How long does graphic designer training take in Minnesota?

Most people become a Graphic Designer in Minnesota through a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role.

Do graphic designers need a license in Minnesota?

No statewide license is required for graphic designers in Minnesota. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Graphic Designer in Minnesota (2026)

Q: How much do graphic designers earn in Minnesota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), graphic designers in Minnesota earned a median annual wage of approximately $63,860. Employment concentration in Minnesota is about 1.48 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for graphic designers in Minnesota?

Minnesota currently employs approximately 5,570 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Minnesota graphic designers earn a median annual wage of $63,860 ($30.70/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,570 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 1.4% above the national median of $62,960 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $63,860 ($30.70/hr)
25th percentile: $51,570 per year
75th percentile: $78,380 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $96,960 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $42,690 per year
Workers employed in Minnesota: 5,570
Versus national median: 1.4% above the U.S. median of $62,960
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.48 - this occupation is more concentrated in Minnesota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Minnesota employs about 5,570 graphic designers earning a median $63,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Graphic Designer here means completing a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role.

Compare Graphic Designer Schools in Minnesota

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Dunwoody College of Technology	73.3	$27,836	$69,987	66%	Yes*	27 mi
2	Hennepin Technical College	58.9	$5,940	$59,906	42%	Yes*	17 mi
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3	Century College	52.6	$6,214	$54,401	31%	Yes*	31 mi
4	North Hennepin Community College	49.7	$5,061	$60,483	22%	Yes*	17 mi
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5	Anoka-Ramsey Community College	46.3	$5,682	$53,298	30%	Yes*	13 mi
6	Minneapolis Community and Technical College	45.5	$6,161	$52,691	20%	Yes*	27 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Minnesota employs approximately 5,570 graphic designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,860 ¹. The state’s concentration of graphic designer jobs is 1.48x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, graphic designer employment is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 20,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Graphic Designer in Minnesota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: short course, certificate, or self-directed portfolio work (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role
Median wage (Minnesota): $63,860 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Graphic Designer in Minnesota

How to become a Graphic Designer in Minnesota? Complete a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Minnesota? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the Minnesota path.

What do graphic designers earn in Minnesota? The median annual wage for graphic designers in Minnesota is $63,860 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $42,690 and experienced professionals can earn $96,960 or more ¹.

How to Become a Graphic Designer in Minnesota

Build skills and a portfolio. Complete a short course or certificate if you want structured training, then assemble a portfolio. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Optional industry credentials. Tool or association credentials can help hiring. They are not a state occupational license.
Most states do not license this role. Do not apply to a licensing board. Confirm employer expectations, not a state credential that does not exist.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Graphic Designer License Requirements in Minnesota

Most states do not license this role. The path is a portfolio and a short course or certificate, not a licensing board.

Typical path

Build skills through a short course, certificate, or OJT.
Assemble a portfolio.
Do not apply to a licensing board for this role.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Graphic Designer Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

Graphic Designers Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), graphic designers wages in Minnesota vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	3,690	$65,610	$72,700	$46,900	$101,890
Fargo	260	$55,910	$56,230	$38,130	$78,020
Sioux Falls	200	$50,030	$51,900	$36,900	$65,750
St. Cloud	160	$58,340	$58,600	$39,250	$76,430
Duluth	130	$57,960	$57,040	$36,090	$80,020
La Crosse-Onalaska	130	$56,630	$58,140	$41,410	$78,640
Mankato	120	$54,150	$59,250	$38,730	$86,380
Rochester	80	$61,240	$64,670	$45,510	$91,370
Grand Forks	70	$55,110	$56,840	$37,020	$77,580

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for graphic designers in Minnesota? Minnesota currently employs approximately 5,570 graphic designers ¹. Nationally, graphic designer employment is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Minnesota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Minnesota.

How much do graphic designers earn in Minnesota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for graphic designers in Minnesota is $63,860, which is $2,560 above the national median of $61,300 according to BLS data ¹.

In Minnesota

Best Trade Schools in Minnesota (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Minnesota

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)