Graphic Designers Salary 2025: $63,888 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$63,888 per year is the national median annual wage for graphic designers (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $31/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $59,870 to $164,520. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 27-1024.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $63,888
- Median hourly wage
- $31/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $74,559
- Total US employment
- 130,670
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($97,360)
- BLS SOC code
- 27-1024
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Graphic Designer (SOC 27-1024) is a mid-paying occupation, with a national median wage of $63,888. BLS OEWS reports 130,670 workers in this role nationally.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 69 cities reporting data, median Graphic Designer wages range from $46,620 to $97,360 — roughly 109% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Graphic Designer is in the {{category}} category. BLS OEWS captures base wage but not bonuses, equity compensation, or commissions; total compensation for many roles runs meaningfully above the reported wage.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Graphic Designers salaries range from $46,620 to $97,360 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Graphic Designers Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $59,870 | $74,866 | $97,360 | $130,940 | $164,520 | $49,724 | 1,280 |
| San Francisco, CA | $54,470 | $69,502 | $92,050 | $117,255 | $142,460 | $51,253 | 3,870 |
| Washington, DC | $48,580 | $63,316 | $85,420 | $108,615 | $131,810 | $55,903 | 4,420 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $48,670 | $61,922 | $81,800 | $94,385 | $106,970 | $59,491 | 650 |
| New York, NY | $47,490 | $60,206 | $79,280 | $105,900 | $132,520 | $42,350 | 15,160 |
| Boston, MA | $51,440 | $62,172 | $78,270 | $97,135 | $116,000 | $51,460 | 3,560 |
| Seattle, WA | $51,660 | $61,684 | $76,720 | $100,970 | $125,220 | $51,352 | 2,710 |
| Baltimore, MD | $45,990 | $57,910 | $75,790 | $91,455 | $107,120 | $66,366 | 1,350 |
| Portland, OR | $47,890 | $58,994 | $75,650 | $123,165 | $170,680 | $58,148 | 3,090 |
| Sacramento, CA | $46,870 | $57,994 | $74,680 | $96,275 | $117,870 | $59,888 | 920 |
| Denver, CO | $47,990 | $57,794 | $72,500 | $98,200 | $123,900 | $64,273 | 2,590 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $45,500 | $56,260 | $72,400 | $97,995 | $123,590 | $43,614 | 13,810 |
| Hartford, CT | $47,180 | $56,656 | $70,870 | $90,435 | $110,000 | $62,940 | 500 |
| Providence, RI | $47,180 | $56,488 | $70,450 | $89,015 | $107,580 | $59,003 | 970 |
| Chicago, IL | $43,750 | $52,846 | $66,490 | $83,555 | $100,620 | $61,966 | 6,590 |
| Richmond, VA | $39,220 | $50,072 | $66,350 | $86,245 | $106,140 | $64,985 | 760 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $41,540 | $51,284 | $65,900 | $85,855 | $105,810 | $53,840 | 1,370 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $46,900 | $54,384 | $65,610 | $83,750 | $101,890 | $61,780 | 3,690 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $45,120 | $53,252 | $65,450 | $82,125 | $98,800 | $64,546 | 1,380 |
| Austin, TX | $40,690 | $50,438 | $65,060 | $83,375 | $101,690 | $63,165 | 1,880 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $39,470 | $49,706 | $65,060 | $77,710 | $90,360 | $59,688 | 1,210 |
| Columbus, OH | $42,430 | $51,058 | $64,000 | $83,355 | $102,710 | $68,743 | 1,470 |
| Madison, WI | $45,190 | $52,702 | $63,970 | $79,350 | $94,730 | $61,628 | 700 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $38,980 | $48,912 | $63,810 | $69,745 | $75,680 | $67,883 | 480 |
| Dallas, TX | $38,960 | $48,888 | $63,780 | $79,145 | $94,510 | $61,268 | 4,790 |
| Rochester, NY | $42,090 | $50,666 | $63,530 | $83,485 | $103,440 | $68,385 | 650 |
| Anchorage, AK | $40,320 | $49,492 | $63,250 | $84,205 | $105,160 | $49,803 | 130 |
| Albany, NY | $44,340 | $51,884 | $63,200 | $81,830 | $100,460 | $62,761 | 450 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $44,610 | $52,002 | $63,090 | $82,615 | $102,140 | $53,285 | 3,360 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $41,870 | $50,358 | $63,090 | $81,605 | $100,120 | $66,341 | 1,010 |
