27 Series · SOC 27-1024
Graphic Designers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $62,960
- Median / year
- $104,910
- Top 10% earn
- +2.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 197,830
- US workers
Graphic Designers earn a median of $62,960 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $62,960, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $39,520 (10th percentile) to $104,910 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 197,830 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($87,920), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Graphic Designers earn a median of $62,960, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 53% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks #23 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.1% by 2033.
- $62,960
- Median annual wage
- Top 47%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #23 of 36
- in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- 2.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $87,920. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024) pays a national median of $62,960 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $39,520 at the 10th percentile to $104,910 at the 90th, with a mean of $70,560 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 197,830 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 464 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 20,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $87,920, which is +40% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $97,360 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 197,830 jobs Median $62,960/yr
Median Salary
$62,960
per year
Median Hourly
$30.27/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$70,560
average
Employment
197,830
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Graphic Designers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$62,960 Top 47% higher than 53% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 27-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Graphic Designers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 27-series occupations with growth data, Graphic Designers sits on the slower-growing side at +2.1% growth and $62,960 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.1%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
20,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
2.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Graphic Designers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.8
Speaking 3.4
Writing 3.3
Critical Thinking 3.3
Active Learning 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Social Perceptiveness 3.1
Coordination 3.1
Complex Problem Solving 3.1
Judgment and Decision Making 3.1
Knowledge Areas
Design 4.7
Computers and Electronics 4.4
Fine Arts 4.4
Communications and Media 4.3
English Language 3.8
Sales and Marketing 3.6
Customer and Personal Service 3.5
Production and Processing 3.3
Administration and Management 3.0
Administrative 2.8
Key Tasks
- ▸ Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
- ▸ Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
- ▸ Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
- ▸ Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
- ▸ Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
- ▸ Use computer software to generate new images.
- ▸ Prepare digital files for printing.
- ▸ Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
- ▸ Research the target audience of projects.
- ▸ Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$39,520
25th Percentile
$49,040
Median
$62,960
75th Percentile
$81,830
90th Percentile
$104,910
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $87,920 | +40% above national |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $78,220 | +24% above national |
| 3 | New York | $77,340 | +23% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $76,710 | +22% above national |
| 5 | California | $75,130 | +19% above national |
| 6 | Maryland | $75,120 | +19% above national |
| 7 | New Jersey | $73,790 | +17% above national |
| 8 | Washington | $72,710 | +15% above national |
| 9 | Connecticut | $72,700 | +15% above national |
| 10 | Virginia | $72,310 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Colorado | $66,330 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Oregon | $66,040 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Vermont | $65,690 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Minnesota | $63,860 | +1% above national |
| 15 | Nevada | $62,890 | same as national |
| 16 | Alaska | $62,570 | 1% below national |
| 17 | Illinois | $62,560 | 1% below national |
| 18 | Utah | $62,310 | 1% below national |
| 19 | Florida | $61,660 | 2% below national |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $60,730 | 4% below national |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $60,490 | 4% below national |
| 22 | Georgia | $60,250 | 4% below national |
| 23 | Texas | $60,150 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Delaware | $60,130 | 4% below national |
| 25 | Ohio | $60,080 | 5% below national |
| 26 | Maine | $60,030 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $59,900 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Arizona | $58,510 | 7% below national |
| 29 | North Carolina | $58,450 | 7% below national |
| 30 | Hawaii | $58,070 | 8% below national |
| 31 | Michigan | $57,350 | 9% below national |
| 32 | Tennessee | $57,270 | 9% below national |
| 33 | South Carolina | $57,170 | 9% below national |
| 34 | Montana | $56,890 | 10% below national |
| 35 | Missouri | $56,750 | 10% below national |
| 36 | New Mexico | $56,730 | 10% below national |
| 37 | Nebraska | $56,700 | 10% below national |
| 38 | North Dakota | $56,470 | 10% below national |
| 39 | Indiana | $55,480 | 12% below national |
| 40 | Kansas | $53,630 | 15% below national |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $53,630 | 15% below national |
| 42 | Kentucky | $52,960 | 16% below national |
| 43 | Alabama | $51,070 | 19% below national |
