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Graphic Communications

17 schools compared · Average earnings $24,809/yr

What Graphic Communications Graduates Do

Your career in graphic communications will likely start in one of two distinct environments. You could be on the floor of a print shop, calibrating the ink on a large-format press and ensuring every run meets quality standards. Alternatively, you might work in a digital studio (or remotely), using a stylus and specialized software to build 3D models and bring characters to life as an animator.

Most paths begin with an apprenticeship, learning the trade hands-on before becoming an independent journeyman. From there, you can become a senior technician managing complex print jobs or a specialist in a high-demand field like special effects, which is one of the few growing areas. Your earnings will grow with your skills, from an entry-level wage to six-figure potential for experienced animators. While AI can assist with initial designs, the craft of operating machinery and the creative judgment of a digital artist are skills that remain firmly in your hands.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$24,809/yr

Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score

29/100

AI-Proof Rating

Resilient

54% of tasks AI-shielded

Apprenticeship Paths

View pathways ↓

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 55 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Graphic Communications. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship	Training Hours	Type	Salary RangeSalary	Growth
Assistant Press Operator RAPIDS 903	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Compositor RAPIDS 87	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Cylinder Press Operator RAPIDS 677	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Electronic Prepress System Operator RAPIDS 617	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$43K – $53,620 – $72K	-12.4%
Electrotyper RAPIDS 172	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Embosser RAPIDS 704	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Embossing-Press Operator RAPIDS 684	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Engraver (Glass Prod) RAPIDS 178	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Engraver I RAPIDS 705	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Engraver, Block (Prt & Pub) RAPIDS 146	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Engraver, Hand, Hard Metal RAPIDS 806	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Engraver, Hand, Soft Metal RAPIDS 147	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Engraver, Machine RAPIDS 963	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Engraver, Pantograph I RAPIDS 179	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Engraver, Picture (Prt&Pub) RAPIDS 148	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Engraving Press Operator RAPIDS 915	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Etcher, Hand (Prt & Pub) RAPIDS 175	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Etcher, Photoengraving RAPIDS 182	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Job Printer RAPIDS 262	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Letterer (Profess & Kin) RAPIDS 280	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Linotype Operator (Prt & Pub) RAPIDS 286	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Lithograph Press Operator RAPIDS 0683CL	Competency	Competency	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Lithograph Press Operator, Tinware RAPIDS 683	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Lithographic Platemaker RAPIDS 63	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Monotype-Keyboard Operator RAPIDS 367	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Offset-Press Operator I RAPIDS 361	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Paste-Up Artist RAPIDS 392	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Photocomposing-Perforat-Ma RAPIDS 285	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$35K – $39,850 – $47K	-25.9%
Photoengraver RAPIDS 399	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Photoengraving Finisher RAPIDS 400	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Photoengraving Printer RAPIDS 401	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Photoengraving Proofer RAPIDS 402	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Photographer, Lithographic RAPIDS 685	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Photographer, Photoengrav RAPIDS 405	12000 hrs ~6.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Photographic-Plate Maker RAPIDS 407	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Plate Finisher (Print & Pub) RAPIDS 427	12000 hrs ~6.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Plate Maker (Existing Title: Plate Finisher) RAPIDS 0427CB	Competency	Competency	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Platen-Press Operator RAPIDS 430	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Printer, Plastic RAPIDS 452	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Printer-Slotter Operator RAPIDS 451	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Proof-Press Operator RAPIDS 288	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Proofsheet Corrector (Prt) RAPIDS 415	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Retoucher, Photoengraving RAPIDS 472	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Roller Engraver Hand RAPIDS 795	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Rotogravure-Press Operator RAPIDS 481	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Scanner Operator RAPIDS 855	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Siderographer (Print & Pub) RAPIDS 447	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Sketch Maker I (Print & Pub) RAPIDS 448	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Sketch Maker Ii (Print & Pub) RAPIDS 523	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,450 – $49K	-0.7%
Steel-Die Printer RAPIDS 785	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Stereotyper RAPIDS 538	12000 hrs ~6.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Stripper (Print & Pub) RAPIDS 726	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Stripper, Lithographic Ii RAPIDS 64	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$39K – $47,300 – $58K	-14.6%
Wallpaper Printer I RAPIDS 612	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%
Web-Press Operator RAPIDS 667	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $45,160 – $54K	-8.1%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Graphic Communications

17 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

#	School	Score	EarningsEarn	ROI
1	Gnomon Hollywood, CA	49 45–51	$75,226/yr	21.0x
2	Austin Community College District Austin, TX	48 44–52	$32,657/yr	82.7x
3	Front Range Community College Westminster, CO	40 37–42	$25,702/yr	53.2x
4	Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA	34 31–37	$29,682/yr	22.5x
5	Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO	34 32–37	$26,436/yr	29.5x
6	Front Range Community College Westminster, CO	34 28–38	$24,989/yr	47.8x
7	Houston Community College Houston, TX	34 28–39	$16,155/yr	95.1x
8	Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs, CO	33 30–35	$25,596/yr	28.7x
9	Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT	31 28–34	$23,932/yr	27.1x
10	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA	29 26–32	$26,870/yr	14.9x
11	CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY	29 26–32	$23,319/yr	21.6x
12	Middlesex College Edison, NJ	29 24–34	$20,483/yr	38.0x
13	Orange County Community College Middletown, NY	27 23–30	$22,181/yr	19.3x
14	Miami Dade College Miami, FL	25 21–27	$12,448/yr	20.9x
15	Michigan Career and Technical Institute Plainwell, MI	24 20–26	$14,862/yr	16.9x
16	Colegio de Cinematografia Artes y Television Bayamon, PR	24 19–27	$10,901/yr	47.7x
17	CUNY Hostos Community College Bronx, NY	20 17–23	$10,309/yr	8.9x

Highest Earning Graphic Communications Programs

Schools where Graphic Communications graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Gnomon	$75,226/yr	49
Austin Community College District	$32,657/yr	48
Hawkeye Community College	$29,682/yr	34
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	$26,870/yr	29
Ozarks Technical Community College	$26,436/yr	34
Front Range Community College	$25,702/yr	40
Pikes Peak State College	$25,596/yr	33
Front Range Community College	$24,989/yr	34
Salt Lake Community College	$23,932/yr	31
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College	$23,319/yr	29

Best ROI for Graphic Communications

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Graphic Communications.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	Score
Houston Community College	95.1x	$16,155/yr	34
Austin Community College District	82.7x	$32,657/yr	48
Front Range Community College	53.2x	$25,702/yr	40
Front Range Community College	47.8x	$24,989/yr	34
Colegio de Cinematografia Artes y Television	47.7x	$10,901/yr	24
Middlesex College	38.0x	$20,483/yr	29
Ozarks Technical Community College	29.5x	$26,436/yr	34
Pikes Peak State College	28.7x	$25,596/yr	33
Salt Lake Community College	27.1x	$23,932/yr	31
Hawkeye Community College	22.5x	$29,682/yr	34

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Graphic Communications degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Graphic Communications graduates make in their first year?

The median first-year salary across 17 Graphic Communications programs is $24,809. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($10,309) and highest ($75,226) earning programs is significant.

How AI-proof is a career in Graphic Communications?

Graphic Communications is rated "Resilient" for AI resilience — 54% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means most career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.

Which school has the best Graphic Communications program?

Gnomon leads all 17 programs with a TradeSchoolOutlook Score of 49/100. Graduates earn $75,226/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.

What's the ROI on a Graphic Communications program?

The average 10-year earnings multiple is 35.1x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.

Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →