How much does a graphic designer make in San Jose?
$97,360a year
Median yearly pay for graphic designers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $46.81 an hour or $8,113 a month.
- Hourly
- $46.81
- Vs. national median
- +55%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 346
- Jobs in the area
- 1,280
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $59,870Median: $97,360Highest 10%: $164,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,870 | $28.78 | |
| 25th | $73,990 | $35.57 | |
| Median | $97,360 | $46.81 | |
| 75th | $127,900 | $61.48 | |
| 90th | $164,500 | $79.10 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for graphic designers.
| San Francisco, CA | $92,050 |
| Napa, CA | $79,090 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $78,500 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $75,750 |
| Vallejo, CA | $74,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $74,680 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $72,400 |
| Modesto, CA | $69,110 |
| Oxnard, CA | $67,300 |
| Salinas, CA | $66,940 |
| Visalia, CA | $66,040 |
| Riverside, CA | $65,900 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $64,510 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $61,970 |
| Stockton, CA | $61,030 |
| Fresno, CA | $58,280 |
| Chico, CA | $58,040 |
Related jobs in San Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $170,100 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $157,000 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $143,200 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $141,300 |
| Technical Writer | $140,700 |
| Designer | $129,100 |
| Writer and Author | $118,800 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $117,600 |
| Editor | $117,600 |
| Musician and Singer | $102,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $46.81 ($97,360 a year).
Do graphic designers make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $97,360 against $62,960 nationally, 55% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $75,130, so San Jose pays 30% more.
Where does San Jose rank for graphic designer pay?
1 of 346 metro areas with data.
How much does a graphic designer make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $59,870 or less a year; the top 10% make $164,500 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.