is crucial. A strong understanding of web design enables designers to create captivating and effective online experiences. This ensures that graphics engage users while making navigation simple and enhancing usability.
- Communication Skills: Graphic designers must have strong communication skills as they frequently collaborate with stakeholders, teams, and clients. Designers must listen to their clients’ feedback, communicate their ideas clearly, and incorporate it into their work. Clear communication helps in effective collaboration, which also guarantees design projects meet customer objectives and targets and produce excellent outcomes.
- Time Management Skills: Since graphic designers often work on several projects at once, time management is an essential skill. Multitasking often requires prioritizing work, creating reasonable deadlines, and using project management software. Time management skills are essential for designers as they must be able to manage client meetings, research, design, and revisions.
Conclusion
Graphic designing is a new but promising field in India, with salaries highly varying on factors like the location of the designer, specialization in a particular art form, multiple skill sets, company they are working for, and experience levels. Aspiring designers must familiarize themselves with different art forms and software tools to create a robust portfolio. Additionally, knowledge of market trends also helps in acquiring new skills. A culmination of all these factors can maximize a graphic designer’s salary in India. If you are looking to work with top companies in India, you would need a strong cover letter to highlight your skills and experience. Check out our blog on how to write a cover letter for graphic designers.