| 44 | Idaho | $50,350 | 20% below national |
| 45 | Iowa | $50,310 | 20% below national |
| 46 | Louisiana | $49,910 | 21% below national |
| 47 | South Dakota | $48,390 | 23% below national |
| 48 | Arkansas | $46,220 | 27% below national |
| 49 | Mississippi | $45,640 | 28% below national |
| 50 | Wyoming | $45,150 | 28% below national |
| 51 | West Virginia | $40,350 | 36% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $34,180 | 46% below national |
| 53 | Guam | $33,800 | 46% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 464 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,360 | +55% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $92,050 | +46% above national |
| 3 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $85,420 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $81,800 | +30% above national |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $79,280 | +26% above national |
| 6 | Napa, CA | $79,090 | +26% above national |
| 7 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,500 | +25% above national |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,270 | +24% above national |
| 9 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $76,720 | +22% above national |
| 10 | Barnstable Town, MA | $76,140 | +21% above national |
| 11 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $75,790 | +20% above national |
| 12 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $75,750 | +20% above national |
| 13 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $75,650 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Vallejo, CA | $74,800 | +19% above national |
| 15 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $74,680 | +19% above national |
| 16 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $74,520 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $74,470 | +18% above national |
| 18 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $72,500 | +15% above national |
| 19 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $72,400 | +15% above national |
| 20 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $71,750 | +14% above national |
| 21 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $71,300 | +13% above national |
| 22 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $70,870 | +13% above national |
| 23 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $70,540 | +12% above national |
| 24 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $70,450 | +12% above national |
| 25 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $70,420 | +12% above national |
| 26 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $69,570 | +10% above national |
| 27 | Modesto, CA | $69,110 | +10% above national |
| 28 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $68,350 | +9% above national |
| 29 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $68,260 | +8% above national |
| 30 | New Haven, CT | $68,150 | +8% above national |
| 31 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $67,710 | +8% above national |
| 32 | Boulder, CO | $67,680 | +7% above national |
| 33 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $67,650 | +7% above national |
| 34 | Lexington Park, MD | $67,570 | +7% above national |
| 35 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $67,300 | +7% above national |
| 36 | Salinas, CA | $66,940 | +6% above national |
| 37 | Kenosha, WI | $66,810 | +6% above national |
| 38 | Worcester, MA | $66,810 | +6% above national |
| 39 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,490 | +6% above national |
| 40 | Richmond, VA | $66,350 | +5% above national |
| 41 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $66,060 | +5% above national |
| 42 | Visalia, CA | $66,040 | +5% above national |
| 43 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $65,900 | +5% above national |
| 44 | Salem, OR | $65,720 | +4% above national |
| 45 | Pittsfield, MA | $65,710 | +4% above national |
| 46 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $65,680 | +4% above national |
| 47 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $65,610 | +4% above national |
| 48 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $65,560 | +4% above national |
| 49 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $65,520 | +4% above national |
| 50 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $65,510 | +4% above national |
| 51 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $65,450 | +4% above national |
| 52 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $65,060 | +3% above national |
| 53 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $65,060 | +3% above national |
| 54 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $64,730 | +3% above national |
| 55 | Greeley, CO | $64,640 | +3% above national |
| 56 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $64,510 | +2% above national |
| 57 | Gainesville, FL | $64,310 | +2% above national |
| 58 | Columbus, OH | $64,000 | +2% above national |
| 59 | Madison, WI | $63,970 | +2% above national |
| 60 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $63,830 | +1% above national |
| 61 | Albuquerque, NM | $63,810 | +1% above national |
| 62 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $63,780 | +1% above national |
| 63 | Springfield, MA | $63,760 | +1% above national |
| 64 | Helena, MT | $63,690 | +1% above national |
| 65 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $63,680 | +1% above national |
| 66 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $63,580 | +1% above national |
| 67 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $63,560 | +1% above national |
| 68 | Rochester, NY | $63,530 | +1% above national |
| 69 | Merced, CA | $63,340 | +1% above national |
| 70 | Anchorage, AK | $63,250 | same as national |
| 71 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $63,200 | same as national |
| 72 | Jacksonville, FL | $63,090 | same as national |
| 73 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,090 | same as national |