| Tampa, FL | $38,280 | $48,128 | $62,900 | $78,830 | $94,760 | $63,153 | 1,870 |
| Atlanta, GA | $36,860 | $47,188 | $62,680 | $82,890 | $103,100 | $63,185 | 4,060 |
| Orlando, FL | $43,140 | $50,828 | $62,360 | $81,170 | $99,980 | $60,485 | 1,980 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $40,170 | $49,006 | $62,260 | $81,430 | $100,600 | $68,268 | 1,730 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $40,690 | $49,202 | $61,970 | $85,265 | $108,560 | $61,600 | 160 |
| Miami, FL | $44,370 | $51,370 | $61,870 | $83,905 | $105,940 | $50,260 | 3,950 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $44,160 | $51,208 | $61,780 | $74,525 | $87,270 | $63,429 | 1,200 |
| Raleigh, NC | $39,010 | $48,086 | $61,700 | $79,065 | $96,430 | $61,824 | 1,040 |
| St. Louis, MO | $39,930 | $48,358 | $61,000 | $74,870 | $88,740 | $67,778 | 2,010 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $44,480 | $51,004 | $60,790 | $82,030 | $103,270 | $58,172 | 400 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $39,450 | $47,878 | $60,520 | $87,665 | $114,810 | $67,170 | 1,530 |
| Nashville, TN | $43,200 | $50,068 | $60,370 | $78,125 | $95,880 | $60,189 | 1,590 |
| Detroit, MI | $44,610 | $50,850 | $60,210 | $75,800 | $91,390 | $63,312 | 2,710 |
| Buffalo, NY | $40,280 | $48,168 | $60,000 | $78,560 | $97,120 | $64,865 | 540 |
| Kansas City, MO | $41,100 | $48,656 | $59,990 | $78,640 | $97,290 | $62,883 | 1,720 |
| Charlotte, NC | $39,380 | $47,552 | $59,810 | $77,595 | $95,380 | $61,851 | 1,640 |
| San Antonio, TX | $37,180 | $46,192 | $59,710 | $77,695 | $95,680 | $65,257 | 970 |
| Tulsa, OK | $36,770 | $45,910 | $59,620 | $72,720 | $85,820 | $68,687 | 560 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $45,760 | $51,092 | $59,090 | $74,240 | $89,390 | $58,679 | 2,810 |
| Memphis, TN | $37,820 | $46,292 | $59,000 | $79,995 | $100,990 | $70,238 | 590 |
| Lexington, KY | $39,140 | $47,036 | $58,880 | $73,645 | $88,410 | $64,491 | 380 |
| Greenville, SC | $39,140 | $46,884 | $58,500 | $74,085 | $89,670 | $64,928 | 490 |
| Houston, TX | $34,270 | $43,922 | $58,400 | $74,495 | $90,590 | $60,518 | 2,770 |
| Fresno, CA | $40,230 | $47,450 | $58,280 | $77,795 | $97,310 | $55,242 | 250 |
| Omaha, NE | $36,100 | $44,868 | $58,020 | $68,570 | $79,120 | $63,203 | 1,020 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $40,970 | $47,714 | $57,830 | $72,255 | $86,680 | $62,654 | 1,200 |
| Tucson, AZ | $38,670 | $46,286 | $57,710 | $75,395 | $93,080 | $60,493 | 380 |
| Louisville, KY | $32,620 | $42,508 | $57,340 | $73,080 | $88,820 | $63,570 | 820 |
| Knoxville, TN | $37,150 | $44,978 | $56,720 | $71,320 | $85,920 | $62,813 | 470 |
| Spokane, WA | $44,070 | $49,054 | $56,530 | $73,215 | $89,900 | $58,039 | 270 |
| Des Moines, IA | $37,570 | $45,150 | $56,520 | $68,080 | $79,640 | $60,579 | 740 |
| Reno, NV | $40,530 | $46,782 | $56,160 | $69,475 | $82,790 | $52,732 | 270 |
| Boise, ID | $37,650 | $44,978 | $55,970 | $71,595 | $87,220 | $54,819 | 440 |
| Greensboro, NC | $38,580 | $45,244 | $55,240 | $73,595 | $91,950 | $60,504 | 470 |
| Wichita, KS | $36,670 | $43,030 | $52,570 | $66,280 | $79,990 | $62,583 | 300 |
| Birmingham, AL | $35,000 | $41,992 | $52,480 | $72,995 | $93,510 | $58,053 | 530 |
| New Orleans, LA | $37,460 | $43,160 | $51,710 | $69,780 | $87,850 | $53,921 | 560 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $27,310 | $36,506 | $50,300 | $64,795 | $79,290 | $58,150 | 1,080 |
| Little Rock, AR | $34,790 | $39,522 | $46,620 | $59,805 | $72,990 | $52,857 | 370 |
Is your Graphic Designer salary fair?
Enter your salary to see exactly where you fall in the distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Graphic Designer is $63,888 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $74,559. Salaries range from $46,620 to $97,360 depending on city and cost of living.
Graphic Designer salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $63,888, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 130,670 Graphic Designer positions in the US across 69 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Graphic Designer positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.