Graphic Designers to Web and Digital Interface Designers

11 of the 12 skills that matter most for web and digital interface designers are already at or near the typical level of graphic designers; 1 need work, led by programming. Whether it is realistic for you depends on your own experience, credentials and budget.

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What graphic designers do

Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
Use computer software to generate new images.
Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer.
Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.

More about Graphic Designers

What web and digital interface designers do

Collaborate with web development professionals, such as front-end or back-end developers, to complete the full scope of Web development projects.
Communicate with network personnel or Web site hosting agencies to address hardware or software issues affecting Web sites.
Conduct user research to determine design requirements and analyze user feedback to improve design quality.
Confer with management or development teams to prioritize needs, resolve conflicts, develop content criteria, or choose solutions.
Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.

More about Web and Digital Interface Designers

Transferable skills

11/12important skills of Web and Digital Interface Designers at or near your current occupation's typical level

1partial gaps

0larger gaps

91/100skill-level coverage index (not a probability)

Strengths you can carry over

Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Operations Analysis

Skills to build first

Programming

Knowledge areas to learn

English Language
Computers and Electronics
Customer and Personal Service

All 12 important skills (target level vs. Graphic Designers)

Web and Digital Interface Designers typical level Graphic Designers typical level (0–7)

Reading ComprehensionAt or above

Critical ThinkingAt or above

Judgment and Decision MakingNear

Active ListeningNear

Active LearningNear

Complex Problem SolvingNear

ProgrammingPartial gap

WritingNear

SpeakingAt or above

MonitoringNear

Operations AnalysisAt or above

Time ManagementNear

How this was calculated

A skill counts as important for Web and Digital Interface Designers when its O*NET importance is 3 or more (scale 1–5).
Levels are typical O*NET levels (0–7) for each occupation.
Within 0.5 level points counts as near; up to 1.5 as partial; more as a gap.

Limits

Compares occupations in general: it does not show that you personally have a skill.
Does not cover credentials, licensing or employer requirements (see qualifications).
The coverage index is a summary of typical levels, not a probability of being hired or of a successful switch.

Data caveats

Operations Analysis: O*NET recommends caution (low precision rating)
Programming: O*NET recommends caution (low precision rating)

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0) · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e1-skills-1.0.0

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (52.4% of expert ratings)
Related experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (58.5%)
On-the-job training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (40.2%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Web and Digital Interface Designers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Pay comparison

Annual wages, U.S., May 2025
Occupation	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Graphic Designers	$39,520	$49,040	$62,960	$81,830	$104,910
Web and Digital Interface Designers	$53,750	$73,290	$104,000	$158,820	$201,550

Median difference: +$41,040 a year.

Limits

Wages are what current workers earn across all experience levels, not an offer for a career changer.
Entry pay after a switch is often nearer the lower percentiles.
Benefits, taxes and local costs are not included.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e4-salary-1.0.0

Paths to consider

Partial move: roles between the two, found with the alternatives finder.
Full switch: close the priority gaps above, check credentials in your state and test the cost with the cost calculator.
No change yet: if the issue is your workplace rather than the work, the stay or switch check helps separate the two.

Graphic designers already work with layout, typography, color and visual hierarchy. Web and digital interface designers use the same eye, but for screens: websites, apps and interfaces that people click and scroll. It is one of the closest moves in this collection.

Skills: one focused gap

O*NET rates 12 skills as important for web and digital interface designers. Eleven are at or near the typical level of graphic designers, and none is a large gap. Reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking and operations analysis are strengths.

The one skill to build is programming, with a moderate gap. On the knowledge side, interface designers rely a little more on English language (interface text and documentation), computers and electronics and customer and personal service, which reflects user research and working with clients and developers.

Education and experience

Both occupations are in O*NET Job Zone 4. A bachelor's degree is the most common education for web designers (52%), and about 30% report a post-baccalaureate certificate, so a focused course after a design degree is a common route. Experience is the main thing employers look for: 58% report four to six years of related experience. A portfolio of real interface work matters more than a new degree.

Licensing for web and digital interface designers has not been verified on this site for any state. Design work does not usually need a license, but check before relying on that.

Pay

In May 2025 the national median wage was $104,000 for web and digital interface designers and $62,960 for graphic designers, about $41,040 more a year. The range is wide: the middle half of web designers earned about $73,290 to $158,820. Someone new to interface work usually starts below the median.

How to start

Turn one of your print or brand projects into a responsive web page and add it to your portfolio.
Learn HTML, CSS and a prototyping tool before paying for a longer program.
Look for hybrid roles, such as digital or marketing designer, that let you build interface work while employed.

Graphic Designers to Web and Digital Interface Designers

Try it with your own details

What graphic designers do

What web and digital interface designers do

Transferable skills

Strengths you can carry over

Skills to build first

Knowledge areas to learn

Qualifications and licensing

Pay comparison

Paths to consider

Skills: one focused gap

Education and experience

Pay

How to start

Sources