| 74 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $62,900 | same as national |
| 75 | Huntsville, AL | $62,720 | same as national |
| 76 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $62,680 | same as national |
| 77 | Winchester, VA-WV | $62,450 | 1% below national |
| 78 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $62,360 | 1% below national |
| 79 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $62,310 | 1% below national |
| 80 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $62,260 | 1% below national |
| 81 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $62,210 | 1% below national |
| 82 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $62,060 | 1% below national |
| 83 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $61,970 | 2% below national |
| 84 | Salisbury, MD | $61,950 | 2% below national |
| 85 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $61,940 | 2% below national |
| 86 | Missoula, MT | $61,930 | 2% below national |
| 87 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $61,870 | 2% below national |
| 88 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,780 | 2% below national |
| 89 | Charlottesville, VA | $61,700 | 2% below national |
| 90 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,700 | 2% below national |
| 91 | Flagstaff, AZ | $61,630 | 2% below national |
| 92 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $61,450 | 2% below national |
| 93 | Kingston, NY | $61,410 | 2% below national |
| 94 | Ithaca, NY | $61,250 | 3% below national |
| 95 | Rochester, MN | $61,240 | 3% below national |
| 96 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $61,030 | 3% below national |
| 97 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,030 | 3% below national |
| 98 | Tallahassee, FL | $61,010 | 3% below national |
| 99 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,000 | 3% below national |
| 100 | Colorado Springs, CO | $60,790 | 3% below national |
| 101 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $60,700 | 4% below national |
| 102 | Florence, SC | $60,640 | 4% below national |
| 103 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $60,520 | 4% below national |
| 104 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $60,520 | 4% below national |
| 105 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $60,370 | 4% below national |
| 106 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $60,370 | 4% below national |
| 107 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $60,210 | 4% below national |
| 108 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $60,200 | 4% below national |
| 109 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $60,150 | 4% below national |
| 110 | Roanoke, VA | $60,120 | 5% below national |
| 111 | Gettysburg, PA | $60,060 | 5% below national |
| 112 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $60,030 | 5% below national |
| 113 | Jackson, MI | $60,010 | 5% below national |
| 114 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $60,000 | 5% below national |
| 115 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $59,990 | 5% below national |
| 116 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $59,990 | 5% below national |
| 117 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $59,990 | 5% below national |
| 118 | Appleton, WI | $59,980 | 5% below national |
| 119 | Bellingham, WA | $59,850 | 5% below national |
| 120 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,810 | 5% below national |
| 121 | Cleveland, OH | $59,780 | 5% below national |
| 122 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $59,710 | 5% below national |
| 123 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $59,710 | 5% below national |
| 124 | Tulsa, OK | $59,620 | 5% below national |
| 125 | Idaho Falls, ID | $59,290 | 6% below national |
| 126 | Green Bay, WI | $59,260 | 6% below national |
| 127 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $59,250 | 6% below national |
| 128 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $59,090 | 6% below national |
| 129 | Battle Creek, MI | $59,040 | 6% below national |
| 130 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $59,040 | 6% below national |
| 131 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $59,000 | 6% below national |
| 132 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $58,990 | 6% below national |
| 133 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $58,880 | 6% below national |
| 134 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $58,760 | 7% below national |
| 135 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $58,670 | 7% below national |
| 136 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $58,670 | 7% below national |
| 137 | Utica-Rome, NY | $58,550 | 7% below national |
| 138 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,520 | 7% below national |
| 139 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $58,500 | 7% below national |
| 140 | Akron, OH | $58,460 | 7% below national |
| 141 | Niles, MI | $58,420 | 7% below national |
| 142 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $58,400 | 7% below national |
| 143 | St. Cloud, MN | $58,340 | 7% below national |
| 144 | State College, PA | $58,340 | 7% below national |
| 145 | Fresno, CA | $58,280 | 7% below national |
| 146 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $58,280 | 7% below national |
| 147 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $58,270 | 7% below national |
| 148 | Jacksonville, NC | $58,230 | 8% below national |
| 149 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $58,230 | 8% below national |
| 150 | Bozeman, MT | $58,200 | 8% below national |
| 151 | Logan, UT-ID | $58,180 | 8% below national |
| 152 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $58,150 | 8% below national |
| 153 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $58,110 | 8% below national |
| 154 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $58,070 | 8% below national |
| 155 | Chico, CA | $58,040 | 8% below national |
| 156 | Omaha, NE-IA | $58,020 | 8% below national |
| 157 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $57,970 | 8% below national |
| 158 | Yakima, WA | $57,970 | 8% below national |
| 159 | Duluth, MN-WI | $57,960 | 8% below national |
| 160 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $57,870 | 8% below national |
| 161 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $57,870 | 8% below national |
| 162 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $57,840 | 8% below national |
| 163 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,830 | 8% below national |
| 164 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $57,820 | 8% below national |
| 165 | Bend, OR | $57,800 | 8% below national |
| 166 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $57,750 | 8% below national |
| 167 | Yuma, AZ | $57,730 | 8% below national |
| 168 | Tucson, AZ | $57,710 | 8% below national |
| 169 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,650 | 8% below national |
| 170 | Midland, TX | $57,580 | 9% below national |
| 171 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $57,530 | 9% below national |
| 172 | Bismarck, ND | $57,430 | 9% below national |
| 173 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $57,390 | 9% below national |
| 174 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $57,340 | 9% below national |
| 175 | Cleveland, TN | $57,290 | 9% below national |
| 176 | Bloomington, IL | $57,230 | 9% below national |
| 177 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $57,080 | 9% below national |
| 178 | Ames, IA | $57,060 | 9% below national |
| 179 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $57,060 | 9% below national |
| 180 | Billings, MT | $57,050 | 9% below national |
| 181 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $57,050 | 9% below national |
| 182 | Burlington, NC | $56,990 | 9% below national |
| 183 | Mansfield, OH | $56,990 | 9% below national |
| 184 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $56,990 | 9% below national |
| 185 | Asheville, NC | $56,760 | 10% below national |
| 186 | Savannah, GA | $56,760 | 10% below national |
| 187 | Pueblo, CO | $56,730 | 10% below national |
| 188 | Knoxville, TN | $56,720 | 10% below national |
| 189 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $56,660 | 10% below national |
| 190 | Harrisonburg, VA | $56,630 | 10% below national |
| 191 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $56,630 | 10% below national |
| 192 | Ogden, UT | $56,620 | 10% below national |
| 193 | Bangor, ME | $56,570 | 10% below national |
| 194 | Glens Falls, NY | $56,540 | 10% below national |
| 195 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $56,530 | 10% below national |
| 196 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $56,520 | 10% below national |
| 197 | Lincoln, NE | $56,510 | 10% below national |
| 198 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $56,480 | 10% below national |
| 199 | Peoria, IL | $56,450 | 10% below national |
| 200 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $56,410 | 10% below national |
| 201 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $56,270 | 11% below national |
| 202 | Eau Claire, WI | $56,230 | 11% below national |
| 203 | Reno, NV | $56,160 | 11% below national |
| 204 | Boise City, ID | $55,970 | 11% below national |
| 205 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $55,950 | 11% below national |
| 206 | Fargo, ND-MN | $55,910 | 11% below national |
| 207 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $55,880 | 11% below national |
| 208 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $55,860 | 11% below national |
| 209 | Grand Island, NE | $55,790 | 11% below national |
| 210 | Columbia, SC | $55,690 | 12% below national |
| 211 | Topeka, KS | $55,630 | 12% below national |
| 212 | Gainesville, GA | $55,610 | 12% below national |
| 213 | Lancaster, PA | $55,360 | 12% below national |
| 214 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $55,290 | 12% below national |
| 215 | Albany, OR | $55,250 | 12% below national |
| 216 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $55,250 | 12% below national |
| 217 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $55,240 | 12% below national |
| 218 | Wausau, WI | $55,230 | 12% below national |
| 219 | Springfield, IL | $55,220 | 12% below national |
| 220 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $55,110 | 12% below national |
| 221 | Ann Arbor, MI | $55,020 | 13% below national |
| 222 | York-Hanover, PA | $54,980 | 13% below national |
| 223 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $54,950 | 13% below national |
| 224 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $54,950 | 13% below national |
| 225 | Erie, PA | $54,940 | 13% below national |
| 226 | Greenville, NC | $54,860 | 13% below national |
| 227 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $54,820 | 13% below national |
| 228 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $54,820 | 13% below national |
| 229 | Wilmington, NC | $54,720 | 13% below national |
| 230 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $54,530 | 13% below national |
| 231 | Rockford, IL | $54,530 | 13% below national |
| 232 | Fond du Lac, WI | $54,460 | 14% below national |
| 233 | Reading, PA | $54,340 | 14% below national |
| 234 | Lawrence, KS | $54,290 | 14% below national |
| 235 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $54,290 | 14% below national |
| 236 | Mankato, MN | $54,150 | 14% below national |
| 237 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $54,150 | 14% below national |
| 238 | Lebanon, PA | $54,140 | 14% below national |
| 239 | Warner Robins, GA | $53,920 | 14% below national |
| 240 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $53,900 | 14% below national |
| 241 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $53,810 | 15% below national |
| 242 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $53,750 | 15% below national |
| 243 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $53,700 | 15% below national |
