Graphic Designer Salary in Baltimore, MD
Graphic Designers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $75,790 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,912 take-home, or $4,909 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,844
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,699
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,099
- Maryland income tax$3,236
- Take-home pay$58,912
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.75% state
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,990 | $22.11 | $37,312 | $3,109 |
| 25th percentile | $58,050 | $27.91 | $46,429 | $3,869 |
| Median (50th) | $75,790 | $36.44 | $58,912 | $4,909 |
| 75th percentile | $89,390 | $42.98 | $67,833 | $5,653 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,120 | $51.50 | $79,463 | $6,622 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,790 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $58,912 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,382 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 Baltimore, MD than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for graphic designers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #6 of 64 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $97,360 | $71,232 | $64,508 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $81,800 | $63,452 | $59,377 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $85,420 | $64,631 | $59,357 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $92,050 | $68,059 | $58,868 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $76,720 | $62,803 | $56,511 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $75,790 | $58,912 | $56,382 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $78,270 | $60,199 | $55,603 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $65,060 | $54,456 | $55,530 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 64 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make in Baltimore, MD?
The median graphic designer salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $75,790 a year, or about $36.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,050 and $89,390.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $75,790 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $58,912 a year ($4,909 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,236 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,382 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #6 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Technical Writer — $102,140
- Producer and Director — $80,850
- Editor — $79,730
- Public Relations Specialist — $77,570
- Audio and Video Technician — $65,270
- Interior Designer — $63,080
- Coach and Scout — $48,440
- Photographer — $46,170
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $42,660