Graphic Designer Salary
Graphic Designers earn a median $62,960 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$62,960
$30.27 per hour
Range
$39,520 – $104,910
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
197,830
across the U.S.
▲2.7%
Pay trend: The median for graphic designers in the U.S. rose from $61,300 (May 2024) to $62,960 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What graphic designers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 16,000
- Self-employed
- 21%
Employment of graphic designers is projected to shrink 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 16,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Graphic Designer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$52,768
per year · effective tax rate 16.2%
$4,397Monthly
$2,199Twice a month
$2,030Every 2 weeks
$25.37Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,375
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,904
- Medicare (1.45%)$913
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$52,768
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,520 | $19.00 | $33,934 |
| 25th percentile | $49,040 | $23.58 | $41,584 |
| Median (50th) | $62,960 | $30.27 | $52,768 |
| 75th percentile | $81,830 | $39.34 | $66,397 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,910 | $50.44 | $82,634 |
Best cities for graphic designers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $85,420 | $64,631 | $59,357 | 4,420 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $92,050 | $68,059 | $58,868 | 3,870 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $76,720 | $62,803 | $56,511 | 2,710 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,270 | $60,199 | $55,603 | 3,560 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $72,500 | $57,352 | $54,217 | 2,590 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $79,280 | $60,919 | $54,120 | 15,160 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $75,650 | $56,260 | $53,367 | 3,090 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $63,780 | $53,427 | $51,826 | 4,790 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $66,490 | $52,458 | $50,638 | 6,590 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $62,680 | $49,913 | $49,884 | 4,060 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $58,400 | $49,104 | $49,787 | 2,770 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,090 | $50,936 | $49,667 | 3,360 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $65,610 | $51,960 | $49,569 | 3,690 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $72,400 | $56,242 | $49,524 | 13,810 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $60,210 | $48,251 | $48,107 | 2,710 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $59,090 | $48,390 | $46,837 | 2,810 |
| 17 | Miami, FL | $61,870 | $51,893 | $45,458 | 3,950 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $92,050
- Washington, DC — $85,420
- New York, NY — $79,280
- Boston, MA — $78,270
- Seattle, WA — $76,720
- Portland, OR — $75,650
- Denver, CO — $72,500
- Los Angeles, CA — $72,400
- Chicago, IL — $66,490
- Minneapolis, MN — $65,610
- Dallas, TX — $63,780
- Philadelphia, PA — $63,090
- Atlanta, GA — $62,680
- Miami, FL — $61,870
- Detroit, MI — $60,210
Graphic Designer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $87,920 | −3.1% | $66,177 | $62,240 – $136,660 | 1,150 |
| Rhode Island | $78,220 | +21.9% | $61,541 | $49,330 – $107,580 | 750 |
| New York | $77,340 | +3.8% | $59,659 | $43,680 – $131,250 | 14,530 |
| Massachusetts | $76,710 | +0.4% | $59,180 | $47,830 – $108,970 | 4,450 |
| California | $75,130 | −1.7% | $57,909 | $46,190 – $129,560 | 27,390 |
| Maryland | $75,120 | +13.3% | $58,472 | $44,810 – $109,630 | 3,050 |
| New Jersey | $73,790 | +10.8% | $58,212 | $47,490 – $122,940 | 5,670 |
| Washington | $72,710 | −4.3% | $59,981 | $47,780 – $115,210 | 3,960 |
| Connecticut | $72,700 | +11.2% | $57,551 | $47,420 – $106,830 | 1,930 |
| Virginia | $72,310 | +3.2% | $56,356 | $39,020 – $121,680 | 4,740 |
| Colorado | $66,330 | −0.0% | $53,266 | $47,030 – $118,560 | 4,200 |
