Careers after Graphic Designer: 11 jobs where your skills transfer.
Every related role O*NET lists for graphic designers, scored by how closely the skill profile matches, what it pays and how much extra preparation it needs. Original analysis, sources below.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Video Editor
- UX Designer
The jobs closest to a Graphic Designer's skills are Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers, Video Editor and UX Designer (70%, 66% and 59% skill match). 7 related roles pay more without needing more preparation, led by Creative Director (+$51,890 median).
Where your skills transfer
Data Skill match and pay change are our calculations from O*NET and BLS data (method below).
The three closest moves
Data Skills where the destination's O*NET level is at least half a point higher are listed as gaps.
Already strong: Critical Thinking, Speaking, Coordination, Active Listening.
To build: Operation and Control, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis.
Already strong: Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Speaking.
To build: Quality Control Analysis, Operation and Control, Troubleshooting.
Already strong: Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Active Listening.
To build: Systems Evaluation, Management of Financial Resources, Management of Material Resources.
How to make the move
Advice
- Weeks 1 to 2Pick one destination
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers is the closest match at 70%. Video Editor pays more without more preparation.
- Weeks 2 to 6Close the top gap
For Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers, the biggest gap is operation and control. Build one piece of proof for it.
- Weeks 4 to 8Reframe your resume
Lead with critical thinking, speaking, written in the destination's language.
- From week 6Talk to people in the role
Ask three merchandise displayers and window trimmerss what they wish they had known before switching.
How this page is built
Skill match is the correlation between the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level, subtract the average across all occupations, and correlate the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 or below means unrelated. Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared. Pay change compares the BLS national median annual wages (May 2025) of the two occupations. Preparation change compares O*NET Job Zones (1 = little preparation, 5 = extensive preparation). Destinations without BLS wage data or O*NET skill ratings are left out.
- Licensing or degree rules for a specific destination.
- Whether employers in your area hire career changers.
- Your own skills: the scores compare occupations, not people.
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
More for Graphic Designers
What the job is, skills, tools, pay and related roles.
Open →SalaryGraphic Designer salaryPay by percentile, state and metro, with a negotiation script.
Open →How to becomeGraphic Designer how to becomeEducation, training and the skills to build first.
Open →ResumeGraphic Designer resumeKeywords, bullet formulas and the skills to prove.
Open →Interview questionsGraphic Designer interview questionsQuestions with what they test, plus practice mode.
Open →Free toolCheck your resumeParsed text, evidence per bullet, fixes first.
Open →