10 of the Most Popular Types of Book Design Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Book Design jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Book Design Jobs

• Book Illustrator

  Salary range: $38,500 - $68,000

  The job duties of a book illustrator involve creating images for books. Someone in this career may make illustrations for children’s books or fiction books. A book illustrator may also specialize in designing graphics for nonfiction books or creating cover art for novels. Their responsibilities sometimes include working with the book text. The primary goal of a book illustrator is to create images that fit with the story or subject of the book. The qualifications that you need to start working as a book illustrator typically include art skills and knowledge of graphic design, drawing, and layout for the publishing industry.

• Remote Book Cover Designer

  Salary range: $45,500 - $65,500

  Remote Book Cover Designer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Remote Book Cover Designer jobs pay between $45,500 (25th percentile) and $65,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Remote Book Cover Designer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Freelance Book Designer

  Salary range: $50,500 - $128,500

  As a freelance book designer, your job is to help design the cover and interior of books. In this role, you may work by contract to select photography, purchase an illustration, and help manage the overall layout of the text. Freelance book designers often hire artists or create art themselves. Your goal is to make a cohesive, marketable product that still meets all legal standards for labeling. Many freelance book designers work with self-publishing authors who want independent support, rather than for a specific printing company. This job should not be confused with freelance book graphic design professionals, who only create art for books and do not perform other layout duties.

• Book Publisher

  Salary range: $34,000 - $93,000

  Book publishers oversee all aspects of the book production process for a publishing firm or an independent book publisher. In this career, you select authors and commission books and ebooks, and negotiate contracts with the authors, and track the writing process so that the author meets publishing deadline. Other responsibilities include working with editors and the marketing team to prepare the book for publication and ensure sales. You may also liaise with copyright lawyers and work with graphic designers, printers, and others to ensure each phase is completed properly throughout the publishing process.

• Publishing

  Salary range: $69,000 - $111,500

  Publishing is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Publishing jobs pay between $69,000 (25th percentile) and $111,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Publishing job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Art Director Book Publishing

  Salary range: $121,000 - $127,000

  Art Director Book Publishing is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Art Director Book Publishing jobs pay between $121,000 (25th percentile) and $127,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Art Director Book Publishing job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Publishing Designer

  Salary range: $42,500 - $85,000

  Publishing Designer is a typical job search query Most salaries for Publishing Designer jobs pay between $42,500 (25th percentile) and $85,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Publishing Designer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Graphic Designer

  Salary range: $41,500 - $65,000

  A graphic designer creates visual designs using digital illustrations, images, and typography. Their visual concepts communicate a message that informs, inspires, or captivates customers. Graphic designers help organizations form their brand and express a particular identity or idea for promotional and advertising material. They are skilled in the manipulation of colors, shapes, fonts, images, photography, print design, logos, and animation, and may use computer software or draw by hand. Additionally, they collaborate with multimedia animators, artists, and other creative types to bring visual concepts to life. Examples of their work include layout and design for brochures, corporate reports, magazines, advertisements, and billboards. Graphic designers may work for a design agency, on the staff of a company, or they may choose to be self-employed and seek out their own clients.

• Book Cover Designer

  Salary range: $45,500 - $65,500

  Book Cover Designer is a common job search query. Most salaries for Book Cover Designer jobs pay between $45,500 (25th percentile) and $65,500 (75th percentile) annually. There are lots of open positions nationwide for Book Cover Designer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Book Cover Illustration

  Salary range: $38,500 - $68,000

  Book Cover Illustration is a typical job search query Most salaries for Book Cover Illustration jobs pay between $38,500 (25th percentile) and $68,000 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Book Cover Illustration job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.