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Communications Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Agency: Initiative Job Function: Media Job Subfunction: Media Planning and Buying Responsible for the performance of a teams within a specialized area, oversees professional employees and supervisors ...

Agency: Initiative Job Function: Media Job Subfunction: Media Planning and Buying Responsible for the performance of a teams within a specialized area, oversees professional employees and supervisors ...

Founding Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$125K - $225K/yr

... communicate the quality and ambition of our company behind it. As Orchard's Founding Design ... Engineer, you will establish the design function and own design across product, brand, marketing ...

Founding Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$125K - $225K/yr

... communicate the quality and ambition of our company behind it. As Orchard's Founding Design ... Engineer, you will establish the design function and own design across product, brand, marketing ...

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Communications Design information

See California salary details

$25

$33

$39

How much do communications design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for communications design in California is $33.57, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.66 and $36.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is communications design?

Communications design is a multidisciplinary field focused on crafting visual and written messages to effectively convey information and ideas to target audiences. It combines elements of graphic design, branding, advertising, and digital media to create compelling content across various platforms such as print, web, and social media. Professionals in communications design work to ensure that messages are clear, engaging, and aligned with the goals of organizations or clients. Their work often includes designing logos, advertisements, websites, and marketing materials. The field requires a strong understanding of visual aesthetics, communication strategies, and audience behavior.

How does a communications designer typically collaborate with marketing and creative teams on projects?

Communications Designers frequently work cross-functionally, collaborating with marketing strategists and creative teams to ensure that messaging is visually compelling and aligned with brand objectives. They participate in brainstorming sessions, develop visual concepts, and refine designs based on feedback from stakeholders. Effective communication and adaptability are crucial, as the role often involves balancing multiple project timelines and incorporating input from various departments. This collaborative environment offers valuable opportunities to learn from different perspectives and contribute to unified campaigns.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a communications designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Communications Designer, you need expertise in visual storytelling, graphic design principles, and a relevant degree in design, communications, or a related field. Mastery of tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and familiarity with digital and print production processes are typically required. Strong collaboration, creative problem-solving, and effective communication skills set standout designers apart. These skills ensure compelling, clear messaging and impactful visual solutions tailored to diverse audiences and mediums.

What is the difference between Communications Design vs Graphic Design?

AspectCommunications DesignGraphic Design
CredentialsDegree in Communications, Design, or related fieldsDegree in Graphic Design or Visual Arts
Work EnvironmentAdvertising agencies, corporate communications, mediaPrint and digital media, branding, advertising
Industry UsageFocuses on strategic messaging and brand communicationFocuses on visual aesthetics and layout

Communications Design and Graphic Design overlap in visual elements, but Communications Design emphasizes strategic messaging and communication goals, often involving broader media and audience engagement. Graphic Design primarily concentrates on visual aesthetics and layout for print and digital media. Understanding these differences helps professionals choose the right career path or specialization.

Does communications design pay well?

Communications design professionals can earn competitive salaries that vary based on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level roles typically start lower, while experienced designers with specialized skills or certifications can command higher pay, especially in corporate or agency settings. Overall, it offers a viable career path with potential for growth and increased earnings.

Is a communications design degree worth it?

A communications design degree can provide foundational skills in visual communication, branding, and digital media, which are valuable in roles such as graphic designer or multimedia specialist. However, practical experience, a strong portfolio, and proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite are often equally important for career advancement in this field.

What does a communications design do?

A communications designer creates visual and written content to convey messages effectively across various media, including digital, print, and social platforms. They use skills in graphic design, branding, and storytelling, often working with tools like Adobe Creative Suite to develop campaigns, logos, and layouts that support organizational goals.

What jobs can you do with communications design?

Communications design skills can lead to roles such as graphic designer, visual communication specialist, brand designer, marketing communications coordinator, or digital media designer. These jobs typically involve creating visual content for branding, advertising, social media, and corporate communications, often requiring proficiency in design tools like Adobe Creative Suite and strong visual storytelling abilities.

What are popular job titles related to Communications Design jobs in California?

For Communications Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Communications Design jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Communications Design jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Communications Design jobs?

Cities in California with the most Communications Design job openings:

Infographic showing various Communications Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,830 per year, or $33.6 per hour.

Manager, Communications Design

3M HEALTHCARE

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement

This job post hasย expired 1 day ago.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Position Overview As Manager, Communications Design, you will manage the production and application of accurate and insightful consumer, cultural, media and market intelligence to contribute to an impactful communications/media plan. With direction from your Associate Director or Director, you will take strategic design imperatives (Strategy On A Page: SOAP) and communications ideas and deploy a variety of data and intelligence to identify and prioritize the best communications channels. In this role, you will lead the preparation of the communications/mediaplan flowchart via MediaTools or Lumina and ensure the communications plan is built on solid, dataโ€rich fundamentals. Working with partnerships, media publishers, distributors and suppliers, and your communications design team, you will ensure the accuracy of the inputs required for the development of the media plan flowchart. You will also develop junior talent and teach mediaโ€planning fundamentals to internal teams and clients alike. Responsibilities Create accurate, substantiated and detailed media plans and media planning scenarios. Oversee timely, accurate delivery of dayโ€toโ€day requests from the team, disciplined callโ€reports and timely followโ€throughs. Organize and develop clientโ€facing category, culture and competitive tracking documents. Work with the Associate Director and Partnerships team to develop the RFP to brief internal partnership and external partners. Manage the team output and development of the flowchart, including oversight of the plan being accurately produced within Ripple, MediaTools or Lumina to address reach, frequency and business goals. Lead the bestโ€practice production of audience and communications data and intelligence for the development of the communications plan, utilizing relevant tools and techniques. Contribute to ideation team sessions with the Strategy team and relevant SBU to generate creative and compelling connections ideas. Maintain impactful media plans, including oversight of brand media plans, financials, ATBs and billing documentation. Lead internal, client and partner agency status calls and updates, organize and coordinate callโ€reports, and ensure followโ€ups are documented and carried out on time. Digest the client's goals/targets and lead compiling planning inputs โ€“ competitive reporting, syndicated audience research, landscape trends, campaign learnings. Required Skills and Experience Experience in an integrated planning role in media, publisher/vendor or communications discipline. Media planning skills sufficient to be taught to junior team members. Ability to delegate, develop and oversee direct reports. Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). Desired Skills and Experience 4+ years of relevant experience with at least 1 year managing or developing staff. Category or audience experience relevant to the assignment. Strong timeโ€management and organizational skills. Proven problemโ€solving ability. Wage and Benefits We offer a Total Rewards package that includes medical and dental coverage, 401(k) plans, flex spending, life insurance, disability insurance, employee discount program, employee stock purchase program and paid family benefits. Salary range: $80,000 โ€“ $90,000 USD. Employment Transparency We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties and responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For applicants to jobs in the United States: if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please email accommodation@mbww.com. #J-18808-Ljbffr