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Graphic Designer Salary by State (2026)
How much does a Graphic Designer make? The median Graphic Designer salary in the US is about $64,771 per year (roughly $31.00 an hour), across 197,860 jobs (Graphic Designers). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $40,350 in West Virginia to $87,920 in District of Columbia. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Graphic Designer salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| 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 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Graphic Designer make?
- A Graphic Designer makes a median of about $64,771 per year in the US (roughly $31.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $40,350 in West Virginia to $87,920 in District of Columbia depending on the state.
- What is the average Graphic Designer salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Graphic Designer salary in the US is about $64,771 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 197,860 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Graphic Designers the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median Graphic Designer salary at $87,920 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Graphic Designers the least?
- West Virginia has the lowest median at $40,350 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Graphic Designers, code 27-1024). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.