Graphic Designer Salary in Houston, TX
Graphic Designers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $58,400 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,104 take-home, or $4,092 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,828
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,621
- Medicare (1.45%)$847
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,104
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,270 | $16.48 | $29,716 | $2,476 |
| 25th percentile | $44,670 | $21.48 | $38,072 | $3,173 |
| Median (50th) | $58,400 | $28.08 | $49,104 | $4,092 |
| 75th percentile | $73,710 | $35.44 | $60,685 | $5,057 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,590 | $43.55 | $72,560 | $6,047 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,400 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $49,104 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,787 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Graphic Designer jobs are less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for graphic designers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #11 of 17 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $85,420 | $64,631 | $59,357 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $92,050 | $68,059 | $58,868 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $76,720 | $62,803 | $56,511 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,270 | $60,199 | $55,603 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $72,500 | $57,352 | $54,217 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $79,280 | $60,919 | $54,120 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $75,650 | $56,260 | $53,367 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $63,780 | $53,427 | $51,826 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $58,400 | $49,104 | $49,787 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 17 metros →
About the job: graphic designers
Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -1.7% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Graphic Designer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $63,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make in Houston, TX?
The median graphic designer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $58,400 a year, or about $28.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,670 and $73,710.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $58,400 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $49,104 a year ($4,092 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,787 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #11 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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