How much does a graphic designer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $30.27 an hour or $5,247 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.27
- Average (mean)
- $70,560
- Jobs
- 197,830
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,520 | $19.00 | |
| 25th | $49,040 | $23.58 | |
| Median | $62,960 | $30.27 | |
| 75th | $81,830 | $39.34 | |
| 90th | $104,900 | $50.44 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $87,920 |
| Rhode Island | $78,220 |
| New York | $77,340 |
| Massachusetts | $76,710 |
| California | $75,130 |
| Maryland | $75,120 |
| New Jersey | $73,790 |
| Washington | $72,710 |
| Connecticut | $72,700 |
| Virginia | $72,310 |
| Colorado | $66,330 |
| Oregon | $66,040 |
| Vermont | $65,690 |
| Minnesota | $63,860 |
| Nevada | $62,890 |
| Alaska | $62,570 |
| Illinois | $62,560 |
| Utah | $62,310 |
| Florida | $61,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,730 |
| New Hampshire | $60,490 |
| Georgia | $60,250 |
| Texas | $60,150 |
| Delaware | $60,130 |
| Ohio | $60,080 |
| Maine | $60,030 |
| Wisconsin | $59,900 |
| Arizona | $58,510 |
| North Carolina | $58,450 |
| Hawaii | $58,070 |
| Michigan | $57,350 |
| Tennessee | $57,270 |
| South Carolina | $57,170 |
| Montana | $56,890 |
| Missouri | $56,750 |
| New Mexico | $56,730 |
| Nebraska | $56,700 |
| North Dakota | $56,470 |
| Indiana | $55,480 |
| Kansas | $53,630 |
| Oklahoma | $53,630 |
| Kentucky | $52,960 |
| Alabama | $51,070 |
| Idaho | $50,350 |
| Iowa | $50,310 |
| Louisiana | $49,910 |
| South Dakota | $48,390 |
| Arkansas | $46,220 |
| Mississippi | $45,640 |
| Wyoming | $45,150 |
| West Virginia | $40,350 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $97,360 |
| San Francisco, CA | $92,050 |
| Washington, DC | $85,420 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $81,800 |
| New York, NY | $79,280 |
| Napa, CA | $79,090 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $78,500 |
| Boston, MA | $78,270 |
| Seattle, WA | $76,720 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $76,140 |
| Baltimore, MD | $75,790 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $75,750 |
| Portland, OR | $75,650 |
| Vallejo, CA | $74,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $74,680 |
In other countries
Graphic Designer belongs to the international group "Graphic and multimedia 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
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$39,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $30.27 ($62,960 a year).
How much does a graphic designer make a month?
About $5,247 a month before tax, based on a median of $62,960 a year.
How much does a graphic designer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $39,520 or less a year ($19.00 an hour); the top 10% make $104,900 or more.
Which state pays graphic designers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $87,920 a year, followed by Rhode Island ($78,220) and New York ($77,340).
Which city pays graphic designers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $97,360 a year.
How many graphic designers are there in the United States?
About 197,830 people work as graphic 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.