People with Jobs in Graphic / Media Design (United States)

I am going into my sixth year of college, attaining my BFA in graphic design. I currently got hired at my first "real job" as a graphic designer only a few months ago. My employer refused to sign me on at more than $8.00/hr because I have no previous work experience and have not graduated yet.

I confronted him after my 90 "probation period" about working full time (40+ hours per week compared to my current 25). He accepted and I now work full time, but have not received any type of raise or written praise/review. I have researched and asked friends in the same field I work in how much they get paid, and on average it is around $12.00/hour. I am making a lot less than the average intro graphic designer.

This isn't fair? There should be a mandatory minimum pay for someone as an intro graphic designer than even private business owners have to uphold.

I am being ripped off.

Not only do I edit previous order, I check others work, create new artwork, layouts, business cards, brochures, contact dealers if I need more information or do not understand their direction on a design I am completing for them.

I am already looking for another job, but the position I am put in is:

I need job experience, but should that be worth getting paid the same as a guy at the drive-thru at Burger king?

I work at a local TV station and I've been here for a little over 3 years now. There is one other persion in the graphics department with me, but he's been here for MANY years. He basically does sales and promotion related things. During a regular day, I do graphics for 5 different news shows along with design work for sales related and promotions related projects. I should mention that this is a dual CBS and FOX station so there is a lot for one person to do. I have spoken recently with a guy who used to work here and he actually GUESSED what I make here and told me he could pay me almost twice a year what I'm making now at my experience level. By the way, the job he was telling me about would have me working with 2 other guys at all times. That means that the entire workload wouldn't be on me, AND it's a single TV station so the workload would be much lighter in general. The TV station I work for contracts their employees so they don't have to worry about them leaving for bigger and better things. They taunt you with an OK raise, but only if you sign contracts 2 years at a time. If you don't sign, you don't get a good raise at all. Basically, I want young graphic designers out there getting their start in local TV to relize their potential early on and fight for what you're worth. I feel underappreciated daily, because the people I do all this work for take it for granted and the people who pay me are pretty much insulting me bi-weekly with the numbers on my paystub. Don't let this happen to you!!!