| 244 | Dalton, GA | $53,630 | 15% below national |
| 245 | Binghamton, NY | $53,460 | 15% below national |
| 246 | Sheboygan, WI | $53,440 | 15% below national |
| 247 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $53,310 | 15% below national |
| 248 | Lima, OH | $53,310 | 15% below national |
| 249 | Spartanburg, SC | $53,280 | 15% below national |
| 250 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $53,150 | 16% below national |
| 251 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $53,150 | 16% below national |
| 252 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $53,120 | 16% below national |
| 253 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $53,040 | 16% below national |
| 254 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53,010 | 16% below national |
| 255 | Waco, TX | $52,920 | 16% below national |
| 256 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $52,900 | 16% below national |
| 257 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $52,880 | 16% below national |
| 258 | Punta Gorda, FL | $52,580 | 16% below national |
| 259 | Wichita, KS | $52,570 | 17% below national |
| 260 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $52,500 | 17% below national |
| 261 | Birmingham, AL | $52,480 | 17% below national |
| 262 | Syracuse, NY | $52,390 | 17% below national |
| 263 | Ocala, FL | $52,370 | 17% below national |
| 264 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $52,300 | 17% below national |
| 265 | Fort Wayne, IN | $52,280 | 17% below national |
| 266 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $52,220 | 17% below national |
| 267 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $52,090 | 17% below national |
| 268 | Rocky Mount, NC | $52,070 | 17% below national |
| 269 | Springfield, OH | $51,840 | 18% below national |
| 270 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $51,840 | 18% below national |
| 271 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $51,720 | 18% below national |
| 272 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $51,710 | 18% below national |
| 273 | Williamsport, PA | $51,710 | 18% below national |
| 274 | Grand Junction, CO | $51,540 | 18% below national |
| 275 | Evansville, IN | $51,450 | 18% below national |
| 276 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $51,370 | 18% below national |
| 277 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $51,180 | 19% below national |
| 278 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $51,080 | 19% below national |
| 279 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $51,060 | 19% below national |
| 280 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $51,060 | 19% below national |
| 281 | Baton Rouge, LA | $51,020 | 19% below national |
| 282 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $50,960 | 19% below national |
| 283 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $50,920 | 19% below national |
| 284 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $50,750 | 19% below national |
| 285 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $50,640 | 20% below national |
| 286 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $50,540 | 20% below national |
| 287 | Altoona, PA | $50,530 | 20% below national |
| 288 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $50,530 | 20% below national |
| 289 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $50,380 | 20% below national |
| 290 | Toledo, OH | $50,320 | 20% below national |
| 291 | Oklahoma City, OK | $50,300 | 20% below national |
| 292 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $50,290 | 20% below national |
| 293 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $50,230 | 20% below national |
| 294 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,030 | 21% below national |
| 295 | Rapid City, SD | $49,990 | 21% below national |
| 296 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $49,990 | 21% below national |
| 297 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $49,990 | 21% below national |
| 298 | Longview, TX | $49,950 | 21% below national |
| 299 | Traverse City, MI | $49,940 | 21% below national |
| 300 | Winston-Salem, NC | $49,920 | 21% below national |
| 301 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,890 | 21% below national |
| 302 | Chambersburg, PA | $49,870 | 21% below national |
| 303 | San Angelo, TX | $49,860 | 21% below national |
| 304 | Manhattan, KS | $49,800 | 21% below national |
| 305 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,760 | 21% below national |
| 306 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $49,690 | 21% below national |
| 307 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $49,670 | 21% below national |
| 308 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $49,640 | 21% below national |
| 309 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,570 | 21% below national |
| 310 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $49,570 | 21% below national |
| 311 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,500 | 21% below national |
| 312 | Columbia, MO | $49,490 | 21% below national |
| 313 | Dover, DE | $49,490 | 21% below national |
| 314 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $49,490 | 21% below national |
| 315 | Joplin, MO-KS | $49,440 | 21% below national |
| 316 | Flint, MI | $49,410 | 22% below national |
| 317 | Abilene, TX | $49,360 | 22% below national |
| 318 | Iowa City, IA | $49,350 | 22% below national |
| 319 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $49,310 | 22% below national |
| 320 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $49,300 | 22% below national |
| 321 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,230 | 22% below national |
| 322 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,210 | 22% below national |
| 323 | El Centro, CA | $49,190 | 22% below national |
| 324 | Fayetteville, NC | $49,160 | 22% below national |
| 325 | Great Falls, MT | $49,150 | 22% below national |
| 326 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $49,070 | 22% below national |
| 327 | Lynchburg, VA | $49,020 | 22% below national |
| 328 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $48,840 | 22% below national |
| 329 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,800 | 22% below national |
| 330 | Columbus, GA-AL | $48,750 | 23% below national |
| 331 | Bloomington, IN | $48,740 | 23% below national |
| 332 | St. George, UT | $48,740 | 23% below national |
| 333 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,720 | 23% below national |
| 334 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $48,720 | 23% below national |
| 335 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,700 | 23% below national |
| 336 | Johnson City, TN | $48,690 | 23% below national |
| 337 | Dubuque, IA | $48,620 | 23% below national |
| 338 | Elizabethtown, KY | $48,540 | 23% below national |
| 339 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $48,520 | 23% below national |
| 340 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $48,500 | 23% below national |
| 341 | Sandusky, OH | $48,440 | 23% below national |
| 342 | Johnstown, PA | $48,400 | 23% below national |
| 343 | Montgomery, AL | $48,370 | 23% below national |
| 344 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $48,350 | 23% below national |
| 345 | Jefferson City, MO | $48,260 | 23% below national |
| 346 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,250 | 23% below national |
| 347 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $48,240 | 23% below national |
| 348 | Dothan, AL | $48,130 | 24% below national |
| 349 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,110 | 24% below national |
| 350 | Decatur, IL | $48,100 | 24% below national |
| 351 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $48,050 | 24% below national |
| 352 | Jackson, TN | $48,040 | 24% below national |
| 353 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $48,030 | 24% below national |
| 354 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $48,020 | 24% below national |
| 355 | El Paso, TX | $48,000 | 24% below national |
| 356 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,940 | 24% below national |
| 357 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $47,920 | 24% below national |
| 358 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $47,880 | 24% below national |
| 359 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $47,870 | 24% below national |
| 360 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $47,820 | 24% below national |
| 361 | Springfield, MO | $47,790 | 24% below national |
| 362 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $47,750 | 24% below national |
| 363 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $47,670 | 24% below national |
| 364 | Bowling Green, KY | $47,650 | 24% below national |
| 365 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,650 | 24% below national |
| 366 | Odessa, TX | $47,630 | 24% below national |
| 367 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $47,550 | 24% below national |
| 368 | Saginaw, MI | $47,480 | 25% below national |
| 369 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $47,460 | 25% below national |
| 370 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $47,410 | 25% below national |
| 371 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $47,380 | 25% below national |
| 372 | Morristown, TN | $47,340 | 25% below national |
| 373 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $47,340 | 25% below national |
| 374 | Jackson, MS | $47,310 | 25% below national |
| 375 | Lafayette, LA | $47,310 | 25% below national |
| 376 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $47,290 | 25% below national |
| 377 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $47,270 | 25% below national |
| 378 | Twin Falls, ID | $47,270 | 25% below national |
| 379 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $47,170 | 25% below national |
| 380 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,070 | 25% below national |
| 381 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $46,820 | 26% below national |
| 382 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $46,730 | 26% below national |
| 383 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $46,650 | 26% below national |
| 384 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $46,640 | 26% below national |
| 385 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $46,620 | 26% below national |
| 386 | Corpus Christi, TX | $46,590 | 26% below national |
| 387 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $46,580 | 26% below national |
| 388 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,500 | 26% below national |
| 389 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,460 | 26% below national |
| 390 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,440 | 26% below national |
| 391 | Lubbock, TX | $46,380 | 26% below national |
| 392 | Midland, MI | $46,330 | 26% below national |
| 393 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $46,240 | 27% below national |
| 394 | Amarillo, TX | $46,220 | 27% below national |
| 395 | Decatur, AL | $46,170 | 27% below national |
| 396 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $46,140 | 27% below national |
| 397 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $45,940 | 27% below national |
| 398 | Terre Haute, IN | $45,930 | 27% below national |
| 399 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,900 | 27% below national |
| 400 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $45,890 | 27% below national |
| 401 | Mobile, AL | $45,820 | 27% below national |
| 402 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $45,760 | 27% below national |
| 403 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | 27% below national |
| 404 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,740 | 27% below national |
| 405 | Muncie, IN | $45,700 | 27% below national |
