Graphic Designer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Graphic Designers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $72,400 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,242 take-home, or $4,687 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,098
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,489
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,050
- California income tax$2,580
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$941
- Take-home pay$56,242
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,500 | $21.88 | $37,338 | $3,112 |
| 25th percentile | $53,790 | $25.86 | $43,424 | $3,619 |
| Median (50th) | $72,400 | $34.81 | $56,242 | $4,687 |
| 75th percentile | $95,440 | $45.88 | $70,085 | $5,840 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,590 | $59.42 | $86,869 | $7,239 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,400 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $56,242 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,524 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.7× 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
Los Angeles, CA ranks #52 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 |
| 52 | Los Angeles, CA | $72,400 | $56,242 | $49,524 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 64 metros →
Graphic Designer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $97,360
- San Francisco, CA — $92,050
- Sacramento, CA — $74,680
- Riverside, CA — $65,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median graphic designer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $72,400 a year, or about $34.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $53,790 and $95,440.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $72,400 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $56,242 a year ($4,687 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,521 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,524 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #52 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Art Director — $137,560
- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Set and Exhibit Designer — $106,880
- Lighting Technician — $105,010
- Technical Writer — $104,000
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $96,260
- Music Director and Composer — $93,090
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210