How much does a designer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $31.23 an hour or $5,413 a month.
- Hourly
- $31.23
- Average (mean)
- $79,090
- Jobs
- 9,480
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,030 | $20.69 | |
| 25th | $51,020 | $24.53 | |
| Median | $64,950 | $31.23 | |
| 75th | $95,860 | $46.09 | |
| 90th | $129,100 | $62.07 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| New Hampshire | $94,660 |
| New York | $86,030 |
| Hawaii | $85,700 |
| South Carolina | $83,980 |
| Illinois | $77,460 |
| Nevada | $75,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,760 |
| Tennessee | $72,450 |
| Indiana | $66,580 |
| Colorado | $65,630 |
| Florida | $65,510 |
| California | $65,420 |
| Oregon | $61,070 |
| Maryland | $60,910 |
| Virginia | $60,000 |
| New Jersey | $59,470 |
| Georgia | $58,560 |
| Washington | $57,510 |
| Louisiana | $57,020 |
| Utah | $55,920 |
| North Carolina | $51,740 |
| Missouri | $48,320 |
| Arkansas | $44,470 |
| Montana | $42,000 |
| Texas | $41,590 |
| Ohio | $38,430 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $129,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,000 |
| Nashville, TN | $85,280 |
| Sacramento, CA | $84,180 |
| Augusta, GA | $83,980 |
| New York, NY | $82,170 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $81,800 |
| San Diego, CA | $76,070 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $73,290 |
| Portland, OR | $70,790 |
| Denver, CO | $69,620 |
| Baltimore, MD | $69,100 |
| Miami, FL | $67,840 |
| Austin, TX | $67,770 |
| New Orleans, LA | $67,200 |
In other countries
Designer belongs to the international group "Product and garment designers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Art Director$114,900
- Craft Artist$46,080
- Fine Artist$55,490
- Special Effects Artist and Animator$102,000
- Artist and Related Worker$71,240
- Commercial and Industrial Designer$83,910
- Fashion Designer$80,960
- Floral Designer$37,360
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Interior Designer$67,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a designer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $31.23 ($64,950 a year).
How much does a designer make a month?
About $5,413 a month before tax, based on a median of $64,950 a year.
How much does a designer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $43,030 or less a year ($20.69 an hour); the top 10% make $129,100 or more.
Which state pays designers the most?
New Hampshire, with a median of $94,660 a year, followed by New York ($86,030) and Hawaii ($85,700).
Which city pays designers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $129,100 a year.
How many designers are there in the United States?
About 9,480 people work as designers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.