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Magazine Illustrator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$112K - $119K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

About Hearst Magazines (Why Us?) Hearst Magazines is home to 30 brands that reach millions of ... Familiarity with motion design, GIF creation, illustration, video, and content management systems ...

Senior Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$112K - $119K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

About Hearst Magazines (Why Us?) Hearst Magazines is home to 30 brands that reach millions of ... Familiarity with motion design, GIF creation, illustration, video, and content management systems ...

The role may also include occasional work on special projects and the magazine. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of illustration and design for digital platforms, and an enthusiasm ...

Art Director

$85K - $100K/yr

The role may also include occasional work on special projects and the magazine. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of illustration and design for digital platforms, and an enthusiasm ...

Art Director

Washington, DC · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

The role may also include occasional work on special projects and the magazine. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of illustration and design for digital platforms, and an enthusiasm ...

... the print magazine, website and app, podcasts, video, and live events. The Creative Director will manage The Atlantic's art department, and lead the team's work on design, illustration, and ...

Global Visual Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

About Hearst Magazines (Why Us?) Hearst Magazines is home to 30 world-renowned brands that inform ... Present creative concepts, curate photography and illustration, oversee image retouching, and ...

Print Graphic Designer

Buford, GA · On-site

$40K - $79K/yr

  • PTO

Story Road | Gwinnett Magazine | Best of Awards We are looking for a graphic designer who can think ... Strong skills in Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator * Solid ...

... the print magazine, website and app, podcasts, video, and live events. The Creative Director will manage The Atlantic's art department and lead the team's work on design, illustration, and ...

The role will occasionally extend to special projects and print magazine assignments. The ideal candidate brings a strong editorial sensibility and a deep understanding of how illustration and design ...

The role will occasionally extend to special projects and print magazine assignments. The ideal candidate brings a strong editorial sensibility and a deep understanding of how illustration and design ...

Essential Functions Sell ads to existing and new advertisers Horse Illustrated, Young Rider, Hobby Farms and Chickens Magazine. Online, print (classified and display), and digital components. Use ...

Essential Functions Sell ads to existing and new advertisers Horse Illustrated, Young Rider, Hobby Farms and Chickens Magazine. Online, print (classified and display), and digital components. Use ...

Intern/Volunteer Art Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$15.50 - $20.50/hr

Company Description Felix is a luxury lifestyle magazine currently serving Chicago, Los Angeles and ... Must be highly experienced in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator Additional Information All your ...

Art Director

New York, NY · On-site

$132K - $138K/yr

Company Description Felix is a luxury lifestyle magazine currently serving Chicago, Los Angeles and ... Must be highly experienced in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator Additional Information All your ...

Showing results 21-40

Magazine Illustrator information

See salary details

$32.5K

$59.3K

$96K

How much do magazine illustrator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for magazine illustrator in the United States is $59,345.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $68,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a magazine illustrator?

Magazine illustrators are artists who create original images, drawings, or graphics for magazines. Their work helps to convey ideas, enhance stories, and capture readers' attention through visual art. They often collaborate with editors, writers, and art directors to develop illustrations that align with the magazine's style and content. Magazine illustrators may work in traditional media, digital formats, or a combination of both, adapting their techniques to fit the publication's needs.

What does a magazine illustrator do?

A magazine illustrator creates drawings and images for magazines and similar publications. Your duties in this career can include working on cover design and layout, creating illustrations for articles, drawing editorial pictures or cartoons, or making stand-alone pieces of artwork. In this position, you can illustrate for both print and online magazines. Some employers expect a magazine artist to create drawings by hand, while others expect you to do your work digitally. Your responsibilities in those positions may include making illustrations for the publication using software like Adobe Illustrator. If you are involved in the layout, you may use Adobe InDesign as well.

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

To thrive as a Magazine Illustrator, you need strong drawing skills, creativity, and a solid portfolio demonstrating your ability to convey concepts visually, often supported by a degree in illustration, graphic design, or related fields. Proficiency in digital illustration tools like Adobe Creative Suite (especially Photoshop and Illustrator) is typically required. Excellent communication, adaptability, and the ability to interpret editorial direction help illustrators collaborate effectively with art directors and writers. These skills ensure that the illustrator can deliver engaging, on-brand artwork that enhances the magazine’s visual storytelling and appeals to its target audience.

How does a magazine illustrator typically collaborate with editors and writers during the publication process?

Magazine illustrators work closely with editors and writers to ensure that the artwork effectively complements the articles and enhances the publication's visual storytelling. This collaboration often involves attending editorial meetings, reviewing article drafts, and receiving feedback to align illustrations with the magazine's tone and message. Effective communication and adaptability are key, as illustrators may need to revise their work based on editorial direction. This teamwork helps create cohesive and engaging content for readers.

