Design graduate salary UK
Median 5-year graduate earnings across 30 design courses in our dataset: £21,272. Figures come from HMRC LEO-style tax-record medians (illustrative seed until full ingestion) — not university prospectus claims.
Source: LEO-style 5-year medians (seed) · updated 2026-05-18
1-year median
£20,628
5-year median
£21,272
Employed ~15m
87%
NSS satisfaction
77%
Highest-earning Design courses
Ranked by 5-year median graduate earnings in this dataset.
- £25,059
- £24,868
- £24,844
- £24,670
- £24,316
- £24,283
- £23,632
- £22,851
Popular comparisons
Is a design degree worth it?
These figures come from an illustrative seed catalogue until HMRC LEO ingest completes — treat medians as directional, not official. Design graduates in this dataset show 5-year median earnings £21,272 — closer to the middle of the pack for similar cohorts. Employment at ~15 months averages 87% (reasonable employment outcomes), and NSS satisfaction averages 77% (satisfaction varies by university). Whether a design degree is "worth it" depends on your career aim, entry grades, and which university you choose — not the subject label alone.
This is education decision-support, not regulated financial advice. Read disclaimers.