Also called: Font Designer, Typeface Designer
Designs typefaces (fonts), drawing every letter, number, and symbol so they work together.
A type designer spends hours adjusting the curve of a lowercase 'g' or the spacing between 'A' and 'V'. One font family can contain thousands of glyphs across weights and languages. Clients include big brands that want custom fonts, plus apps and publishers.
Estimate. Staff designers at type foundries or tech companies earn steady salaries; independents earn font licensing royalties.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in graphic design; specialized type design programs exist (e.g., Cooper Union, Type@Cooper).
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Graphic Design, Typography, Communication Design.
Growing about average. Tiny but stable field; custom brand fonts are in demand.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI can generate letter shapes and fill out character sets; refined spacing, legibility and distinct typefaces stay human craft.
Classes: Graphic design CTE, Art and calligraphy, Foreign language.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1024.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.