Hey! I am Ahmad Shakeel – let’s talk about graphic designer jobs in Pakistan, and how to not only get a job but also grow in it.
For the last 5 years I have been writing a blog on careers and also running my own job portal website. During this time I have seen that graphic designing has grown from a small skill to such a thing that has become a must-have for every small and big brand.
If you have ever opened a canvas and set the colors at 2 o’clock in the night, then you already know that there is excitement and a little pressure in this field.
Table of Contents
Today I am going to tell you what is the salary, what are the smart ways to find a job, and what is the real way to grow your career—so that your creativity is not just a hobby, but becomes a good income.
Why is Graphic Design Booming in Pakistan?
Pakistan’s e-commerce, startups and social media businesses all want to look different in visuals. From tech offices in Lahore to Etsy sellers sitting at home—everyone needs amazing graphics. Because of this, new design jobs come out every day, and many of them are remote (i.e. work from home, and some are foreign clients who pay in dollars!).
Graphic Designer Salary in Pakistan (Real Numbers, Not Drama)
How much can you earn? Here’s a realistic breakdown.
- Intern or Trainee: Usually 20,000 to 30,000 PKR are earned. It is part-time, but perfect for making portfolios.
- Junior Graphic Designer (0-2 years experience): Gets 32,000 to 45,000 PKR. If you learn Adobe and Figma well, you grow quickly.
- Mid-Level Designer (3-5 years experience): Gets 50,000 to 80,000 PKR. At this level, agencies and product teams contact you themselves.
- Senior or Lead Designer (6+ years experience): Can get 90,000 to 140,000 PKR. If you have UI/UX or motion design skills then you can easily cross lakhs.
- Government Job (BPS-17): Earns ~75,000 PKR plus benefits. It is a little stable, but mostly contract based.
- Remote Work (Foreign Company): You can earn up to 2.3 lakhs PKR per month (this is around USD 10k per year).
- Freelancing: The average hourly rate is 300 PKR. Top people on Fiverr are earning up to 20,000 USD per month!
Key Factors That Impact Your Salary
- Location is now less important: In cities like Faisalabad, designers are earning only 3% less than Karachi, because remote work has equalized everything.
- Combination of skills is important: If you also learn UI/UX along with branding, then your salary can be almost 38% more than pure print design.
- Dollar income is better than rupees: If you get even a normal remote job, then you can earn up to 3 times more than your Pakistani salary. You just have to work on time-zone and communication skills.
That is, if you are fond of design, then now is the best time to change your career.
How to Find Graphic Designer Jobs in Pakistan
If you are looking for a graphic designer job, there are several good ways to find new openings—even jobs that were posted yesterday.
- Local Job Boards: Go to local job boards like Rozee.pk and Indeed and apply for “Last 24 hours”—this is the best way to apply early and be ahead of the competition.
- LinkedIn: Use the “Date Posted” filter and set it to “Past Week.” Set alerts for “Graphic designer remote Pakistan” so that job notifications keep coming.
- Government Portals: If you like government jobs, check out Punjab’s jobs.punjab.gov.pk portal, where you can sometimes find contract design jobs—like recently for the Green Pakistan project.
- Freelancing Platforms: Set a daily bidding goal on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Guru. One of my friends, Danyal, is earning 20k USD per month just from Fiverr—and this is real.
- Niche Communities: There are also many urgent part-time gigs available in communities like Facebook, especially in “Pakistan Graphic Designers” groups. These are best for those who are studying at the same time.
My Personal Job-Hunting Tip
I keep a “job scrape” folder in the browser—I spend 10 minutes every day opening all job tabs at once, quickly applying to new jobs with a tailored cover letter.
Steps to Land Your First (or Next) Design Job
If you want to get your first or better designed job, these steps will help:
Create a Small, Powerful Micro-Portfolio Today
5 good jobs are more valuable than 50 average ones. Mock projects will also work—redesign the menu of a local tea cafe or make a poster of a PSL team, so that real-world thinking comes to the fore.
Show Your Process, Not Just the Final Design
Not just the final image—people want to see how it went from sketch to final. If you show drafts, wireframes, or updates after feedback, they will be impressed.
Master These 3 Essential Design Tools
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma—these three tools prepare you for 90% of entry-level jobs. If you learn After Effects too, you will be ahead of everyone else.
Network Like a Designer (It Works!)
Comment on posts of Pakistani design agencies, share short tutorials on LinkedIn, and say yes to small collaborations. I got a lot of my paid clients through just one DM where I gave a free tip.
Treat the Interview Like a Design Brief
Get 2 improvement ideas for the company’s visuals. Even if you don’t get the job, people remember that the guy is serious.
Your Career Growth Roadmap: From Intern to Creative Strategist
The road map for career growth is something like this:
- Intern to Junior: Learn to maintain speed and clean files. Senior people notice details.
- Junior to Mid-level: Become an expert in one thing—like branding, UI/UX, packaging, or motion. Certifications like Adobe increase the chance of salary raise.
- Mid-level to Senior / Art Director: Now sharpen leadership skills—presenting concepts, guiding juniors and handling clients are important.
- Senior to Creative Strategist or Product Designer: Understand market research along with design thinking. Here salaries reach up to six-figure PKR.
And if you want to be independent, start your own studio, give workshops or become a design consultant for startups. The design industry loves people who tell stories in a different way.
I have my own story—I quit a dull agency job, joined a remote SaaS startup, doubled my income and learned new metrics. All this happened because I practiced making UI mockups at night.
Frequently Asked Questions (and Friendly Answers)
Now a common question and their friendly answer:
“I don’t have a design degree, what chance do I have?”
Absolutely. 30% of the world’s top freelancers are self-taught. Your portfolio is your degree in this industry.
“Clients don’t pay, what to do?”
Use milestone payments on Upwork and Fiverr, or keep a simple 50/50 invoice system with local clients. Written scope is safe for everyone.
“Competition seems to be very high.”
Choose a niche. Like “restaurant menu designer” or “Urdu typography expert.” When you are focused, your name stands out.
Your Turn: Sketch Your Future!
Now you have the numbers to sketch your future. You saw your salaries, understood the steps and got real advice too.
Now open job boards, polish the portfolio and send at least 3 custom applications today.
I am with you—if you get an interview, comment on my blog and I will also share some last-minute presentation tips. Until then, keep designing, keep learning, and remember: every pixel you place takes you one step closer to your dream career. Best of luck
