Graphic Designer salary in the U.S.
Graphic Designers in the U.S. earn a median of $62,960 a year ($30.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 197,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,910 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $70,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for graphic designers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| 25th percentile | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| Median | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| 75th percentile | $81,830 | $39.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Average (mean) | $70,560 | $33.92 |
Half of graphic designers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,246.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,623.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,421.54 |
| Weekly | $1,210.77 |
| Hourly | $30.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Graphic Designer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $87,920 | 1,150 |
| Rhode Island | $78,220 | 750 |
| New York | $77,340 | 14,530 |
| Massachusetts | $76,710 | 4,450 |
| California | $75,130 | 27,390 |
| Maryland | $75,120 | 3,050 |
| New Jersey | $73,790 | 5,670 |
| Washington | $72,710 | 3,960 |
| Connecticut | $72,700 | 1,930 |
| Virginia | $72,310 | 4,740 |
| Colorado | $66,330 | 4,200 |
| Oregon | $66,040 | 4,140 |
| Vermont | $65,690 | 410 |
| Minnesota | $63,860 | 5,570 |
| Nevada | $62,890 | 1,570 |
| Alaska | $62,570 | 180 |
| Illinois | $62,560 | 8,960 |
| Utah | $62,310 | 2,720 |
| Florida | $61,660 | 12,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,730 | 8,150 |
| New Hampshire | $60,490 | 790 |
| Georgia | $60,250 | 5,920 |
| Texas | $60,150 | 13,670 |
| Delaware | $60,130 | 360 |
| Ohio | $60,080 | 7,280 |
| Maine | $60,030 | 560 |
| Wisconsin | $59,900 | 4,130 |
| Arizona | $58,510 | 3,560 |
| North Carolina | $58,450 | 5,660 |
| Hawaii | $58,070 | 520 |
| Michigan | $57,350 | 6,070 |
| Tennessee | $57,270 | 3,880 |
| South Carolina | $57,170 | 1,930 |
| Montana | $56,890 | 610 |
| Missouri | $56,750 | 4,500 |
| New Mexico | $56,730 | 850 |
| Nebraska | $56,700 | 1,670 |
| North Dakota | $56,470 | 460 |
| Indiana | $55,480 | 3,450 |
| Kansas | $53,630 | 1,730 |
| Oklahoma | $53,630 | 2,040 |
| Kentucky | $52,960 | 2,060 |
| Alabama | $51,070 | 1,760 |
| Idaho | $50,350 | 920 |
| Iowa | $50,310 | 2,100 |
| Louisiana | $49,910 | 1,750 |
| South Dakota | $48,390 | 470 |
| Arkansas | $46,220 | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $45,640 | 830 |
| Wyoming | $45,150 | 240 |
| West Virginia | $40,350 | 520 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,180 | 1,280 |
| Guam | $33,800 | 70 |
Best-paying metro areas for graphic designers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,360 | 1,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $92,050 | 3,870 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $85,420 | 4,420 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $81,800 | 650 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $79,280 | 15,160 |
| Napa, CA | $79,090 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,500 | 210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,270 | 3,560 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $76,720 | 2,710 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $76,140 | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $75,790 | 1,350 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $75,750 | 210 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $75,650 | 3,090 |
| Vallejo, CA | $74,800 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $74,680 | 920 |
Metro areas with the most graphic designers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 15,160 | $79,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 13,810 | $72,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,590 | $66,490 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4,790 | $63,780 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,420 | $85,420 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,060 | $62,680 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,950 | $61,870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,870 | $92,050 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3,690 | $65,610 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,560 | $78,270 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,360 | $63,090 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,090 | $75,650 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,810 | $59,090 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,770 | $58,400 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,710 | $60,210 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Art Director | $114,850 | $55.22 |
| Floral Designer | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $83,910 | $40.34 |
| Fashion Designer | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $102,030 | $49.06 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Designers, All Other | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Craft Artist | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1024. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for graphic designers in the U.S. is $62,960 a year, or $30.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid graphic designers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of graphic designers in the U.S. earn at least $104,910 a year. The top 25% earn $81,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for graphic designers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,520 a year, and a quarter of graphic designers earn $49,040 or less.
How many graphic designers work in the U.S.?
About 197,830 graphic designers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.