NOC 52120: Graphic designers and illustrators
What graphic designers and illustrators do
Graphic designers conceptualize and produce graphic art and visual materials to effectively communicate information for publications, advertising, films, packaging, posters, signs and interactive media such as Web sites and CDs. They are employed by advertising and graphic design firms, by establishments with advertising or communications departments and by multimedia production companies, or they may be self-employed. Graphic designers who are also supervisors, project managers or consultants are included in this unit group. Illustrators conceptualize and create illustrations to represent information through images. They are almost solely self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Graphic designers
- Consult with clients to establish the overall look, graphic elements and content of communications materials in order to meet their needs
- Determine the medium best suited to produce the desired visual effect and the most appropriate vehicle for communication
- Develop the graphic elements that meet the clients' objectives
- Prepare sketches, layouts and graphic elements of the subjects to be rendered using traditional tools, multimedia software and image processing, layout and design software
- Estimate cost of materials and time to complete graphic design
- Use existing photo and illustration banks and typography guides or hire an illustrator or photographer to produce images that meet clients' communications needs
- Establish guidelines for illustrators or photographers
- Coordinate all aspects of production for print, audio-visual or electronic materials, such as Web sites, CDs and interactive terminals
- Coordinate sub-contracting
- Work in a multidisciplinary environment
- Supervise other graphic designers or graphic arts technicians.
- Illustrators
- Consult with clients to determine the nature and content of illustrations in order to meet their communications needs
- Develop and produce realistic or representational sketches and final illustrations, by hand or using computer-assisted design (CAD) software, for printed materials such as books, magazines, packaging, greeting cards and stationery
- Assist in developing storyboards for electronic productions such as multimedia, interactive and digital products and television advertising and productions
- Produce 2-D and 3-D animated drawings or computer illustrations
- May adapt existing illustrations.
- Illustrators may specialize in a particular field such as illustrations for children, advertising, editorials, humour, or medical, scientific or technical illustration, or multimedia design.
Job titles under NOC 52120
105 job titles are classified here, including 3D animation artist, advertising designer, animator - animated films.
- 2D animation artist
- 2D animator
- 3D animation artist
- 3D animator
- 3D artist
- 3D modeler
- advertising art director
- advertising art supervisor
- advertising artist
- advertising designer
- advertising illustrator
- advertising illustrator chief
- advertising layout designer
- animated cartoon artist
- animated cartoon artist - visual arts
- animated cartoon colourist
- animation artist
- animation layout designer
- animator - animated films
- art layout designer
- artistic illustrator
- assistant animator - animated films
- background artist
- bank note designer
Employment requirements
- A university degree in visual arts with specialization in graphic design, commercial art, graphic communications or cartooning or completion of a college diploma program in graphic arts is required.
- Experience or training in multimedia design at a post-secondary, college or technical institution may be required.
- In addition to the arts, training in biology, engineering, architecture or a scientific field is usually required for medical, technical and scientific illustrators.
- Creative ability and artistic talent, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are required for graphic designers and illustrators.
Graphic designers and illustrators wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $20.00/hr | $31.25/hr | $52.88/hr |
Toronto ON | $21.00/hr | $33.65/hr | $53.37/hr |
Montréal QC | $20.00/hr | $32.69/hr | $62.56/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $25.60/hr | $36.00/hr | $57.69/hr |
Calgary AB | $20.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $43.27/hr |
Edmonton AB | $20.81/hr | $27.41/hr | $44.97/hr |
Ottawa ON | $22.00/hr | $33.65/hr | $60.10/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $18.00/hr | $26.44/hr | $38.57/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $20.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $51.28/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $20.34/hr | $30.59/hr | $45.07/hr |
London ON | $21.18/hr | $28.46/hr | $40.40/hr |
Halifax NS | $21.15/hr | $28.85/hr | $45.64/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $24.04/hr | $35.00/hr | $57.69/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $18.98/hr | $24.38/hr | $31.48/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $18.00/hr | $22.00/hr | $40.00/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $19.23/hr | $25.00/hr | $38.75/hr |
Nova Scotia | $21.15/hr | $28.85/hr | $45.64/hr |
New Brunswick | $19.82/hr | $27.77/hr | $44.43/hr |
Quebec | $20.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $51.28/hr |
Ontario | $21.00/hr | $32.69/hr | $52.88/hr |
Manitoba | $18.00/hr | $25.64/hr | $38.57/hr |
Saskatchewan | $18.00/hr | $23.00/hr | $34.62/hr |
Alberta | $18.00/hr | $26.30/hr | $45.19/hr |
British Columbia | $24.04/hr | $35.00/hr | $57.69/hr |
Using NOC 52120 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 105 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Advertising manager (NOC 10022)
- Graphic arts technicians (NOC 52111)
- Interior designers and interior decorators (NOC 52121)
- Painters, sculptors and other visual artists (NOC 53122)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for graphic designers and illustrators?
Graphic designers and illustrators are NOC 2021 unit group 52120. Example job titles in this group include 3D animation artist, advertising designer, animator - animated films, bank note designer.
What TEER is NOC 52120?
NOC 52120 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do graphic designers and illustrators earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $31.25/hr, about $61,000 a year full-time, with a range of $20.00/hr to $52.88/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.