Graphic Designer Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Graphic Designers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $63,090 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,936 take-home, or $4,245 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,391
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,912
- Medicare (1.45%)$915
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,937
- Take-home pay$50,936
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,360 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $48,576 ($4,048 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,610 | $21.45 | $36,655 | $3,055 |
| 25th percentile | $50,920 | $24.48 | $41,531 | $3,461 |
| Median (50th) | $63,090 | $30.33 | $50,936 | $4,245 |
| 75th percentile | $81,330 | $39.10 | $63,549 | $5,296 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,140 | $49.11 | $77,550 | $6,462 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,090 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $50,936 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,667 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for graphic designers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #12 of 17 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $85,420 | $64,631 | $59,357 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $92,050 | $68,059 | $58,868 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $76,720 | $62,803 | $56,511 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,270 | $60,199 | $55,603 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $72,500 | $57,352 | $54,217 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $79,280 | $60,919 | $54,120 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $75,650 | $56,260 | $53,367 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $63,780 | $53,427 | $51,826 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,090 | $50,936 | $49,667 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 17 metros →
About the job: graphic designers
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)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median graphic designer salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $63,090 a year, or about $30.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,920 and $81,330.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $63,090 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $50,936 a year ($4,245 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,937 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,667 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #12 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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