Results: DN Survey of Design Salaries 2014

over 9 years ago from Cameron Moll, Founder at Authentic Jobs

(Re: https://news.layervault.com/stories/28790-dn-survey-of-design-salaries-2014 )

More than 1,000 responses from 58 countries were submitted. Here are the results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NnAAgwen1SoxkdyuLB0TyTNP0FwfSsF6D3nDaFzpnpA/edit?usp=sharing

I was hoping to display results with some visual wizardry. Alas, my schedule hasn't been as kind as I had hoped. Please feel free to visualize the data if your schedule allows.

Highlights:

– Highest annual compensation reported: $950,000 for Developer (Mid) in Palo Alto, California.

– Lowest reported: $200 for Freelancer (self-employed) in Tunisia.

– $115,500 median compensation reported for Creative/Design Director, compared to $75,000–$100,000 in AIGA's survey (http://designsalaries.aiga.org).

– $85,716 median compensation for Sr. Designer, compared to $62,500 for the same in AIGA's.

– Some median figures were lower than AIGA's. However, keep in mind that AIGA is comprised primarily of members in the United States, whereas the DN survey included responses from 58 countries. Also keep in mind that total responses for AIGA's survey were higher (sometimes significantly) than in this survey.

62 comments

Nicholas Burroughs, over 9 years ago
I'm the Omaha designer who accidentally typed $320,000 instead of $32,00.
20 points
- Chris De La Fuente, over 9 years ago
  You ONLY make $32.00?!?! ;)
  14 points
  - Nicholas Burroughs, over 9 years ago
    Wow. Doesn't get much better than that.
    2 points
- Colm Tuite, over 9 years ago
  You mean.......you're not......a ninja unicorn? :(
  0 points
Matt Lindley, over 9 years ago (edited over 9 years ago )
Quick Graph:
Graph with >200k removed:
14 points
- Hans van de Bruggen, over 8 years ago
  I think the vertical axis has the $ that belongs on the horizontal axis.
  0 points
Emily Campbell, over 9 years ago
I guess it's time to negotiate a raise...
10 points
- Christian Perez, over 9 years ago
  I was just thinking the same.
  2 points
Cameron Moll, over 9 years ago
I should also add: It's entirely possible an extra 0 may have been entered accidentally by the submitter, including for the highest figure reported.
7 points
- Raffaello Sanzio, over 9 years ago
  Or, maybe Jony Ive filled out this survey.
  14 points
  - Bryant Chou, over 9 years ago
    I believe he makes at least 7(possibly 8) figures.
    0 points
Grant Gold, over 9 years ago
*Also keep in mind that the largest group of members of the AIGA are students and recent grads.
7 points
Colm Tuite, over 9 years ago
They should make a ninja unicorn section for those two dudes earning close to a million.
5 points
- Derryl Carter, over 9 years ago
  Hehe, most of those look like typos.
  UX Engineer = $850k?? ...or more likely $85k
  7 points
  - Colm Tuite, over 9 years ago
    Dude, stop crushing my dreams.
    11 points
  - Cameron Moll, over 9 years ago
    I had to restrain myself from editing submissions.
    There were some from countries with currencies other than USD that may have been entered in their native currency, rather than USD per the instructions. (I.e. the figures looked to be too low as if entered in pounds sterling.) But again, I had to leave them as-is.
    We'll format the entry fields better next time around.
    1 point
    - John Howard, over 9 years ago
      Just say 'are you sure you make over a million as a jr. graphic designer' and if they say 'yes' then say 'nah man' and close the browser on them.
      4 points
Ryan Murphy, over 9 years ago
Would be cool to get this into an interactive site. Pretty crazy pay for some people.
4 points
- Account deleted over 9 years ago
  I'd be happy to collab on that with you, if we can get the figures more accurate!
  0 points
  - Ryan Murphy, over 9 years ago
    Judging by my current side project schedule, we'd begin in 2015 with completely out of date pay :(
    2 points
    - Hamish Macpherson, over 9 years ago
      Haha, love this. I know how you feel.
      0 points
      - Account deleted over 9 years ago
        And by 2015 his SP list would be double that!
        Not enough hours in the day :(
        0 points
Ivana McConnell, over 9 years ago
Hello! I've attempted to visualise this in a way that makes sense to me, located here. Feedback welcome!
3 points
Martijn Otter, over 9 years ago
Art Directors with 30k? For real? I mean, are you really an Art Director? Maybe at a small firm, but man that's not much at all.
3 points
- Anna Niess, over 9 years ago
  At some companies, particularly more traditional ad firms, designers are called "junior art directors." Its weird.
  The design school I went to us choose a concentration our senior year: graphic design or art direction. The kids who went the art direction route created an ad-focused portfolio. It was strange, though, to have kids fresh out of school labeling themselves as art directors on their resumes.
  2 points
  - Mitch De Castro, over 9 years ago
    Yep, same situation at my school. It confused me when I started noticing that.
    0 points
- Peter Müller, over 9 years ago
