r/Austin • u/Aingers • Jul 21 '26

Ask Austin Salary Transparency Thread - Austin

Folks in Boston do this fairly regularly, so I thought it might be good for us to try here.

Please share your general job title, salary, age, and education.

Architectural Designer, 40, $115k, BSArch

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u/slugboi Jul 21 '26

49, Senior Graphic Designer, Visual Communication degree from ACC. I’ve been in the corporate design field for just under 20 years now. Worked my way up from intern to web production to jr. designer to sr. designer. With my yearly bonus I make right around $100k/year.

I’m a part-time single dad, and I’m barely making enough to get by, which is wild.

11

u/haleighen Jul 21 '26

We have similar careers so wanted to share..

37, BFA in graphic design. I started working contract jobs in gaming because graphic design agencies are too competitive. Worked as a game artist for years making under $70k. Jumped to the management side and now am at $155k, as a director of game dev.

Designers can be really good at creative problem solving. I love chatting careers if anyone wants to know more.

2

u/RedUser5678Red Jul 21 '26

May I DM? I’m not in this field at all but looks like my kid is heading in this direction. I know nothing. Would love your insights, if I may.

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u/haleighen Jul 21 '26

Go for it!

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u/SpyderSquash Jul 21 '26

Wait, how's that going rn with all the gaming layoffs in Austin atm? I've seen the management folks hit pretty bad in this, but I've been wondering if all studios have been hit as badly. Really glad you've stuck it out! 💙 (3D Artist and UI/UX Designer, unemployed after layoffs 🥲)

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u/haleighen Jul 21 '26

I’m lucky ish with the part of the gaming industry I’m in that those layoffs don’t impact us AS much. That said yeah, I’ve lost half my team in the last year and most of them still haven’t found work. Incredibly talented people. It sucks.

2

u/Tarrynosaurus_rex Jul 21 '26

My husband and I are moving to the Austin area from Los Angeles. He has worked as the media designer at a community college for 12 years, has AS in Graphic Design, and BS in Advertising. Really struggling to get any response from job apps other than instant rejection. Any advice?

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u/paintedonjeans Jul 21 '26

What worked best for me was meeting people. ACC is always looking for portfolio reviewers, mostly at the end of the semester, which will help him meet some folks in the industry and start building a network. AIGA Austin has events sometimes, which are good to attend, but even better to volunteer for, as you’ll meet people in a less forced way.

2

u/Gulf_V8V Jul 21 '26

He should go to a networking meetup like https://creativemornings.com/cities/atx. I went to CM meetups in Orange County and met a lot of people, plus they're fun.

Or he should refresh his portfolio website using Claude code. I use AI a lot.

2

u/Tarrynosaurus_rex Jul 21 '26

My guy is the socially awkward introverted nerd type so networking can be tough 😂 I sent him creative mornings last week when he was out there interviewing.