Graphic design is not just a creative hobby anymore. It’s a real way to earn money online and offline. From freelance projects for global clients to selling templates, stock graphics, or even teaching online courses, the opportunities are endless. Every business, brand or creator need visuals like social media posts, logos, banners, websites. So here are my opportunities to earn apart from a professional job.
In this blog, we’ll break down 10 practical ways to make money as a Graphic Designer. By showing you real platforms, income estimates and examples for your knowledge. If you are a beginner who is looking for side income, this guide will help you to find the right paths.
1. Freelancing – Earn by Working for Clients
You can provide design services to clients as a Freelance Graphic Designer. This can include logos, social media graphics, banners, posters, brochures, UI/UX design and more. Freelancing offers flexible hours, multiple clients and a reliable source of Online Graphic Design Jobs once you build a portfolio.
Where you find freelancing work:
- Upwork – It is best for longer projects with global clients.
- Fiverr – For quick design gigs you can price at different levels.
- 99designs – It is contest‑based design jobs with potential higher pay.
Average Earnings & Examples:
- Logo design: $300–$1,500+ per project
- Social media post design: $10–$50 each
- UI/UX assets or branding kits: $500–$2,000+
(Earnings vary by skill level and client budget.)
Example: A designer charges $15 for a basic logo on Fiverr and $50 for a social media pack. With 20 small orders per month, that’s about $1,300+.
2. Sell Digital Templates & Design Assets
Create ready‑made, editable design templates like Instagram post packs, resume designs, business card templates, UI kits, icons etc. One time created products can sell again and again. This method creates passive income for graphic designers because designs can keep selling without extra work after listing.
Platforms to Sell:
- Creative Market – focus on templates, fonts, graphics
- Envato Elements / GraphicRiver – marketplace for design assets
- Etsy – popular with printables and digital downloads
Average Earnings & Examples: If you sell a 30‑post Instagram template pack for $25 and get 50 sales in a month → $1,250.
Tip: Choose trending niches (e.g., small business kits) and use eye‑catching preview images to boost sales.
3. Print‑on‑Demand (POD) Platforms
POD lets you upload designs that get printed on physical products like t‑shirts, mugs, phone cases, posters, stickers etc. It can be done without inventory or shipping hassles. The more designs you upload and niches you cover, the stronger your ongoing income becomes.
Top Platforms:
- Redbubble
- TeeSpring
- Society6
- Zazzle
How You Get Paid:
Designers earn a percentage of the sale (typically 10–30%) every time someone buys a product.
Example:
Upload 20 designs on Redbubble and earn $5–$15 per sale. If 100 products sell monthly, that’s $500–$1,500 in passive revenue.
4. Sell Stock Graphics & Illustrations
Upload vectors, illustrations, icons, and background assets to stock marketplaces where customers pay to download and use them.
Best Platforms:
- Shutterstock
- Adobe Stock
- iStock / Getty Images
- Freepik
Earnings:
You earn royalties each time someone licenses your work even years after uploading.
Example:
With a large library of assets, some designers earn hundreds of dollars per month just from stock downloads.
Tip: Focus on versatile graphics that businesses often need, like business templates, icons and marketing visuals.
5. Online Courses & Teaching Graphic Design
Once you have experience, share your skill by creating tutorials or courses teaching tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or even Canva design techniques. Teaching also builds authority and can lead to consulting or workshop invitations.
Platforms to Use:
- Udemy
- Skillshare
- Teachable
- Your own website or YouTube monetization
Income Potential:
- Beginner course sales can bring $100–$1,000+ monthly
- Popular creators with multiple courses often earn $3,000+ monthly
Example:
A course on “Logo Design Basics” priced at $50 with 100 students → $5,000.
6. Branding & High‑Ticket Projects
You can offer complete branding services like logo design, color palettes, typography selection, brand guidelines to medium and established businesses.
Typical Pricing:
- Basic branding packages: $500–$1,500
- Full brand systems: $3,000–$5,000+
Example:
One client at $2,500 and another at $1,000 in a month → $3,500 total income.
7. Social Media Content & Custom Packs
You can earn by creating ready‑to‑post graphics for businesses like Instagram carousels, Pinterest pins, TikTok thumbnails, YouTube banners etc. This is a great recurring income model for designers with strong visual styles.
Nearly every brand needs engaging visuals regularly, but not every business has a designer. You can sell:
- Monthly content packs
- Seasonal templates
- Custom campaign visuals
Example:
Sell a monthly 30‑post content pack for $60 with 10 customers, that’s $600/month.
8. Local & Offline Design Opportunities
Graphic designers can also work offline with local clients. While online work is global, offline clients can offer steady recurring projects in your community. Such as:
- Cafes and restaurants (menus, signage)
- Local events (banners, posters)
- Print shops and ad agencies
Example:
A business card + flyer design for a local shop might pay 2,500–3,000 BDT locally (about $30–$35 equivalent).
9. Affiliate Revenue from Tools & Resources
Graphic Designer can Promote design tools or courses and earn affiliate commissions when people buy through your link.
Popular Affiliate Programs:
- Adobe Affiliate – commission for subscriptions
- Canva Affiliate – revenue for Pro plan sign‑ups
- Envato / Creative Market affiliates
Example:
Refer 10 Pro subscriptions on Canva at $25 each → $250 passive income.
10. Diversify for Stability
Relying on only one income stream makes earnings unstable. Instead, combine:
✔ Freelance work
✔ Sell templates and assets
✔ Print‑on‑Demand designs
✔ Online courses
✔ Stock graphics royalties
Quick Earnings Summary
| Income Source | Estimated Earnings |
| Freelance Projects | $300–$3,000+ / month |
| Sell Templates & Design Assets | $100–$2,000+ / month |
| Print‑on‑Demand | $100–$1,500+ / month |
| Stock Downloads | Passive royalties monthly |
| Online Courses | $100–$5,000+ monthly |
| Branding Services | $500–$5,000+ per client |
Conclusion
Being a Graphic Designer in today’s digital world is more than just making visuals look good. It’s a skill by which you have real income‑earning opportunities both online and offline. You have to just focus on building strong skills, creating a standout portfolio and combining multiple income streams to make money as a Graphic Designer.
If you want to learn Graphic Design, you can join eShikhon’s Graphic Design Course. Here, you’ll learn practical skills that you can apply directly to your own projects. If you want freelance graphic design jobs, passive income from templates or print‑on‑demand sales, there’s a path that fits you. Start small, stay consistent and learn as you go.
Visit the eShikhon Blog page for more helpful guides, tips and the latest updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some people earn within 1–3 months if they focus on one income stream and practice consistently. Results depend on effort and learning speed.
No. Most clients and platforms care more about your portfolio and skills than formal degrees.
Based on current market trends, social media design, branding, UI visuals and ad creatives are in high demand.
Most beginners start with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Canva, depending on the type of work they want to do.
For certain services like social media posts, presentations and simple branding, Canva is enough. Advanced projects usually require Adobe tools.