Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$39,520
- 25th Percentile — Junior$49,040
- 50th Percentile — Median$62,960
- 75th Percentile — Senior$81,830
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$104,910
The top 10% of Graphic Designers earn $104,910 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $39,520, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $94,630 | +34.1% |
| California | $86,800 | +23.0% |
| Oregon | $85,140 | +20.7% |
| New York | $82,410 | +16.8% |
| Massachusetts | $79,690 | +12.9% |
| New Jersey | $79,430 | +12.6% |
| Rhode Island | $78,900 | +11.8% |
| Washington | $77,910 | +10.4% |
| Maryland | $77,770 | +10.2% |
| Virginia | $76,670 | +8.7% |
| Connecticut | $75,420 | +6.9% |
| Colorado | $74,460 | +5.5% |
| Vermont | $72,420 | +2.6% |
| Minnesota | $68,280 | -3.2% |
| Florida | $68,070 | -3.5% |
| Utah | $67,600 | -4.2% |
| New Hampshire | $67,240 | -4.7% |
| Alaska | $67,140 | -4.8% |
| Illinois | $66,980 | -5.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $66,620 | -5.6% |
| Ohio | $65,130 | -7.7% |
| Nevada | $64,700 | -8.3% |
| Delaware | $64,420 | -8.7% |
| Georgia | $64,240 | -9.0% |
| Arizona | $63,570 | -9.9% |
| North Carolina | $63,250 | -10.4% |
| Tennessee | $62,670 | -11.2% |
| Texas | $62,570 | -11.3% |
| Wisconsin | $62,410 | -11.6% |
| Indiana | $61,990 | -12.1% |
| Hawaii | $61,870 | -12.3% |
| Maine | $61,780 | -12.4% |
| Montana | $61,670 | -12.6% |
| South Carolina | $60,610 | -14.1% |
| Michigan | $60,250 | -14.6% |
| Missouri | $59,660 | -15.4% |
| Nebraska | $58,000 | -17.8% |
| New Mexico | $57,870 | -18.0% |
| Kansas | $57,850 | -18.0% |
| Alabama | $57,010 | -19.2% |
| North Dakota | $56,160 | -20.4% |
| Kentucky | $56,050 | -20.6% |
| Idaho | $55,780 | -20.9% |
| Oklahoma | $55,570 | -21.2% |
| Louisiana | $54,850 | -22.3% |
| Iowa | $54,820 | -22.3% |
| Arkansas | $52,670 | -25.4% |
| Mississippi | $52,280 | -25.9% |
| Wyoming | $51,110 | -27.6% |
| South Dakota | $50,880 | -27.9% |
| West Virginia | $45,600 | -35.4% |
What Factors Affect Graphic Designers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Graphic Designers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $94,630, while West Virginia pays $45,600 — a gap of $49,030 per year.
The middle half of Graphic Designers earn between $49,040 and $81,830 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,520, while the top 10% earn more than $104,910.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Art Directors $129,440/yr United States +83.4% vs this role
- Interior Designers $74,540/yr United States +5.6% vs this role
- Fashion Designers $91,230/yr United States +29.3% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $113,300/yr United States +60.6% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $86,090/yr United States +22.0% vs this role
- Editors $90,060/yr United States +27.6% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States +43.7% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +94.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Graphic Designers?
The average salary for Graphic Designers in the United States is $70,560 per year, with a median of $62,960.
What is the starting salary for Graphic Designers?
Entry-level Graphic Designers typically earn between $39,520 and $49,040 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Graphic Designers the most?
District of Columbia pays Graphic Designers the most at $94,630 per year on average, followed by California ($86,800) and Oregon ($85,140).
How much do Graphic Designers make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $70,560, Graphic Designers earn approximately $33.92 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Graphic Designers a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 197,830 Graphic Designers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $70,560 and a median of $62,960 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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