Graphic Designer salary in the United States
National median pay
$62,960/year
about $30.27 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $49,040 – $81,830
National pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| 25th | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| Median (50th) | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| 75th | $81,830 | $39.34 |
| 90th (top earners) | $104,910 | $50.44 |
*Yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the full-time basis BLS uses.
Pay by city
Highest median pay: San Jose ($97,360). Lowest of the cities we track: Pittsburgh ($57,830).
| Metro area | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $97,360 | $73,990 – $127,880 |
| San Francisco, CA | $92,050 | $68,680 – $115,940 |
| Washington, DC | $85,420 | $66,620 – $107,590 |
| New York, NY | $79,280 | $62,040 – $102,060 |
| Boston, MA | $78,270 | $61,490 – $98,260 |
| Seattle, WA | $76,720 | $61,140 – $98,590 |
| Baltimore, MD | $75,790 | $58,050 – $89,390 |
| Portland, OR | $75,650 | $59,880 – $120,420 |
| Sacramento, CA | $74,680 | $59,030 – $91,670 |
| Denver, CO | $72,500 | $57,980 – $90,770 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $72,400 | $53,790 – $95,440 |
| Chicago, IL | $66,490 | $52,030 – $83,590 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $65,610 | $57,270 – $81,800 |
| Austin, TX | $65,060 | $52,140 – $79,790 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $65,060 | $51,310 – $82,750 |
| Dallas, TX | $63,780 | $49,920 – $75,940 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $63,090 | $50,920 – $81,330 |
| Tampa, FL | $62,900 | $48,760 – $79,070 |
| Atlanta, GA | $62,680 | $46,820 – $79,730 |
| Orlando, FL | $62,360 | $49,540 – $79,100 |
| Miami, FL | $61,870 | $51,840 – $84,820 |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,000 | $48,620 – $76,560 |
| Nashville, TN | $60,370 | $49,810 – $77,440 |
| Detroit, MI | $60,210 | $48,710 – $75,560 |
| Charlotte, NC | $59,810 | $49,510 – $75,290 |
| San Antonio, TX | $59,710 | $46,870 – $78,210 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $59,090 | $50,900 – $76,100 |
| Houston, TX | $58,400 | $44,670 – $73,710 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $57,830 | $46,540 – $70,710 |
Pay depends a lot on location, so compare an on-site job with its local figures. For fully remote jobs, national pay is usually the fairest comparison.
🏆 Best paying cities for graphic designers, after cost of living →
Is your offer fair?
$
- Below market under $49,040 ($23.58/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $49,040 to $81,830 ($23.58 to $39.34/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $81,830 ($39.34/hr). Higher than three quarters of workers here.
Before you accept
- Watch for roles that bundle design, video, social media and web work into one job at one salary.
- Unpaid "test projects" are a common red flag. A short, paid test is fair; a full campaign for free isn't.
- In-house design roles tend to be steadier than agency roles, which can pay more but come with heavier deadlines.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. Occupation: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.