Creative68% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

Graphic Designer Salary
by City (2026)

Create visual concepts using design software to communicate ideas through images and layouts. National median: $58K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$58K

Top 10% earn

$102K

Entry level

$42K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

Graphic Designer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$63K	$87K	$117K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$60K	$82K	$111K	210	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$59K	$81K	$109K	163	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$58K	$80K	$108K	185	9.3%
New York City, NY	$57K	$79K	$106K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$57K	$78K	$105K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$57K	$78K	$105K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$55K	$76K	$102K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$54K	$75K	$101K	172	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$53K	$73K	$98K	155	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$53K	$73K	$98K	165	6.85%
Washington, DC	$53K	$73K	$98K	152	8.5%
Jersey City, NJ	$53K	$73K	$98K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$53K	$73K	$98K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$52K	$72K	$97K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$51K	$71K	$96K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$50K	$70K	$94K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$50K	$70K	$94K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$50K	$70K	$94K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$51K	$70K	$95K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$50K	$69K	$93K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$50K	$68K	$92K	148	9.3%
Boston, MA	$50K	$68K	$92K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$50K	$68K	$92K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$49K	$68K	$91K	145	5.75%
Portland, OR	$50K	$68K	$92K	130	9.9%
Rockville, MD	$50K	$68K	$92K	148	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$49K	$68K	$91K	145	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$48K	$66K	$88K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$48K	$66K	$89K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$48K	$66K	$88K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$48K	$66K	$88K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$47K	$65K	$87K	128	9.3%
Miami, FL	$46K	$64K	$86K	123	None ✓
Denver, CO	$46K	$64K	$86K	118	4.55%
Honolulu, HI	$46K	$64K	$86K	192	11%
Austin, TX	$45K	$63K	$84K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$45K	$63K	$84K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$45K	$63K	$84K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$45K	$63K	$84K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$45K	$63K	$84K	110	3.07%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$44K	$61K	$82K	118	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$44K	$61K	$82K	128	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$44K	$61K	$82K	99	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$44K	$61K	$82K	102	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$44K	$61K	$82K	106	6.8%
Baltimore, MD	$44K	$61K	$82K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$44K	$61K	$83K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$44K	$61K	$82K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$44K	$61K	$82K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$43K	$60K	$80K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$43K	$60K	$80K	115	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$43K	$60K	$80K	115	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	5%
Ann Arbor, MI	$43K	$60K	$80K	115	4.25%
Gresham, OR	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$43K	$60K	$80K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$43K	$60K	$80K	115	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	None ✓
Concord, NH	$43K	$60K	$80K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$44K	$60K	$81K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$43K	$60K	$80K	115	5.99%
Dallas, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	105	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$43K	$59K	$79K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$43K	$59K	$80K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$43K	$59K	$79K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$43K	$59K	$79K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$43K	$59K	$80K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$43K	$59K	$80K	105	4.85%
Anchorage, AK	$43K	$59K	$80K	128	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$42K	$58K	$77K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$42K	$58K	$78K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$42K	$58K	$77K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$42K	$58K	$77K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$42K	$58K	$77K	108	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$42K	$58K	$78K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$42K	$58K	$78K	110	9.9%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$58K	$78K	102	None ✓
Boise, ID	$42K	$58K	$77K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$42K	$58K	$77K	108	6.6%
McKinney, TX	$41K	$57K	$76K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$41K	$57K	$76K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$41K	$57K	$76K	100	4.75%
Salem, OR	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	None ✓
Provo, UT	$41K	$57K	$76K	100	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$40K	$56K	$75K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$40K	$56K	$75K	97	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$41K	$56K	$75K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$40K	$56K	$75K	108	None ✓
Charleston, SC	$40K	$56K	$75K	105	6.5%
Missoula, MT	$41K	$56K	$75K	102	6.75%
Houston, TX	$40K	$55K	$74K	91	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$40K	$55K	$74K	94	None ✓
Denton, TX	$40K	$55K	$75K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$40K	$55K	$75K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$40K	$55K	$75K	100	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$39K	$55K	$73K	98	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$40K	$55K	$75K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$39K	$55K	$73K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$39K	$55K	$73K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$40K	$55K	$74K	90	3.07%
Madison, WI	$40K	$55K	$74K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$40K	$55K	$75K	100	6.8%
North Las Vegas, NV	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$40K	$55K	$75K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$40K	$55K	$75K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$40K	$55K	$74K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$40K	$55K	$75K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$39K	$54K	$73K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$39K	$54K	$73K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$39K	$54K	$73K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$39K	$54K	$73K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$39K	$54K	$73K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$39K	$54K	$73K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$39K	$54K	$73K	95	6.5%
Garland, TX	$39K	$53K	$72K	91	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$38K	$53K	$71K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$39K	$53K	$72K	93	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$38K	$53K	$71K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$38K	$53K	$71K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$39K	$53K	$72K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$39K	$53K	$72K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$39K	$53K	$72K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$38K	$53K	$71K	90	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$39K	$53K	$72K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$38K	$53K	$71K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	6%
Cheyenne, WY	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$38K	$53K	$71K	90	2.5%
San Antonio, TX	$38K	$52K	$70K	87	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$38K	$52K	$70K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$38K	$52K	$70K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$38K	$52K	$70K	82	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$38K	$52K	$70K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$38K	$52K	$70K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$38K	$52K	$70K	88	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	5.75%
Savannah, GA	$37K	$51K	$69K	92	5.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	None ✓
Warren, MI	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	5.3%
South Bend, IN	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	4.75%
Lafayette, LA	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$37K	$51K	$68K	82	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$37K	$51K	$69K	85	4.9%
Killeen, TX	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$36K	$50K	$67K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$36K	$50K	$67K	95	None ✓
Macon, GA	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$36K	$50K	$67K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$36K	$50K	$67K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$36K	$50K	$67K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$36K	$50K	$67K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$36K	$50K	$67K	78	6%
Des Moines, IA	$36K	$50K	$67K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$36K	$50K	$67K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$36K	$50K	$67K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$36K	$50K	$67K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$36K	$50K	$67K	78	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$36K	$49K	$66K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$35K	$49K	$66K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$36K	$49K	$66K	90	2.5%
Memphis, TN	$36K	$49K	$66K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$35K	$49K	$66K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$35K	$49K	$66K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$35K	$49K	$66K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$35K	$49K	$66K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$35K	$49K	$66K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$36K	$49K	$66K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$35K	$49K	$66K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$35K	$49K	$66K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$34K	$48K	$64K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$34K	$46K	$62K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$34K	$46K	$62K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$32K	$44K	$59K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $58K Graphic Designer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Graphic Designer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Graphic Designer is $58,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $42,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $78,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Graphic Designers nationally earn $102,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Graphic Design or Fine Arts. This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Graphic Designer compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Graphic Designer salary FAQ

How much does a Graphic Designer make?

The median Graphic Designer salary in the US is $58,000 per year — about $28/hour. Most earn between $42,000 (25th percentile) and $78,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Graphic Designer?

Entry-level Graphic Designer positions typically start around $42,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Graphic Designers earn?

The top 10% of Graphic Designers earn $102,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Graphic Designers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Graphic Designer salary at $87K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Graphic Designer salaries going up?

Yes — Graphic Designer pay is growing about 3% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Graphic Designer Salaryby City (2026)