If you’re interested in getting into the field of graphic designer, it’s important to understand how much you will be working and how much time you will have off. Is vacation time available for graphic designers, and if so, how much do you get?

In general, exactly how much vacation time a graphic designer gets will vary based on the type of employment and the employer benefits provided. Full-time employees tend to get more paid time off than part-time employees, while freelance designers have the ability to grant their own vacation time.

Choosing a career path that you find enjoyable is important. But so is work-life balance. Before you take the leap, you may want to know how much vacation time you’ll be getting. Keep reading to learn more.

Do Graphic Designers Get Vacation Time?

One of the things that you are probably considering when searching for a graphic design position is the benefits, including insurance, retirement, and vacation time.

As a general rule, there are no federal or state laws in place that require employers to provide any form of a vacation time to employees in the United States. However, countries like Austria and France require that workers receive paid time off.

Whether or not graphic designers get vacation time really boils down to where they live, who their employer is, and what benefits are provided.

However, in order to stay competitive in the job market, many employers will offer benefits packages that include either paid or unpaid vacation time regardless of what is required of them.

One poll found that 76% of graphic design employers in California offered vacation time as one of their benefits to fulltime employees. Part time employees were offered vacation time by 6% of employers.

How Much Vacation Time Do Graphic Designer Employees Get?

One of the best ways to make sure you are getting vacation time is to work for a company that offers employee benefits. But exactly how much vacation time can you expect to get?

Since vacation time isn’t a sure thing in many countries, it’s hard to say how much vacation time graphic designers get. For example, American companies offer an average of 10 paid vacation days a year after one year of employment. Meanwhile, Australia guarantees 13 paid holidays and 25 days of paid leave every year.

Paid vs. Unpaid Vacation Time

When talking about fulltime employment benefits, most people tend to think of paid vacations. But this may not be the only type of vacation available to you as a graphic designer.

A graphic designer’s schedule can change depending on deadlines or current active projects. This could mean working long hours for a while with not many days off. However, that also means there will be times when you could get extra time off because there isn’t much work that needs to be done.

Regardless, it’s a good idea to ask any potential employers how vacation time is broken between paid and unpaid. This will give you an idea of what your year will look like and how much time you can expect to take off.

Do Graphic Designers Get Weekends Off?

Though most graphic designers typically work Monday through Friday with the weekends off. However, there are occasions where you might be expected to take up extra work to meet deadlines.

Extra hours can cut into the time that you have off. But you will more than likely have down time as well, where you could take a vacation day or two to make up for the time worked.

Can You Get More Vacation Time?

If you’re not too thrilled with the number of vacation days offered by a possible employer, keep in mind that the amount may increase depending on how long you stay with the company.

Many companies offer more vacation days to tenured employees. You may also be able to negotiate the number of vacation days you get if your employer is more flexible. They may offer more time depending on your performance at work, so make sure to come prepared with your request.

How Much Vacation Time Do Freelance Graphic Designers Get?

Though employees are constrained by the benefits provided by their employer, freelance graphic designers function a bit different.

Freelance graphic designers have the freedom to manage their own vacation time. Because they are working for themselves, they can decide how often they work and how often they take off. They also have the freedom to work independently from home, or wherever they happen to be at that moment.

However, this isn’t always as rosy as it may sound. One the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing is that you can take on as many clients as you’d like. This mean that you are free to lower your workload to take a vacation, but you won’t get paid for the time you take off.

Using Passive Income Streams to Earn While on Vacation

Active work isn’t the only way graphic designers can earn an income. Creating a few passive income streams is a great way for a freelancer to take vacation time and earn money in the process.

Passive income is a money that is earned without you having to put in the active effort. Basically, it’s an income you can earn while you sleep. However, it does take some work upfront to set up.

Selling premade logos, illustrations, or website templates is a great way for graphic designers to earn passive income. Using sites like Placeit make it easy for designers to work on the go, so you could even extend your vacation if you wanted to or add new designs if you’re feeling up to it.

Final Thoughts

Graphic design is a great field to get into for many reasons, but it may not always give you the amount of vacation days that you desire. Whether you plan to work for a company or take the leap on your own, it’s important to know what you time off looks like before you make a commitment. Hopefully this article helped you understand how much vacation time you can expect, regardless of which route you take.