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Visual Creative Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

New Level Resources

Creative Manager

Santa Barbara, CA · On-site

$35 - $40/hr

Maintain and evolve Visit Santa Barbara's visual identity by developing templates, style guides and creative systems that ensure consistency across all marketing and organizational communications.

New Level Resources

Creative Manager

Santa Barbara, CA · On-site

$35 - $40/hr

Maintain and evolve Visit Santa Barbara's visual identity by developing templates, style guides and creative systems that ensure consistency across all marketing and organizational communications.

Visit Santa Barbara

Creative Manager

Santa Barbara, CA · On-site

Maintain and evolve Visit Santa Barbara's visual identity by developing templates, style guides and creative systems that ensure consistency across all marketing and organizational communications.

New

Unto Labs

Creative Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Define and evolve Unto Labs' brand identity, visual language, messaging, and creative direction across all channels * Lead the development and refinement of core brand messaging for key audiences ...

WATER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH

Creative Lead

Fontana, CA

$26.19 - $29.79/hr

Establish and maintain the visual identity and brand standards across all communications * Review and approve all creative assets (print, digital, environmental, and promotional) * Partner with the ...

LegalZoom

Principal Visual Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Overview LegalZoom's Brand & Creative team is looking for a craft-obsessed Principal Visual Designer to shape how our brand comes to life across experiences. As a senior individual contributor, you ...

LegalZoom

Principal Visual Designer

Mountain View, CA · On-site +1

$171K - $190K/yr

Overview LegalZoom's Brand & Creative team is looking for a craft-obsessed Principal Visual Designer to shape how our brand comes to life across experiences. As a senior individual contributor, you ...

LegalZoom

Principal Visual Designer

Mountain View, CA · On-site +1

Overview LegalZoom's Brand & Creative team is looking for a craft-obsessed Principal Visual Designer to shape how our brand comes to life across experiences. As a senior individual contributor, you ...

LegalZoom

Principal Visual Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$171K - $190K/yr

Overview LegalZoom's Brand & Creative team is looking for a craft-obsessed Principal Visual Designer to shape how our brand comes to life across experiences. As a senior individual contributor, you ...

Krea.ai, Inc

Creative Producer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

We care about creativity: our team includes musicians, designers, visual artists, and engineers. This role We're looking for a Creative Producer with strong taste and a background in art direction or ...

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All JobsVisual Creative JobsVisual Creative Jobs in California

Visual Creative information

See California salary details

$10

$25

$65

How much do visual creative jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for visual creative in California is $25.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.15 and $28.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the highest paying visual arts career?

In the visual arts field, roles such as art director, creative director, or multimedia artist often have the highest salaries, especially in advertising, film, or gaming industries. These positions typically require advanced skills, experience, and sometimes management responsibilities, with salaries varying based on industry and location.

What is the difference between Visual Creative vs Graphic Designer?

AspectVisual CreativeGraphic Designer
CredentialsPortfolio, sometimes a degree in design or related fieldDegree in graphic design, visual arts, or similar; portfolio required
Work EnvironmentCreative agencies, marketing teams, media companiesDesign studios, advertising agencies, corporate marketing departments
Industry UsageBroader role including multimedia, branding, and visual storytellingPrimarily focused on creating visual graphics and layouts

While both roles involve visual design, a Visual Creative often encompasses a broader scope including multimedia and branding, whereas a Graphic Designer specializes in creating visual graphics and layouts. The roles overlap but differ in scope and focus, with Visual Creatives typically working on diverse visual projects across various media.

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

To succeed as a Visual Creative, you need a solid grasp of design principles, visual storytelling, and proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio. Familiarity with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and sometimes motion graphics or web design platforms is typically expected. Strong communication, adaptability, and collaboration skills help translate client needs into impactful visuals and foster effective teamwork. These abilities are crucial for producing compelling creative work that meets objectives and resonates with target audiences.

How does a Visual Creative typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Visual Creatives frequently work alongside marketing, product, and content teams to ensure that visual elements align with broader campaign objectives and brand guidelines. Collaboration often involves participating in brainstorming sessions, sharing drafts for feedback, and revising designs based on input from stakeholders. This cross-functional work environment fosters creativity but also requires strong communication skills and flexibility to balance different perspectives and deadlines. Being open to constructive feedback and adapting quickly to shifting project needs are essential for success in this role.

What jobs can you get as a visual artist?

A visual artist can pursue various roles such as graphic designer, illustrator, fine artist, concept artist, or art director. These jobs often require skills in digital or traditional media, proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, and a strong portfolio to showcase their work.

What are Visual Creatives?

Visual Creatives are professionals who use design, imagery, and visual storytelling to communicate ideas, promote brands, or convey messages. They work in fields such as advertising, marketing, media, and entertainment, producing content like graphics, videos, illustrations, and digital art. Visual Creatives often collaborate with teams to develop concepts and execute projects that engage audiences and fulfill client objectives. Their work requires a blend of artistic skill, technical proficiency, and an understanding of current trends.

What jobs are good for visual people?

Visual creatives often excel in roles such as graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, video editors, and UI/UX designers, where strong visual skills and creativity are essential. These jobs typically require proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite and an eye for aesthetics, making them suitable for individuals with a keen visual sense.

What jobs are ADHD people good at?