  For a lot of agency focused companies the postgrad junior AD really starts at 30-35k. It's crazy but usually with gaining experience you reach comfy salary levels fast.
  0 points
- Adam Brace, over 9 years ago
  Definitely a traditional Ad agency thing. I know junior designers that work at agencies that label them Art Directors.
  0 points
Adria Jimenez, over 9 years ago
After reading the results I still don't get wtf I'm doing in Spain and why there is so many people that wants to come here...
3 points
- Du Hoang, over 9 years ago
  Because Spain is amazingly beautiful? I wish I can live and work(remote) in Spain.
  1 point
- Ana Martin, 9 years ago
  Same here, buddy. Cheers for leaving this country in 2015!
  0 points
Account deleted over 9 years ago
Ha, I never even saw the original thread! I can't be the only one... 6 days isn't a lot of time to gather results. Any thoughts about keeping it open a week or two longer and seeing if you can pull in more data?
3 points
- Cameron Moll, over 9 years ago
  There was clearly a lot of interest in this sort of thing, so we'll definitely plan to (a) do another, (b) finesse the job titles, and (c) ask for more specifics.
  5 points
  - Derryl Carter, over 9 years ago
    (d) confirm that you typed the right number of zeroes
    2 points
    - Cameron Moll, over 9 years ago
      High five. One five, that is. [Confirm ✔︎]
      2 points
- Ryan Hicks, over 9 years ago
  I never remember seeing it either.
  0 points
Michael Aleo, over 9 years ago
Looks like it pays to be a founder or on contract.
1 point
Eugene Zaycev, over 9 years ago
Just added to my comment list.
0 points
Ricardo Zea, over 9 years ago
Fun Fact: There are no "Web Designer" or "Front End Developer" titles in that list.
WTF! o_O.
0 points
Ivana McConnell, over 9 years ago
Hello! I've attempted to visualise this in a way that makes sense to me, located [here](ivanamcconnell.com/design-survey.html). Feedback welcome!
0 points
Nicholas Hendrickx, over 9 years ago
Are these number gross or net? Before or after tax reduction?
In both cases, I think I need to get my ass out of Belgium!
0 points
David Broderick, over 9 years ago
Apparently I should have moved to San Francisco, where Jr Designers make six figures ;)
0 points
- Michael Aleo, over 9 years ago
  Right, and pay $3k+ a month in rent. It's all relative.
  0 points
C___ F_____, over 9 years ago
I'm shocked at how much more US-based designers earn than their UK counterparts
0 points
Jerome Arfouche, over 9 years ago
Aren't those figures slightly inflated by SF area designers ? There's no way I can make that median figure where I live
0 points
Dani Reuven, over 9 years ago
Great job !
0 points
Jonathan Yap, over 9 years ago
So this just sums out, if you are not from EU/US, your pay is shit. Not too much context but an interesting survey nonetheless. MAKES ME FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.
Now let me cry alone in the corner.
0 points
Todd Bennings, over 9 years ago
Thanks for doing this. Sure it needs a little more refinement, but it's a good start. I hope I'll be able to contribute next time. Maybe set up a tiny letter to notify people. Or send me a Yo!
0 points
- Cameron Moll, over 9 years ago
  If I may (and since we're on the topic of employment), http://www.authenticjobs.com/yo/
  0 points
Jahed Momand, over 9 years ago
WOW I'M GETTING PAID REALLY WELL
0 points
Yunus Tunak, over 9 years ago
Great work, interesting results.
I think the people who entered $1000 or so were writing monthly salaries as there is no yearly basis for some countries. (eg. Turkey) But its only a very small group as far as i can tell.
0 points
Aaron Michael, over 9 years ago
Who's the Art Director from Beaumont? I'd love to chat with you!
0 points
Luca Candela, over 9 years ago (edited over 9 years ago )
If you provide me with a CSV version of the data I can plot a few graphs to show the information trapped inside. The way you shared the sheet makes it taking that data to a data analysis tool somewhat challenging.
UPDATE: thanks!
0 points
Catalin Cimpanu, over 9 years ago
Nice work Cameron !!!
0 points
MaCherie Edwards, over 9 years ago
Does the Mobile UI Designer in OKC feel like identifying him/herself? If so, we should start a design meet up! I'm also curious to know where you work...
0 points
Yoeri Hokken, over 9 years ago
Nice list, interesting insights :)
0 points
Andreas Druschel, over 9 years ago
Thank you vey much!
0 points
Jay Wyche, over 9 years ago (edited over 9 years ago )
After reading through this list I think I need to move to California.
0 points
- Matthew R. Miller, over 9 years ago
  No! Stay out! More money for me ;)
  1 point
- Ryan Hicks, over 9 years ago
  Maybe if you like paying for the extremely high cost of living and putting up with the horrible politics.
  1 point
  - Jay Wyche, over 9 years ago
    I live in DC. Soooo.... yeah.
    0 points
- Deny Khoung, over 9 years ago
  Demand for designers is constant in SF. Depending on your skill level, I'm looking for designers for my apprenticeship program (whitespacecrew.com) or for placement in a Formation 8 startup.
  0 points

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Results: DN Survey of Design Salaries 2014

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