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Graphic Design Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Lifelong Learning

Graphic Design Specialist

Lancaster, CA · On-site

$26.25 - $36.75/hr

Assists the Creative Design Manager in establishing visual tone, character, and messages that will ... Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and websites. * Determine ...

Visa

Manager, Graphics Design

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are looking for a Marketing Graphic Design Manager who is first and foremost an exceptional presentation designer and visual storyteller. This role sits at the intersection of design, storytelling ...

PedalFree LLC

Junior Graphic Designer

Santa Cruz, CA · On-site

$23.50 - $31.25/hr

The Junior Graphic Designer is a full-time, salaried position and reports to the Design Manager. Responsibilities: Work with design team to generate graphic concepts for ongoing design projects ...

Champions Group Holdings

Graphic Design Intern

Brea, CA · On-site

$20/hr

We're seeking an enthusiastic Graphic Design intern to help bring our creative vision to life. This ... File Management: Organize and maintain design files, ensuring accessibility and version control

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All JobsGraphic Design JobsGraphic Design Manager JobsGraphic Design Manager Jobs in California

Graphic Design Manager information

See California salary details

$33.1K

$71.2K

$108.6K

How much do graphic design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for graphic design manager in California is $71,166.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,700.00 and $79,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is a graphic design manager a stressful job?

A graphic design manager often faces stress related to tight deadlines, managing multiple projects, and coordinating team members. The role requires strong organizational skills and the ability to handle client feedback, which can contribute to work pressure, especially during busy periods or project revisions.

What does a graphic design manager do?

A Graphic Design Manager oversees a team of graphic designers, ensuring that all visual materials align with a company's brand and goals. They are responsible for planning, assigning, and reviewing design projects, as well as providing creative direction and feedback. Additionally, they collaborate with marketing, product, and other departments to deliver cohesive visual content, manage project timelines, and maintain quality standards. Their role often includes mentoring designers and helping to develop creative strategies for campaigns.

What is a graphic design manager?

A graphic design manager is responsible for overseeing a team of graphic artists and designers and interacting with clients regarding projects. In this role, your job duties include ensuring the visual design work is continued as scheduled, providing guidance to junior designers, and utilizing their creative talent to further the design of a project. You also have a hands-on role in creating various forms of visual communication such as web page graphics, ads, brochures, and logos. The qualifications for this career include a bachelor's degree in art, graphic design, or a related field. To succeed in this role, you need strong leadership, communication, and creative skills. You also need prior experience working as an artist or a graphic designer on projects.

What is the difference between Graphic Design Manager vs Graphic Designer?

AspectGraphic Design ManagerGraphic Designer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or related field; experience in design and leadershipBachelor's degree or certification in Graphic Design or related area
Work EnvironmentLeads design teams, collaborates with clients, oversees projectsCreates visual content, works on design projects individually or in teams
Industry UsageUsed in marketing, advertising, corporate brandingUsed across various industries for creating visual assets

The main difference is that a Graphic Design Manager oversees design teams and manages projects, while a Graphic Designer focuses on creating visual content. The manager role involves leadership and strategic planning, whereas the designer role emphasizes hands-on design work.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graphic design manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graphic Design Manager, you need strong visual design skills, leadership abilities, and experience with branding, typically supported by a degree in graphic design or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, project management software, and sometimes knowledge of web design platforms is essential. Outstanding communication, creative direction, and team collaboration skills help you inspire and manage creative teams effectively. These skills are crucial for delivering high-quality design projects, meeting client expectations, and driving team performance in a competitive creative environment.

What are the main challenges a graphic design manager faces when leading a creative team?

Graphic Design Managers often encounter the challenge of balancing creative vision with client or company objectives, ensuring that the team's work aligns with brand guidelines and project goals. They must also manage varying skill levels and personalities within the team, fostering collaboration while encouraging individual creativity. Additionally, handling tight deadlines and adapting to shifting project priorities require strong organizational and communication skills. Building a positive, productive environment where feedback is constructive and designers feel empowered is key to overcoming these challenges.
More about Graphic Design Manager jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Graphic Design jobs in California?

The most popular types of Graphic Design jobs in California are:

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Graphic Design Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Graphic Design Manager job openings:

Graphic Design Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graphic Design Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $71,166 per year, or $34.2 per hour.

Graphic Design Specialist

Lifelong Learning

Lancaster, CA • On-site

$26.25 - $36.75/hr

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

LIFELONG LEARNING ADMINISTRATION CORPORATION
Full Time, Monday - Friday
This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, with on-site responsibilities determined according to program and site needs.
The Lifelong Learning Advantage
At Lifelong Learning, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and every school should have the support to make that possible. Our mission is to serve our client schools so educators can focus on what matters most: helping students learn, grow and thrive. Through innovative operational and educational support, we help schools create stronger outcomes, greater opportunities, and brighter futures for the students and communities they serve.
Learn more about us at https://llac.org/
How You Will Make an Impact
The Graphic Design Specialist creates and assembles images and graphics to produce designs for websites, print media, product design, displays and productions. Direct marketing design projects, collaborating with multiple departments. Design and develop product brand identity. Assists the Creative Design Manager in establishing visual tone, character, and messages that will effectively communicate with the target audience and fulfill the project objectives.
RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES: This list is illustrative only and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of tasks performed by this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
  • Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and aesthetic design concepts.
  • Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and websites.
  • Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
  • Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
  • Design print advertisements in collaboration with the Marketing team and appropriate project managers.
  • Design layout of art or product exhibits, displays, or promotional materials.
  • Design and produce graphic panels for permanent and changing exhibits in collaboration with the Marketing Team.
  • Maintain a high standard of design, format, and production, while adhering to the established Organizations brand and style guide.
  • Design layouts with accuracy, creative design, brand consistency, and production-ready execution.
  • Manage individual workflow working closely with Creative Design Manager to ensure deadlines are being met.
  • Use computer software to generate new images.
  • Collaborate with others to develop or refine designs.
  • Administrative duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned or changed from time to time.

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, ETC:
  • High level of expertise using Adobe and Apple computer design applications.
  • Good face-to-face and electronic-based communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, with ability to seek solutions collaboratively.
  • Ability to take graphic design projects from concept through execution.
  • Ability to design a variety of media elements including direct mail, newspaper, magazine ads, in-store signage elements, brochures, internal communication pieces and related projects.
  • Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a faced-past work environment.
  • Self-sufficient and focus on excellent customer service.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience in Design, Journalism, English, Communications or related field is required
  • 3 years experience of related professional work in graphic design required.
  • Experience in Adobe Creative Suite CS6, Illustrator, InDesign, PhotoShop. Knowledge of After Effects is a plus.
  • Experience with WordPress preferred.
  • Job requires use of different medium, creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
  • Intermediate skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

TRAVEL: Ability to travel in performance of job duties is required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Mental Demands: high workflow management, high project coordination.
  • Finger Dexterity: using primarily just the fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together.
  • Talking: especially where one must convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
  • Average Hearing: able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information.
  • Average Visual Abilities: ordinary acuity necessary to prepare or inspect documents or operate machinery.
  • Physical Strength: sedentary work. Sitting most of the time, and occasionally exerts up to 10 lbs. of force (almost all office jobs).
  • Frequent multi-tasking, changing of task priorities, repetitious exacting work required.
  • Working in a noisy, distracting environment with frequent deadline pressures.

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