Best paying cities for graphic designers, after cost of living
After cost of living, graphic designer pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $88,188) and least far in Miami (worth $54,177).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $97,360 | 110.4 | $88,188 | +40% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $92,050 | 115.6 | $79,628 | +26% |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $85,420 | 108.9 | $78,439 | +25% |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $75,790 | 104.5 | $72,526 | +15% |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $78,270 | 108.3 | $72,271 | +15% |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $75,650 | 105.4 | $71,774 | +14% |
| 7 | New York, NY | $79,280 | 112.6 | $70,409 | +12% |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $74,680 | 106.7 | $69,991 | +11% |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $76,720 | 111.1 | $69,055 | +10% |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $72,500 | 105.8 | $68,526 | +9% |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $65,060 | 98.1 | $66,320 | +5% |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,060 | 100.2 | $64,930 | +3% |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $66,490 | 103.6 | $64,180 | +2% |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | $61,000 | 95.1 | $64,143 | +2% |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $72,400 | 113.6 | $63,732 | +1% |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $59,710 | 94.7 | $63,052 | 0% |
| 17 | Nashville, TN | $60,370 | 96.3 | $62,690 | 0% |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $62,680 | 100.1 | $62,617 | −1% |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $65,610 | 104.8 | $62,605 | −1% |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $62,900 | 100.9 | $62,339 | −1% |
| 21 | Dallas, TX | $63,780 | 103.1 | $61,862 | −2% |
| 22 | Orlando, FL | $62,360 | 101.4 | $61,499 | −2% |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,090 | 102.6 | $61,491 | −2% |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $59,810 | 97.3 | $61,470 | −2% |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,830 | 94.7 | $61,067 | −3% |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $60,210 | 100.3 | $60,030 | −5% |
| 27 | Houston, TX | $58,400 | 98.6 | $59,229 | −6% |
| 28 | Phoenix, AZ | $59,090 | 103.3 | $57,202 | −9% |
| 29 | Miami, FL | $61,870 | 114.2 | $54,177 | −14% |
U.S. median for graphic designers: $62,960. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Graphic Designers, SOC 27-1024); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.