How much does a graphic designer make?
The median graphic designer in the United States earns $62,960 per year, about $30.27 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all graphic designers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 27-1024.
Graphic designer salary range
Pay for graphic designers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $39,520 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $104,910. The average (mean) wage of $70,560 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,520 | $19.00 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $49,040 | $23.58 | |
| Median (50th) | $62,960 | $30.27 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $81,830 | $39.34 | |
| 90th percentile | $104,910 | $50.44 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for graphic designers (SOC 27-1024), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Graphic designer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Graphic designers earn the most in District of Columbia at $87,920 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $40,350. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $87,920 | 1,150 |
| Rhode Island | $78,220 | 750 |
| New York | $77,340 | 14,530 |
| Massachusetts | $76,710 | 4,450 |
| California | $75,130 | 27,390 |
| Maryland | $75,120 | 3,050 |
| New Jersey | $73,790 | 5,670 |
| Washington | $72,710 | 3,960 |
| Connecticut | $72,700 | 1,930 |
| Virginia | $72,310 | 4,740 |
| Colorado | $66,330 | 4,200 |
| Oregon | $66,040 | 4,140 |
| Vermont | $65,690 | 410 |
| Minnesota | $63,860 | 5,570 |
| Nevada | $62,890 | 1,570 |
| Alaska | $62,570 | 180 |
| Illinois | $62,560 | 8,960 |
| Utah | $62,310 | 2,720 |
| Florida | $61,660 | 12,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,730 | 8,150 |
| New Hampshire | $60,490 | 790 |
| Georgia | $60,250 | 5,920 |
| Texas | $60,150 | 13,670 |
| Delaware | $60,130 | 360 |
| Ohio | $60,080 | 7,280 |
| Maine | $60,030 | 560 |
| Wisconsin | $59,900 | 4,130 |
| Arizona | $58,510 | 3,560 |
| North Carolina | $58,450 | 5,660 |
| Hawaii | $58,070 | 520 |
| Michigan | $57,350 | 6,070 |
| Tennessee | $57,270 | 3,880 |
| South Carolina | $57,170 | 1,930 |
| Montana | $56,890 | 610 |
| Missouri | $56,750 | 4,500 |
| New Mexico | $56,730 | 850 |
| Nebraska | $56,700 | 1,670 |
| North Dakota | $56,470 | 460 |
| Indiana | $55,480 | 3,450 |
| Kansas | $53,630 | 1,730 |
| Oklahoma | $53,630 | 2,040 |
| Kentucky | $52,960 | 2,060 |
| Alabama | $51,070 | 1,760 |
| Idaho | $50,350 | 920 |
| Iowa | $50,310 | 2,100 |
| Louisiana | $49,910 | 1,750 |
| South Dakota | $48,390 | 470 |
| Arkansas | $46,220 | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $45,640 | 830 |
| Wyoming | $45,150 | 240 |
| West Virginia | $40,350 | 520 |
State median wages for graphic designers (SOC 27-1024), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for graphic designers
The BLS projects employment of graphic designers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 1.7%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 253,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 248,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 16,000 openings a year for graphic designers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a graphic designer
The typical entry-level education for graphic designers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a graphic designer earns
Employer, market size, reputation, and whether the work is staff or freelance drive a wide pay spread. A small group of top earners pulls the high end of this field well up.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $87,920) and the lowest (West Virginia, $40,350) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 197,830 people work as graphic designers in the United States. At $62,960 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Graphic designer salary FAQ
How much does a graphic designer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a graphic designer is $30.27. The middle half of graphic designers earn between $23.58 and $39.34 per hour.
What is the highest graphic designer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of graphic designers earn more than $104,910 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a graphic designer make a year?
The median annual salary for a graphic designer is $62,960. The average (mean) wage of $70,560 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a graphic designer a well paid job?
At $62,960 a year, a graphic designer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 197,830 people work as graphic designers in the United States.
Which state pays graphic designers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for graphic designers at $87,920 a year. Rhode Island ($78,220) and New York ($77,340) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a graphic designer a good career?
Employment of graphic designers is projected to shrink 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 16,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a graphic designer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for graphic designers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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