Some are unhappy with their current income and not finding a better way to increase income as a graphic designer. Despite stable jobs, there are times when you receive payments for a project. And when there is not enough work, you may be stuck without doing anything. Wasting valuable time without productivity is not the best approach.
Putting those hours into a side gig seems like a better solution. Thankfully, there are multiple opportunities to create a source of income or increase income as a graphic designer. Some even manage to develop a project that allows them to leave their old job.
8 Great Ways to Increase Income as a Graphic Designer
If you have been looking to make better use of your time as a graphic designer, look no further. The suggestions below should give you some inspiration on utilizing your graphic design skills and making more money.

Suggestion #1 – Print on Demand Store
The e-commerce industry has been growing, and it is expected to reach 4.5 trillion dollars in 2023. The time to start making money in e-commerce is now. Having graphic design skills means that you can start a business that revolves around t-shirts with custom prints and work on creative products for your store. It is worth mentioning that in the Printify eCommerce stats report statistics to show that the t-shirt market global is expected to cross 10 billion dollars by 2025.
Finding a supplier that provides quality products should not be a problem. Stick to the drop-shipping model and worry about customer service and coming up with exciting and unique t-shirt designs. You could also think of getting in touch with already established custom t-shirt stores instead of starting one from scratch. Regardless of your approach, print on demand is a worthy consideration to increase income as a graphic designer.
Also Check: How Do Beginners Learn Graphic Design?
Suggestion #2 – Social Media Content
Brands are doing their best to increase their social media presence. And it is no longer just on the most popular platforms like Instagram and Facebook. New and emerging social media sites make businesses rethink their marketing strategy.

Quality content is one of the best ways to stand out on social media. And visuals have become the go-to pieces of content lately. It seems that the walls of text are not sufficient. To increase income as a graphic designer, you can create infographics, banners, posters for giveaways, and other content that receive social media engagement. And if you prove that your skills help brands, you can expect to profit from your skills.
Suggestion #3 – Streaming
Do not associate platforms like Twitch TV with just video games. There are plenty of successful channels that have nothing to do with video games. That is right. Twitch has become a place of variety.
You can showcase your work in front of a camera and interact with an audience simultaneously. People would be eager to see a talented artist at work. Streamers monetize their content by posting highlights on YouTube, receiving donations and subscriptions, and getting sponsorship deals.
Suggestion #4 – Blogging
Blogging may revolve around writing, but you can combine your graphic design skills and create more visual content on the visual side. Instead of publishing walls of text, you could emphasize content like infographics.

Video blogs are also quite popular, though it may be challenging to create a steady income source. Especially now that YouTube has changed their algorithm and you can increase income as a graphic designer.
Also Check: Video Analytics And How It Can Help Increase Sales?
Suggestion #5 – Online Courses
Having experience in graphic design means that you can share it with others and increase income as a graphic designer, but not for free. Skillshare and Udemy are two platforms that allow you to sell online courses.
A video tutorial series on graphic design could sell, provided that you focus on quality and provide value to potential students.
Also Check: 15 Best Part-time Graphic Design Courses For A Creative Designing Career
Suggestion #6 – Book Covers
Amazon’s self-publishing program was a breath of fresh air for writers who could not deal with traditional publishing agencies. Now, they can publish books directly on Amazon and sell them to Kindle readers. Despite how they say that you should not judge a book by its cover, a book’s cover is still the first thing one sees while browsing Amazon and looking for new books to read.
A lackluster book cover will not intrigue potential readers. Therefore, writers hire graphic designers who can design eye-catching book covers. You could be one of those graphic designers and can increase income as a graphic designer.
Also Read: How to Build the Coordinated Image and Logo for Business?
Suggestion #7 – Photo Editing
Photographers are not that keen to bother editing photos themselves, given how monotonous and time-consuming the job is. Instead, they look for someone who can take care of the work for them.

To increase income as a Graphic designer, you should be quite familiar with photo editing tools, Photoshop in particular. Removing unnecessary elements and adding specific effects are not that difficult when you know your way around the software. And if editing photos gets you money, giving it, a try should be worth it.
Also Read: Why Choose a Web Design Company Rather Than a Freelance Web Designer?
Suggestion #8 – Different Freelancing Gigs
Fiverr and Upwork are popular freelancer platforms. You can find various gigs and increase income as a graphic designer. Brands and individuals are looking for someone who can create a logo or a background picture for their social media sites.
Keep in mind, though, that the market is competitive, and you will need to bid low for a gig to get the work. Aim to receive some positive feedback on your profile first. Once you establish yourself as someone platform users can trust, you can expect to receive more job offers and better pay.
Also Check: 10 Best Tools For Logo Design To Try
Images from Pixabay