How much does a designer make in San Francisco?
$103,000a year
Median yearly pay for designers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $49.54 an hour or $8,587 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.54
- Vs. national median
- +59%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 36
- Jobs in the area
- 320
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $58,910Median: $103,000Highest 10%: $170,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,910 | $28.32 | |
| 25th | $77,320 | $37.17 | |
| Median | $103,000 | $49.54 | |
| 75th | $129,500 | $62.26 | |
| 90th | $170,100 | $81.78 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for designers.
| San Jose, CA | $129,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $84,180 |
| San Diego, CA | $76,070 |
| Riverside, CA | $65,370 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $58,930 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $165,200 |
| Musician and Singer | $157,600 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $136,800 |
| Technical Writer | $135,500 |
| Producer and Director | $130,600 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $129,300 |
| Fine Artist | $126,500 |
| Music Director and Composer | $113,000 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Worker | $110,800 |
| Film and Video Editor | $109,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a designer make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $49.54 ($103,000 a year).
Do designers make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $103,000 against $64,950 nationally, 59% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $65,420, so San Francisco pays 58% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for designer pay?
2 of 36 metro areas with data.
How much does a designer make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $58,910 or less a year; the top 10% make $170,100 or more.
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.