Graphic Designer in Akron, OH

The Salary Picture: Where Akron Stands

As someone who’s watched Akron’s design scene evolve from its industrial roots to a more diversified creative economy, I can tell you the salary landscape is stable but modest. The median salary for a Graphic Designer in Akron is $60,015/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.85/hour. This is slightly below the national average of $61,340/year, but the lower cost of living more than compensates for that gap.

Breaking it down by experience level gives a clearer picture of the market:

Experience Level	Typical Salary Range (Akron)
Entry-Level (0-2 years)	$42,000 - $52,000
Mid-Level (3-6 years)	$55,000 - $68,000
Senior-Level (7-10 years)	$70,000 - $85,000
Expert/Lead (10+ years, specialization)	$85,000+

When comparing to other Ohio cities, Akron holds a unique middle ground. Cleveland’s larger corporate and advertising agency scene pushes its median closer to $62,000, but the rent in neighborhoods like Ohio City or Tremont is significantly higher. Columbus, with its booming tech and startup scene, sees a median around $63,000, but the competition is fiercer and the commute can be brutal. Cincinnati’s design market is robust, with a median near $61,500, but its cost of living is comparable to Akron’s. Dayton’s median is closer to $58,000, making Akron a slight step up in earnings. The key insight here is that Akron offers a competitive salary for the region when adjusted for living costs. The job market for designers is tight—there are only 377 graphic design jobs in the Akron metro area—so you’ll need to be strategic and persistent.

Insider Tip: Don’t just look at job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn. Many Akron employers, especially in manufacturing and healthcare, post openings directly on their company career pages. The best opportunities often come from networking at events hosted by the AIGA Akron chapter or the University of Akron’s School of Art.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s get practical. With a median salary of $60,015, your take-home pay after taxes (federal, state, and FICA) in Ohio will be approximately $47,500 per year, or about $3,958 per month. Akron’s average 1BR rent is $816/month, and the Cost of Living Index is 92.8 (well below the US average of 100). This means your money stretches further.

Here’s a realistic monthly budget breakdown for a single graphic designer in Akron:

Category	Estimated Cost	Notes
Net Monthly Income	$3,958	After taxes
Rent (1BR Apt)	$816	Averages in Fairlawn, Firestone Park
Utilities	$150	Electric, gas, internet
Groceries	$350	Similar to national average
Transportation	$250	Car payment, gas, insurance. Public transit (METRO RTA) is limited.
Health Insurance	$250	Varies by employer plan
Debt/Student Loans	$200	Common for design grads
Food & Dining Out	$300	Plenty of affordable local spots
Entertainment & Misc.	$200	Movies, galleries, gym
Savings/Investments	$1,442	This is the key. With discipline, you can save or invest over 35% of your income.

Can they afford to buy a home? Absolutely. The median home price in Akron is around $150,000. With a $60,015 salary, a 20% down payment ($30,000) is challenging to save upfront, but not impossible with this savings rate. A standard 30-year mortgage at current rates would be roughly $800/month (including taxes and insurance), which is only slightly more than the average rent. This makes Akron one of the few Midwestern cities where a single professional on a median designer salary can realistically aspire to homeownership without being house-poor. The trade-off is that the housing stock in desirable neighborhoods is older and may require renovations.

Where the Jobs Are: Akron's Major Employers

Akron’s economy is a mix of healthcare, manufacturing, and education, which creates a diverse need for designers. You won’t find the same density of ad agencies as in Cleveland, but you’ll find stable, in-house roles with benefits.

1. Akron Children’s Hospital: A massive employer with a dedicated marketing and communications team. They need designers for patient education materials, annual reports, and digital campaigns. They value clean, empathetic design.
2. Gojo Industries (makers of Purell): Headquartered in Akron, Gojo has a strong corporate marketing department. They look for designers with packaging, brand identity, and trade show experience.
3. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company: A global HQ here. Their design needs are vast—from product labels and technical manuals to internal branding and digital assets. They often hire through agencies but do have in-house designers.
4. FirstEnergy (Headquarters in Akron): A utility company with a large internal communications team. They need designers for infographics, safety brochures, and public-facing materials. Work is often technical and data-heavy.
5. The University of Akron: As a major employer, they have openings in their marketing department, as well as within specific colleges (like the College of Polymer Science). They also hire adjuncts to teach design courses.
6. Local & Regional Agencies: While smaller than in bigger cities, agencies like Infinite Energy and The Office of Experience (OOX) are notable. They work on regional and national accounts, offering a portfolio-building opportunity.
7. Manufacturing & Fabrication Companies: Akron is still a manufacturing hub. Companies like Babcock & Wilcox (power generation) and A. Schulman (plastics) have in-house needs for technical illustration, sales collateral, and safety materials.