| 406 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $45,690 | 27% below national |
| 407 | Lake Charles, LA | $45,610 | 28% below national |
| 408 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,610 | 28% below national |
| 409 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,480 | 28% below national |
| 410 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $45,380 | 28% below national |
| 411 | Monroe, LA | $45,340 | 28% below national |
| 412 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,320 | 28% below national |
| 413 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $45,190 | 28% below national |
| 414 | Santa Fe, NM | $45,170 | 28% below national |
| 415 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $45,150 | 28% below national |
| 416 | Owensboro, KY | $44,950 | 29% below national |
| 417 | Cheyenne, WY | $44,890 | 29% below national |
| 418 | Wichita Falls, TX | $44,870 | 29% below national |
| 419 | Tyler, TX | $44,850 | 29% below national |
| 420 | Casper, WY | $44,730 | 29% below national |
| 421 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $44,540 | 29% below national |
| 422 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $44,480 | 29% below national |
| 423 | Laredo, TX | $44,470 | 29% below national |
| 424 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $44,420 | 29% below national |
| 425 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $44,350 | 30% below national |
| 426 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $44,210 | 30% below national |
| 427 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,050 | 30% below national |
| 428 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $44,030 | 30% below national |
| 429 | Las Cruces, NM | $43,940 | 30% below national |
| 430 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $43,920 | 30% below national |
| 431 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $43,910 | 30% below national |
| 432 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $43,750 | 31% below national |
| 433 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $43,640 | 31% below national |
| 434 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $43,040 | 32% below national |
| 435 | Valdosta, GA | $42,900 | 32% below national |
| 436 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $42,860 | 32% below national |
| 437 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $42,170 | 33% below national |
| 438 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $41,980 | 33% below national |
| 439 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $41,780 | 34% below national |
| 440 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $41,450 | 34% below national |
| 441 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $40,950 | 35% below national |
| 442 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $40,880 | 35% below national |
| 443 | Morgantown, WV | $40,460 | 36% below national |
| 444 | Jonesboro, AR | $39,790 | 37% below national |
| 445 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $39,590 | 37% below national |
| 446 | Hot Springs, AR | $39,580 | 37% below national |
| 447 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $39,420 | 37% below national |
| 448 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $39,250 | 38% below national |
| 449 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $39,030 | 38% below national |
| 450 | Albany, GA | $38,870 | 38% below national |
| 451 | Hattiesburg, MS | $38,580 | 39% below national |
| 452 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $38,110 | 39% below national |
| 453 | Charleston, WV | $37,920 | 40% below national |
| 454 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $37,480 | 40% below national |
| 455 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,380 | 41% below national |
| 456 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,120 | 41% below national |
| 457 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,950 | 41% below national |
| 458 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36,850 | 41% below national |
| 459 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,390 | 42% below national |
| 460 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $35,830 | 43% below national |
| 461 | Arecibo, PR | $31,720 | 50% below national |
| 462 | Mayaguez, PR | $31,550 | 50% below national |
| 463 | Ponce, PR | $29,810 | 53% below national |
| 464 | Aguadilla, PR | $28,100 | 55% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 27 (arts design entertainment sports and media) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Graphic Designers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Graphic Designers is $62,960 ($30.27/hour). The salary range spans from $39,520 at the 10th percentile to $104,910 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Graphic Designers the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Graphic Designers at $87,920/year, which is +40% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Graphic Designers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Graphic Designers is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Graphic Designers? ▼
Graphic Designers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Graphic Designers a good career? ▼
Employment for Graphic Designers is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 20,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Graphic Designers pay vary by state? ▼
Graphic Designers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $87,920/year, while Mississippi pays the least at $45,640/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Graphic Designers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Graphic Designers is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $97,360/year. BLS reports wage data for 464 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Graphic Designers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $81,830/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $87,920/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.