Visual Creative roles often suit individuals with ADHD because they involve high levels of creativity, visual thinking, and hands-on work. These jobs may include graphic design, video editing, advertising, or other roles that allow for flexible schedules and dynamic environments, which can help maintain focus and engagement.
What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Creative jobs in California? The most popular types of Visual Creative jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Visual Creative jobs in California? For Visual Creative jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Visual Creative jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Visual Creative jobs in California are:
Visual Creative jobs near you
Infographic showing various Visual Creative job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,042 per year, or $26 per hour.
Creative Manager

Creative Manager

New Level Resources

Santa Barbara, CA • On-site

$35 - $40/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Title: Creative Manager
As Creative Manager, you'll help bring the Visit Santa Barbara brand to life through thoughtful design, creative project management and visual storytelling. This role serves as both our lead in-house designer and the primary coordinator for larger creative initiatives, partnering with internal departments and external agencies to ensure every project reflects the quality, personality and beauty of the Santa Barbara South Coast.
From developing presentations and marketing collateral to overseeing advertising campaign creative, managing photography and video assets, and supporting organization-wide initiatives, you'll play a key role in shaping how Visit Santa Barbara is experienced across digital, print and in-person touchpoints.
Community Engagement: This role is ideal for someone who lives in or has strong ties to the Santa Barbara community. The Creative Manager will build relationships with local businesses, tourism partners, and community organizations, local photographers and videographers, so familiarity with the area and its culture is highly valued.
Work Location:This is a hybrid position based in Santa Barbara, California. You will be required to work in-person three days a week, to support community events, local productions, and collaborate with the team.
What You'll Do:
  • Lead creative projects from concept through completion, developing project timelines, creative briefs and production schedules while coordinating internal stakeholders and external creative agencies.
  • Manage agency relationships, creative deliverables, revisions and approvals to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget and aligned with Visit Santa Barbara's strategic objectives.
  • Design and produce a wide variety of in-house creative materials, including presentations, reports, brochures, signage, digital advertising, social media graphics, event collateral and other branded communications.
  • Collaborate with the Digital Marketing Manager to implement integrated marketing campaigns across digital, print, email, social media and other marketing channels.
  • Maintain and evolve Visit Santa Barbara's visual identity by developing templates, style guides and creative systems that ensure consistency across all marketing and organizational communications.
  • Review creative produced both internally and externally to ensure quality, brand consistency, accessibility and production readiness.
  • Serve as administrator for Visit Santa Barbara's digital asset management system, maintaining photography, video and graphic libraries while coordinating asset requests and usage rights.
  • Design and build branded email communications while maintaining visual consistency across consumer, partner and organizational campaigns.
  • Develop creative materials supporting board meetings, annual reports, strategic plans, presentations, organizational events and cross-department initiatives.
  • Evaluate emerging creative technologies, workflows and AI-assisted design tools that improve efficiency while maintaining Visit Santa Barbara's creative standards.

What You'll Need to Succeed:
  • Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Marketing, Advertising, Communications or a related field.
  • Three or more years of professional experience in graphic design, creative marketing or creative project management.
  • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat and Lightroom.
  • Strong understanding of typography, layout, branding, color theory and visual storytelling.
  • Experience preparing artwork for both print and digital production.
  • Working knowledge of HTML email development and digital marketing best practices.
  • Excellent project management, organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality creative work.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across departments, vendors and agency partners.
  • Self-motivated with sound judgment, creativity and problem-solving abilities.
  • Familiarity with social media platforms and digital advertising creative specifications.
  • Valid California Driver's License, auto insurance and access to a vehicle for work-related travel.
  • Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends, as needed.
  • Ability to travel, as needed.
Additional Skills That Make an Impact:
  • Experience designing integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
  • Experience collaborating with creative agencies, freelancers and production vendors.
  • Experience with digital asset management platforms.
  • Experience with website content management systems, such as Simpleview.
  • Experience with Figma, Canva or other collaborative design platforms.
  • Basic motion graphics or video editing experience using Premiere Pro or After Effects.
  • Photography direction or photo editing experience.
  • Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices for digital communications.
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted creative workflows and responsible implementation of emerging design technologies.
  • Working knowledge of Associated Press (AP) Style and editorial best practices.
  • Experience in destination marketing, tourism, hospitality or lifestyle brands.
  • Familiarity with the Santa Barbara South Coast tourism product.
What Visit Santa Barbara Offers You:
  • Comprehensive medical insurance fully covered by the employer
  • Voluntary dental and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
  • Paid vacation and sick leave
  • Ten paid holidays
  • Cell phone reimbursement
  • Opportunities to explore and engage with local hospitality businesses
  • Flexible work options, including up to two remote workdays per work week (minimum three workdays in the office)

Please note that these are representative examples of benefits and may vary based on organizational policies.
Compensation:
Hourly Rate: $35.00-$40.00 per hour
Compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications and overall fit for the position.
About Visit Santa Barbara
Visit Santa Barbara is a nonprofit destination marketing organization (DMO) primarily funded by the South Coast Tourism Business Improvement District, along with grants and membership dues. Through tourism marketing, public relations, group sales and community partnerships, Visit Santa Barbara works to generate overnight visitation, increase business and tax revenue, and support jobs throughout the Santa Barbara South Coast.
To learn more, visit SantaBarbaraCA.com.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Visit Santa Barbara is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
Please note that we are not accepting phone inquiries regarding application status. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. We are not working with third-party recruiters or staffing agencies for this position.

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