Hiring Trends: There’s a growing demand for designers who can bridge print and digital. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is a given, but skills in UX/UI, motion graphics (After Effects), and even basic web design (Figma, Webflow) will make you stand out. Employers are increasingly looking for "hybrid" designers who can handle everything from social media graphics to trade show booths.

Insider Tip: The largest local employers (like Goodyear and FirstEnergy) often work with staffing agencies for creative roles. Building a relationship with a local recruiter who specializes in marketing and creative placement can get your foot in the door faster than applying cold.

Getting Licensed in OH

For a graphic designer, the word "licensed" is a bit of a misnomer. Ohio does not require a state license to practice graphic design, unlike fields like architecture or nursing. The barriers to entry are based on skill and portfolio, not government certification.

However, there are important certifications and business-related registrations to consider:

• Professional Certifications (Optional but Valuable): The most recognized is the Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) certification for specific apps (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). While not mandatory, it’s a respected credential that can boost your resume. Exam costs are around $125 per certification.
• Business Licensing (If Going Freelance): If you plan to work as a sole proprietor or form an LLC, you must register with the Ohio Secretary of State. An LLC filing fee is $99, and you’ll need to obtain a Federal EIN (free). You may also need a local business license from the City of Akron (check with the Clerk of Courts).
• Timeline: You can start applying for jobs the day you finalize your portfolio. There is no waiting period. If you choose to pursue an ACP certification, you can study and schedule the exam within a few weeks.

Insider Tip: The most important "license" in Akron is your LinkedIn profile and personal website. Ensure your online portfolio is polished and showcases work relevant to the local industries (e.g., B2B, technical illustration, healthcare). Local employers will absolutely look you up.

Best Neighborhoods for Graphic Designers

Akron is a city of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own vibe and commute impact. Your choice will depend on whether you prioritize walkability, space, or proximity to potential employers.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Avg. 1BR Rent	Why It's Good for Designers
Fairlawn	Suburban, family-friendly, very safe. 15-20 min drive to downtown.	$900 - $1,100	Close to Gojo HQ and major shopping centers. Quiet, great for focusing on side projects.
Firestone Park	Historic, charming, walkable. 10-15 min to downtown.	$750 - $950	Tree-lined streets, older homes with character. Feels like a classic American neighborhood.
West Hill (Chambers)	Up-and-coming, diverse, 5-10 min to downtown.	$650 - $850	More affordable, close to the University of Akron. Good for younger designers on a budget.
Cuyahoga Falls (outside city)	Classic suburb, great schools, 20-25 min commute.	$850 - $1,050	If you want more space and a quieter life but easy highway access to Akron employers.
Downtown Akron	Urban, walkable, cultural hub.	$950 - $1,300	For the designer who wants to be in the mix. Close to theaters, galleries, and some agency offices.

Insider Tip: Traffic in Akron is minimal. A 20-minute commute is considered long. Don’t overpay for proximity. Living in Firestone Park or West Hill gives you a great sense of place and easy access to everything, often for less than a downtown apartment.

The Long Game: Career Growth

Akron’s design market isn’t about explosive growth, but about steady advancement and specialization. The 10-year job growth is only 3%, which is slow but stable. This means your career progression is less about jumping to a new company every two years and more about deepening your expertise within the local ecosystem.

