Graphic Designer Salary in Boston, MA
Graphic Designers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $78,270 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,199 take-home, or $5,017 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,389
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,853
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,135
- Massachusetts income tax$3,694
- Take-home pay$60,199
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,440 | $24.73 | $41,160 | $3,430 |
| 25th percentile | $61,490 | $29.56 | $48,733 | $4,061 |
| Median (50th) | $78,270 | $37.63 | $60,199 | $5,017 |
| 75th percentile | $98,260 | $47.24 | $73,263 | $6,105 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $116,000 | $55.77 | $84,856 | $7,071 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,270 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $60,199 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,603 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 about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for graphic designers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #7 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 Boston, MA?
The median graphic designer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $78,270 a year, or about $37.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,490 and $98,260.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $78,270 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $60,199 a year ($5,017 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,694 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,603 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #7 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Art Director — $151,820
- Technical Writer — $111,750
- Fashion Designer — $106,630
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $102,530
- Editor — $86,410
- Writer and Author — $85,260
- Producer and Director — $83,850
- Interior Designer — $81,480
- Public Relations Specialist — $81,440
- Interpreter and Translator — $75,120
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $62,750
- Coach and Scout — $56,220