Do you love art and design but are still unsure of what you can do to turn it into a career? If this is you, we’re glad you’ve come across this article.
We’ve made a list of 9 design jobs in demand in Australia at the moment and included their annual salaries with a brief overview of what to expect on the job.
We really hope this will help you find the creative job you’ve been dreaming of. But before that, please know that you can actually save this blog post on Pinterest for future reference. Just click the red button to your left or the infographic below.
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Note: The annual salaries mentioned in this post are from PayScale Australia and are only meant to be used as guide.
1. UI/UX Designer
User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) are two distinct but closely related aspects of app design. UI focuses on the app's visual layout and appearance, while UX is concerned with how the app functions and how easily users can interact with it. Despite the differences, many companies often seek a single professional to handle both UI and UX design due to the overlap in responsibilities.
A UI/UX designer is tasked with creating design ideas through process flows, sitemaps, and storyboards. They design interface elements like menus, tabs, and widgets while collaborating closely with engineers and product managers to meet the design needs of the organisation.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a UI/UX designer in Australia ranges from AU$50,214 to AU$115,547 per year.
Curious to explore more about this exciting career? Click the orange button below and discover more opportunities in UI/UX design!
2. Web Designer
The main responsibilities of a web designer include designing and creating the features, layout, and overall look of a website. This involves meeting with clients or the management team to assess their needs, considering factors such as the nature of the business, target audience, and preferences in colours, fonts, and style.
As with many technology jobs, web designers are in high demand in Australia and worldwide. Their combination of technical skills and creativity contributes to their competitive wages. A bachelor's degree is not always required; companies often prioritise an applicant's portfolio. Alternatively, pursuing a Certificate in Web Development can help you develop coding and technical skills for web design.
According to Indeed, the average salary of a web designer in Australia ranges from AU$40,454 to AU$81,526 annually.
Looking to start your journey in web design? Click the orange button below to explore career opportunities!
3. Animator
Animators are admired for their incredible talent and passion for art and design. These professionals create and bring to life a series of images—whether through drawings, models, or puppets—for films, computer games, commercials, websites, and music videos. They use advanced software like Adobe Flash, Adobe After Effects, and Maya to achieve this.
Common employers of animators include web design firms, film production companies, game developers, and marketing agencies. To succeed in this role, a strong portfolio showcasing your design and animation skills is essential.
According to SEEK, the average salary for animators in Australia ranges from AU$ 75,000 to AU$ 95,000 annually, depending on experience and location​.
Interested in taking the next step in your animation career? Click the orange button below to discover exciting opportunities!
4. Graphic Designer
Graphic designers are among the most in-demand jobs in Australia, with their expertise sought across various industries. Their main responsibilities include creating visual concepts for marketing materials like infographics, posters, logos, brochures, and corporate reports. They skillfully use design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign to develop impactful work. Meticulous about text, images, font choices, and colour schemes, graphic designers ensure that each design effectively communicates the intended message.
To gain the necessary skills, many aspiring designers take online courses in graphic design, covering essential software and design techniques.
According to SEEK, the annual salary of a graphic designer in Australia typically ranges from AU$50,000 to AU$75,000, depending on experience and location. For example, in Sydney, the average salary is approximately AU$74,525.
Looking to step into this creative field? Click the orange button below to explore job opportunities in graphic design!
5. Fashion Designer
Fashion designers play a significant role in creating custom-made and ready-to-wear garments. They not only sketch designs but also select fabrics, colours, and patterns to align with fashion trends and consumer preferences. To succeed in this dynamic industry, having a strong portfolio and a solid understanding of both creative and logistical aspects is essential, and online courses can help you build these skills.
According to SEEK, the average salary for fashion designers in Australia ranges from AU$ 75,000 to AU$ 85,000, depending on experience and location​.
Ready to step into the world of fashion design? Click the orange button below to explore exciting career opportunities!
6. Furniture Designer
Furniture designers are skilled in creating a wide range of furnishings, from beds and desks to sofas and dressers, tailored for homes, offices, and more. When designing, they consider various factors, including functionality, aesthetics, cost, and the target market.
In addition to having strong drawing skills and attention to detail, modern furniture designers often use design software to bring their ideas to life, working with materials like metal, fabric, and wood.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a furniture designer in Australia ranges from AU$ 53,000 to AU$ 80,000 per year.
Interested in a career in furniture design? Click the orange button below to explore opportunities!
7. Jewellery Designer
Jewellery designers create beautiful pieces such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, often making moulds using metal or wax to bring their designs to life. These creations can be based on client requests or their own inspirations. Designers must consider various elements like metals, gemstones, size, and carat while using creative software like Photoshop, 3D modelling, and CAD to refine their designs.
For those interested in starting their own jewellery business, studying a jewellery design course is highly beneficial, as it teaches valuable skills such as material sourcing, marketing, and pricing strategies.
According to SEEK, the salary for a jeweller in Australia typically ranges from AU$ 75,000 to AU$ 90,000, depending on experience and location​.
8. Interior Designer
Interior designers specialise in making rooms, homes, or offices both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Their expertise spans areas like furniture arrangement, lighting, colour coordination, and selecting materials that match the client’s vision. They also ensure that their designs comply with space requirements, building codes, and safety regulations. Interior designers collaborate with architects, builders, and engineers to achieve a cohesive look while addressing structural and mechanical aspects.
While many sketches are done by hand, interior designers often rely on Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software for precision. For those aiming to develop these skills and enter the field, pursuing a Certificate IV in Interior Decoration is a practical step.
According to SEEK, the annual salary of an interior designer in Australia ranges from AU$ 75,000 to AU$ 90,000, depending on experience and location.
Interested in starting a career in interior design? Click the orange button below to explore exciting opportunities!
9. Architect
Architects are responsible for designing and planning various structures, including houses and commercial buildings. Their work involves floor plans, HVAC systems, electrical layouts, and landscape designs. Beyond this, architects determine the required materials, project costs, and construction timelines. They also prepare sketches and detailed plans using both traditional methods and advanced software such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Computer-Aided Design (CAD).
Architects collaborate closely with clients, contractors, and engineers to ensure that all project specifications are met. According to SEEK, the average annual salary for architects in Australia ranges from AU$ 95,000 to AU$ 115,000, depending on experience and location​.
These are just nine design jobs in demand in Australia this year. Hopefully this info can help you get one step further to determining what kind of design-related career is going to float your boat.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to know more about our design courses or Construction Courses, simply make an inquiry from the course page of the course you are interested in, and an advisor will be in touch with you to discuss your options further. If beauty and personal care are more your style, you might also be interested in our Eyelash Courses at Bela Beauty College. Whether you're exploring a future in design, construction, or the beauty industry, our online courses offer comprehensive training tailored to your career aspirations.
Cheers!