Specialty Premiums: You can command a higher salary by specializing in high-demand niches:

• Packaging Design: With Gojo, Goodyear, and countless food/beverage manufacturers (like Shearer's Foods), this is a solid niche. Premium: +10-15% over generalist roles.
• Technical Illustration & Infographics: Needed by FirstEnergy, Babcock & Wilcox, and healthcare providers. This requires precision and the ability to simplify complex data. Premium: +10%.
• UX/UI for B2B Software: While not a huge tech hub, Akron has a growing number of software companies (like Hyland Software in nearby Westlake). Premium: +15-20%.

Advancement Paths: The typical path is: Junior Designer → Mid-Level Designer → Senior Designer → Art Director or Creative Director. In Akron, the "Creative Director" role is often housed at larger corporations or the few major agencies. An alternative, highly viable path is to go freelance. With a low cost of living, you can build a client base locally and regionally, and with today’s remote work tools, you can serve clients nationwide. Many designers in Akron use their stable job as a base while building a freelance portfolio on the side.

10-Year Outlook: Automation (AI tools) will likely handle more routine layout and template-based work, but the demand for strategic thinking, brand storytelling, and complex problem-solving will remain. The designer who can articulate the "why" behind their design and tie it to business goals will thrive. The local market will continue to be dominated by healthcare, manufacturing, and education—sectors that are relatively recession-proof.

The Verdict: Is Akron Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Low Cost of Living: A $60,015 salary goes very far. Homeownership is within reach.	Smaller Job Market: Only 377 jobs locally. Competition is fierce for the best roles.
Stable, Diverse Employer Base: Jobs in healthcare, major manufacturing, and education.	Limited "Creative Scene": Fewer ad agencies, design studios, and networking events compared to Cleveland or Columbus.
Manageable Commutes: Easy to get anywhere in the metro area in under 25 minutes.	Slower Career Growth: 3% 10-year growth means fewer opportunities for rapid advancement.
Good Quality of Life: Cultural amenities (Akron Art Museum, Stan Hywet Hall), parks, and sports.	Conservative Business Culture: Design may be seen as a "cost center" rather than a strategic asset in some traditional companies.
Proximity to Cleveland: Access to a larger creative market for events and freelance work.	Weather: Harsh winters with gray skies can be draining for some.

Final Recommendation:
Akron is an excellent choice for a pragmatic, budget-conscious graphic designer who values stability and quality of life over a fast-paced, high-stress career in a major coastal city. It’s ideal for:

• Early to mid-career designers looking to build a solid portfolio without financial stress.
• Designers specializing in packaging, technical illustration, or B2B marketing.
• Anyone who wants to buy a home and establish roots in a manageable city.

It may be frustrating for a designer who craves a vibrant, cutthroat creative scene or aspires to work for globally-known agencies. If your goal is to be at the forefront of digital trends, you might outgrow the local market. However, for the vast majority, Akron offers a rare combination of affordability, opportunity, and a surprisingly rich quality of life.

FAQs

1. Is it hard to find a graphic design job in Akron?
It’s competitive due to the small market (377 jobs), but not impossible. The key is tailoring your portfolio to local industries (healthcare, manufacturing, education) and networking aggressively. Use recruiters and contact employers directly.

2. Do I need a car in Akron?
Yes, absolutely. Public transportation (METRO RTA) is limited and not practical for commuting to most employers. The city is built for cars. A reliable vehicle is a necessity for your job search and daily life.

3. How does the cost of living in Akron compare to Cleveland?
Akron is about 10-15% cheaper overall, with rent being the biggest differentiator. A similar apartment in a comparable Cleveland neighborhood could cost $200-$400 more per month. Salaries in Cleveland are slightly higher, but the gap is often erased by the higher living costs.

4. Can I work remotely for a company outside Ohio while living in Akron?
Yes, this is increasingly common and can be a great strategy. You get Akron’s low cost of living while potentially earning a salary tied to a larger market (like Cleveland, Columbus, or even national). Ensure your internet connection is reliable, as gigabit fiber is available in many Akron neighborhoods.

5. What’s the best way to build my network in Akron?
Start with AIGA Akron events and workshops. Follow the University of Akron’s School of Art for public lectures and exhibitions. Attend opening nights at the Akron Art Museum. For business networking, look at Brite Winter (a tech/creative conference) or local meetups on platforms like Meetup.com. Don’t be shy—Akron’s creative community is friendly and tight-knit.