Graphic Designer Salary in Seattle, WA
Graphic Designers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $76,720 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,803 take-home, or $5,234 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,048
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,757
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,112
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$62,803
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,660 | $24.84 | $43,689 | $3,641 |
| 25th percentile | $61,140 | $29.39 | $51,306 | $4,275 |
| Median (50th) | $76,720 | $36.88 | $62,803 | $5,234 |
| 75th percentile | $98,590 | $47.40 | $78,188 | $6,516 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,220 | $60.20 | $96,854 | $8,071 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,720 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $62,803 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,511 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for graphic designers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #5 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 Seattle, WA?
The median graphic designer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $76,720 a year, or about $36.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,140 and $98,590.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $76,720 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $62,803 a year ($5,234 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,511 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #5 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $134,120
- Art Director — $124,610
- Technical Writer — $107,580
- Writer and Author — $98,730
- Public Relations Specialist — $96,000
- Producer and Director — $86,680
- Editor — $79,660
- Interior Designer — $78,810
- Audio and Video Technician — $69,270
- Interpreter and Translator — $65,800
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $59,340
- Photographer — $51,790