What is the difference between Magazine Illustrator vs Comic Book Artist?

AspectMagazine IllustratorComic Book Artist
Required CredentialsArt degree or equivalent, portfolioArt degree or equivalent, portfolio
Work EnvironmentFreelance or in publishing studiosStudio or freelance, comic publishers
Industry UsageMagazines, editorial, advertisingComics, graphic novels, entertainment
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

Magazine Illustrators and Comic Book Artists both require strong artistic skills, portfolios, and often similar educational backgrounds. However, Magazine Illustrators focus on creating images for magazines, often with a more realistic or editorial style, while Comic Book Artists specialize in sequential art and storytelling through comics. Both roles are prevalent in publishing and entertainment industries, but they serve different audiences and formats.

What cities are hiring for Magazine Illustrator jobs?

Cities with the most Magazine Illustrator job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Magazine Illustrator jobs?

The most popular types of Magazine Illustrator jobs are:

What states have the most Magazine Illustrator jobs?

States with the most job openings for Magazine Illustrator jobs include:

Infographic showing various Magazine Illustrator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 56% Full Time, and 44% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $59,345 per year, or $28.5 per hour.

Senior Designer

Hearst Magazines

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$112K - $119K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 25 days ago


Hearst rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 27 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

49th of 76 rated media


Job description


Be Part of What's Next
Help shape how millions of readers discover and shop the products they love. As Senior Designer on Hearst Magazines' Central Commerce team, you'll lead the creative direction of commerce design across more than 20 iconic brands while building the systems, workflows, and processes that enable high-quality work at scale.
About Hearst Magazines (Why Us?)
Hearst Magazines is home to 30 brands that reach millions of readers through trusted journalism and compelling storytelling across print, digital, social, and emerging platforms. From fashion and beauty to health, lifestyle, food, entertainment, and news, our brands create meaningful connections with audiences while driving innovation across media. Join a collaborative team where creativity, technology, and commerce come together to shape the future of content.
Key Responsibilities (What You Are Doing)
  • Lead the day-to-day design function for Hearst Magazines' centralized commerce editorial team, supporting shopping content across a portfolio of 20+ brands.
  • Create compelling visual assets, including lead images for shopping stories, while developing scalable creative templates for web, social, and emerging platforms.
  • Establish, refine, and maintain design systems, workflows, templates, and best practices that improve consistency and efficiency across the team.
  • Identify operational opportunities and implement scalable solutions that enhance creative output, collaboration, and overall team performance.
  • Partner closely with editorial, commerce, and brand-level art teams to ensure creative work reflects each brand's unique identity while supporting business goals.
  • Drive projects independently, balancing speed, quality, and competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume commerce environment.
  • Help evolve the long-term structure of the commerce design function by introducing processes that support growth and scalability.
  • Manage freelance design resources and budgets as needed to support business priorities.

Qualifications (What We're Looking For)
  • 5+ years of professional design experience in digital editorial, commerce, or a related content-driven environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to combine hands-on creative execution with strategic thinking around design systems, workflows, and operational improvements.
  • Strong visual storytelling skills with the ability to design across multiple brand aesthetics, audiences, and digital platforms.
  • Experience developing scalable creative processes, templates, and design systems that improve team efficiency.
  • Advanced proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
  • Familiarity with motion design, GIF creation, illustration, video, and content management systems is a plus.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills with the ability to lead initiatives and influence cross-functional partners.
  • Comfortable working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with minimal oversight and a continuous improvement mindset.
  • This role is based in New York, NY and follows a hybrid schedule requiring 4 days per week in the office.

Benefits (What We Offer)
  • Work with the Best: Collaborate with top-tier professionals across media, advertising, tech, fashion, lifestyle, and publishing, shaping the future of these dynamic industries.
  • Grow Your Skills: Unlock your potential with access to innovative training programs, immersive workshops, and exclusive industry events.
  • Work-Life Harmony: Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid work, empowering you to balance professional success with personal priorities.
  • Foster Connection & Belonging: Join our Employee Resource Groups and help create a welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered.
  • Wellness First: Prioritize your well-being with a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance from Day 1.
  • Plan for Your Financial Future: Enjoy competitive financial perks, including a 401(k) plan with a generous company match.

The base salary range for this role is $88,000-$106,000. This position is not eligible for bonus or commission compensation. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, and location.
Hearst is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We value diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences and believe they strengthen our business, our brands, and our communities.

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