Graphic Designer Salary in Denver, CO
Graphic Designers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $72,500 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,352 take-home, or $4,779 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,120
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,495
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,051
- Colorado income tax$2,482
- Take-home pay$57,352
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,990 | $23.07 | $39,337 | $3,278 |
| 25th percentile | $57,980 | $27.88 | $46,924 | $3,910 |
| Median (50th) | $72,500 | $34.86 | $57,352 | $4,779 |
| 75th percentile | $90,770 | $43.64 | $69,401 | $5,783 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,900 | $59.57 | $91,208 | $7,601 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,500 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $57,352 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,217 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.3× the national concentration of graphic designer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for graphic designers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $72,500 | $57,352 | $54,217 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median graphic designer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $72,500 a year, or about $34.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,980 and $90,770.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $72,500 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $57,352 a year ($4,779 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,482 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,217 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #14 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Technical Writer — $103,360
- Art Director — $99,990
- Public Relations Specialist — $82,930
- Producer and Director — $80,590
- Interior Designer — $80,150
- Editor — $78,670
- Broadcast Technician — $78,050
- Interpreter and Translator — $74,850
- Writer and Author — $69,100
- Audio and Video Technician — $57,970
- Photographer — $47,340
- Coach and Scout — $47,110