| Oregon | $66,040 | +3.5% | $50,294 | $45,260 – $170,680 | 4,140 |
| Vermont | $65,690 | +5.6% | $53,087 | $42,640 – $123,500 | 410 |
| Minnesota | $63,860 | +9.0% | $50,672 | $42,690 – $96,960 | 5,570 |
| Nevada | $62,890 | +10.0% | $52,712 | $39,470 – $88,890 | 1,570 |
| Alaska | $62,570 | +13.3% | $52,455 | $39,380 – $103,440 | 180 |
| Illinois | $62,560 | +4.2% | $49,495 | $36,060 – $98,750 | 8,960 |
| Utah | $62,310 | +5.6% | $50,408 | $39,170 – $96,810 | 2,720 |
| Florida | $61,660 | +6.5% | $51,724 | $39,810 – $101,860 | 12,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,730 | +14.6% | $49,112 | $39,430 – $102,090 | 8,150 |
| New Hampshire | $60,490 | +5.5% | $50,784 | $47,030 – $95,680 | 790 |
| Georgia | $60,250 | +4.1% | $48,087 | $34,860 – $100,110 | 5,920 |
| Texas | $60,150 | −3.0% | $50,511 | $36,340 – $92,910 | 13,670 |
| Delaware | $60,130 | +7.1% | $47,834 | $41,040 – $92,920 | 360 |
| Ohio | $60,080 | +9.0% | $49,584 | $39,050 – $99,370 | 7,280 |
| Maine | $60,030 | +12.2% | $47,544 | $39,160 – $79,000 | 560 |
| Wisconsin | $59,900 | +2.6% | $48,455 | $42,680 – $85,050 | 4,130 |
| Arizona | $58,510 | +12.0% | $47,939 | $43,780 – $88,590 | 3,560 |
| North Carolina | $58,450 | +15.5% | $47,321 | $37,680 – $95,380 | 5,660 |
| Hawaii | $58,070 | +12.5% | $45,956 | $31,890 – $91,080 | 520 |
| Michigan | $57,350 | +9.0% | $46,074 | $38,770 – $86,320 | 6,070 |
| Tennessee | $57,270 | +10.7% | $48,196 | $37,910 – $92,540 | 3,880 |
| South Carolina | $57,170 | +1.8% | $45,843 | $37,190 – $90,000 | 1,930 |
| Montana | $56,890 | +2.7% | $45,974 | $37,790 – $104,780 | 610 |
| Missouri | $56,750 | +11.5% | $46,049 | $36,950 – $83,270 | 4,500 |
| New Mexico | $56,730 | −1.8% | $46,262 | $35,400 – $75,680 | 850 |
| Nebraska | $56,700 | +8.2% | $46,038 | $37,440 – $78,840 | 1,670 |
| North Dakota | $56,470 | +17.9% | $47,554 | $37,610 – $75,700 | 460 |
| Indiana | $55,480 | −1.7% | $45,151 | $38,520 – $98,020 | 3,450 |
| Kansas | $53,630 | +7.6% | $43,079 | $37,440 – $86,260 | 1,730 |
| Oklahoma | $53,630 | +6.6% | $43,404 | $27,310 – $80,980 | 2,040 |
| Kentucky | $52,960 | +5.2% | $42,997 | $32,620 – $81,690 | 2,060 |
| Alabama | $51,070 | +6.1% | $40,926 | $33,050 – $89,130 | 1,760 |
| Idaho | $50,350 | +3.5% | $41,076 | $32,900 – $82,140 | 920 |
| Iowa | $50,310 | +5.8% | $41,344 | $36,970 – $75,510 | 2,100 |
| Louisiana | $49,910 | +7.8% | $41,172 | $35,910 – $76,300 | 1,750 |
| South Dakota | $48,390 | +10.1% | $41,061 | $36,290 – $66,620 | 470 |
| Arkansas | $46,220 | −0.5% | $37,728 | $31,570 – $79,730 | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $45,640 | +0.8% | $37,758 | $32,260 – $75,480 | 830 |
| Wyoming | $45,150 | +4.3% | $38,458 | $32,820 – $82,990 | 240 |
| West Virginia | $40,350 | +9.4% | $33,491 | $29,530 – $61,640 | 520 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designers, All Other | $64,950 | Bachelor's degree | +1.2% |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | Bachelor's degree | +2.7% |
| Set and Exhibit Designer | $75,240 | Bachelor's degree | +1.4% |
| Fashion Designer | $80,960 | Bachelor's degree | +0.1% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $83,910 | Bachelor's degree | +2.4% |
| Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer | $39,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.7% |
| Floral Designer | $37,360 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.6% |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | Bachelor's degree | -2.9% |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
| Craft Artist | $46,080 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make?
The national median salary for graphic designers is $62,960 a year ($30.27 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,520 and the top 10% earn over $104,910. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays graphic designers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $87,920. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many graphic designers are there in the U.S.?
About 197,830 people work as graphic designers nationwide.