Quick answer: Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators are less stress-exposed than most Australian occupations — ranked #298 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 38.7/100 against a national average of 47.4. The biggest drivers are precision and monotony and pace and demands.
Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demands21.5 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burden38.1 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demands59.6 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control24 vs 24.5 avg
- Precision and monotony73 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environment15.8 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing. Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for graphic and web designers, and illustrators
Compared with the average Australian occupation, graphic and web designers, and illustrators score furthest above the norm on precision and monotony (73 vs 67.7 average) and pace and demands (59.6 vs 56 average). The single biggest individual stress factor is time pressure at 88.5/100 — against an all-occupation average of 71.6.
The occupation scores below the national average for physical environment (15.8 vs 38.2), responsibility burden (38.1 vs 60) and emotional demands (21.5 vs 37.9), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for graphic and web designers, and illustrators
- 1Pace and demands
Time Pressure
88.5/100
All-occupation average: 71.6
- 2Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
85.5/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 3Pace and demands
Level of Competition
72/100
All-occupation average: 52.4
- 4Pace and demands
Duration of Typical Work Week
68/100
All-occupation average: 62.1
- 5Precision and monotony
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
60.5/100
All-occupation average: 56.9
All 22 stress factors for graphic and web designers, and illustrators
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
21.5 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People0 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People28 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations36.5 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
38.1 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results45.2 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety16.2 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results56.8 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error27 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others45.2 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
59.6 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure88.5 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week68 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment10.5 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making59 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition72 vs 52.4
Lack of control
24 vs 24.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions26 vs 23.6
- Amount of Highly Structured Work22 vs 25.3
Precision and monotony
73 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks60.5 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate85.5 vs 78.6
Physical environment
15.8 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable33.8 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting8.8 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures3 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections0 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity33.8 vs 61.1
Understand these hazards
The elevated stress categories for graphic and web designers, and illustrators map to recognised psychosocial work factors under ISO 45003 and Australian WHS legislation. Learn what each one is and how it can be controlled:
- Work Demands →The volume, pace, and complexity of what is asked of workers.
- Schedule and Hours →The arrangement of working time and its effect on health and recovery.
- Learning and Stimulation →Whether work offers enough challenge, variety, and opportunity for growth.
- Work Monitoring →How worker performance is measured, observed, and reported.
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
Two control-related variables are reported by SafeWork with inverted polarity (“freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”). We reverse these and present them as lack of autonomy to make decisions and amount of highly structured work, so that a higher score consistently indicates greater stress exposure.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators: how stressful is the job?
Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators rank #298 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 38.7/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 6.0% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for graphic and web designers, and illustrators?
The highest-scoring hazards are time pressure (88.5/100), importance of being exact or accurate (85.5/100) and level of competition (72/100). Overall, the occupation scores above the national average in pace and demands and precision and monotony.
Which stress factors are lower for graphic and web designers, and illustrators?
Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators score below the national average for emotional demands (21.5 vs 37.9 average) and responsibility burden (38.1 vs 60 average) and lack of control (24 vs 24.5 average) and physical environment (15.8 vs 38.2 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for graphic and web designers, and illustrators. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.