The common question UK businesses have, when they want to hire a graphic designer is “How much does it cost?”.
This shows us that although the research by Marq, State of Brand Consistency Report, tells us that brands with consistent design grow revenue 33% faster than those without, cost still factors heavily in the decision to hire a graphic designer.
Also there’s a lot of contradictory information on the internet, so most times you are left confused with more time wasted than before.
In this article, we’ll cover the base cost of hiring a graphic designer, cost ranges of hiring a graphic designer, factors to consider when hiring a graphic designer and the hiring options you have.
What is the Base Cost of Hiring a Graphic Designer in the UK (2026)?
The base cost of hiring a graphic designer in the UK varies widely online, which can be confusing for many businesses. The new minimum wage for anyone aged 21 and over in the UK, according to the government is £12.71.
With that in mind, we have created a table showing the base cost of hiring a graphic designer with 0 to 5+ years of experience.
| Experience level | Years of experience | Hourly | Monthly (approx.) | Yearly (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0 – 3 years | £12.71 – £14.50 | £2,200 – £2,510 | £26,400 – £30,120 |
| Mid-level | 3 – 5 years | £14.50 – £16.50 | £2,510 – £2,860 | £30,120 – £34,320 |
| Senior-level | 5+ years | £16.50 – £19.00 | £2,860 – £3,290 | £34,320 – £39,520 |
For broader context, platforms like Jooble and Indeed show that the average salary for graphic designers in the UK typically ranges between £29,524 and £43,750 depending on experience and location, but these do not factor in the new minimum wage or the demand for raises that may come with other salaries above minimum wage.
What are the Additional Costs of Hiring a Graphic Designer?
Aside from the base pay, there are other costs that factor into hiring a full-time graphic designer:
- Employer National Insurance
When you hire a graphic designer as an employee, you'll also need to pay Employer National Insurance contributions, which is 15% in 2026. This increases the total cost of employment beyond the designer's salary and should be included in your hiring budget. - Auto Enrolment Pension
UK employers are required to contribute to a workplace pension scheme for eligible employees. While the contributions may seem small, they are an ongoing cost that adds to the overall expense of hiring a designer. - Paid Leave & Public Holidays
UK full time employees are entitled to 28 days paid leave (including bank holidays). This means you pay your employees on these days where there’s no active output. - Equipment and Software
Graphic designers need access to reliable hardware and professional design software. Providing laptops, monitors, and software subscriptions adds to the overall cost of an in-house hire. - Onboarding and Training
New hires need time to learn your brand, processes, and workflows before becoming fully productive. This requires time and resources from managers and other team members. - Recruitment or Job Board Fees
Hiring a graphic designer often involves advertising vacancies, using job boards, or working with recruitment agencies. These costs can add up before the employee even starts working.
Here is what these additional costs typically add up to for a full time graphic designer:
| Additional Costs | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Employer National Insurance | £3,200 – £5,200 |
| Auto Enrolment Pension | £800 – £1,200 |
| Paid Holiday Cover (28 days) | £2,400 – £3,500 |
| Equipment and Software | £800 – £1,500 |
| Onboarding and Training | £500 – £2,000 |
| Recruitment or Job Board Fees | £1,000 – £3,000 |
| Total Additional Costs | £8,700 – £16,400 |
What is the Total Cost?
Having covered the base pay and additional costs, the estimated total cost to hire a graphic designer in the UK in 2026 typically looks like this:
| Experience Level | Base Annual Salary | Total Additional Costs | Total Monthly Cost | Total Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 3 years | £26,400 – £30,200 | £8,700 – £12,800 | £2,920 – £3,550 | £35,100 – £42,920 |
| 3 – 5 years | £30,120 – £34,320 | £9,600 – £14,400 | £3,310 – £4,060 | £39,720 – £48,720 |
| 5+ years | £34,320 – £39,520 | £11,400 – £16,400 | £3,810 – £4,660 | £45,720 – £55,920 |
Key Factors That Affect the Cost of Hiring a Graphic Designer
When hiring a graphic designer, there are several factors that come into play, like:
- Experience level
Designers who are more experienced cost more because they bring a better understanding of design principles, have higher skills and a track record of delivering excellent work. - Industry
Some competitive industries like tech, finance, healthcare and luxury brands often pay more to get designers that can create designs that are both appealing and strategic. - Location
It costs higher to hire designers in cities with higher cost of living compared to hiring from a region with lower cost of living. But hiring remotely removes the geographical barrier and allows businesses access quality designers at lower prices from areas with lower cost of living.
Affordable Ways to Hire Graphic Design Support In UK
If you need a graphic designer urgently, but can’t afford to hire one full time, you should consider the options below:
- Hire Part-Time
Hiring part-time gives you the flexibility to downscale and upscale based on how much work you need done, especially if it isn’t enough to warrant a full-time hire. Also, if your budget isn’t big enough to hire full-time, hiring part time is a great way to access professional graphic design for your business. - Hire Interns
Interns with a strong portfolio can provide graphic design support for your business at a lower cost than more experienced graphic designers since they are looking to build professional work experience. They could be entry level graphic designers, fresh graduates, or students. - Hire Freelancers
Freelance graphic designers are great for businesses that need one-off project support infrequently, but if your business requires regular support, you should consider other options as hiring freelance graphic designers can become expensive for you. - Hire Offshore
This is where many businesses are saving the most right now. You can partner with Arwana to hire experienced and dedicated remote graphic designer based overseas, at a fraction of the cost of hiring locally, with no recruitment fees and no long-term contracts.
Conclusion
Hiring a graphic designer in the UK is a great idea for businesses that want to look more professional and consistent across all platforms. With the details provided in this article, you should have a good idea of the total cost of hiring a graphic designer.
For small businesses with limited hiring budgets, your best bet is hiring interns, part-time, freelance or remote graphic designers, as they provide flexibility based on your budget and demand.
If that sounds like the right fit for your business, Arwana connects UK businesses with dedicated remote graphic designers from £699 a month.
