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Digital media designer salary
Average digital media designer salary
$56,476
Understanding Digital Media Designer Salaries
As a Digital Media Designer, you create visually compelling content across various platforms. The average salary of $56,476 per year reflects the demand for skilled professionals in this field. Salaries can differ significantly based on geography and experience. For instance, designers in metropolitan areas often command higher wages due to increased demand.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level designers typically earn around $45,000, while those with extensive experience can make upwards of $75,000. In terms of job roles, specialized positions such as UX/UI Designers and Creative Directors tend to attract higher salaries.
Top-Paying States
States such as California, New York, and Washington are known for offering competitive salaries for Digital Media Designers. In California, for example, salaries can exceed $70,000 annually due to the concentration of tech companies and startups.
Career Growth Opportunities
As the digital landscape evolves, so do opportunities for growth. Pursuing certifications and expanding your skill set in areas like motion graphics or 3D modeling can lead to higher-paying roles and increased job security.
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Where can a Digital Media Designer earn more?
Digital media designer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level digital media designer | $35,300 | $16.96 |
| Mid-level digital media designer | $49,500 | $23.78 |
| Senior-level digital media designer | $77,100 | $37.08 |
Digital media designer salary estimates from across the web
Average digital media designer salary by state
The average digital media designer salary in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average digital media designer salary states are Louisiana, Kentucky, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for digital media designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $73,697 | $35.43 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $73,473 | $35.32 |
| 3 | Virginia | $66,895 | $32.16 |
| 4 | Maryland | $69,357 | $33.34 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $64,487 | $31.00 |
| 6 | New York | $63,822 | $30.68 |
| 7 | California | $66,521 | $31.98 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $59,492 | $28.60 |
| 9 | Oregon | $59,200 | $28.46 |
| 10 | Utah | $55,880 | $26.87 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $58,323 | $28.04 |
| 12 | Idaho | $56,164 | $27.00 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $60,422 | $29.05 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $58,027 | $27.90 |
| 15 | Alaska | $60,353 | $29.02 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $53,561 | $25.75 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $52,152 | $25.07 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $55,625 | $26.74 |
| 19 | Arizona | $54,718 | $26.31 |
| 20 | Michigan | $52,497 | $25.24 |
| 21 | Nevada | $55,346 | $26.61 |
| 22 | Colorado | $54,918 | $26.40 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $53,686 | $25.81 |
| 24 | Delaware | $51,931 | $24.97 |
| 25 | Illinois | $51,767 | $24.89 |
| 26 | Vermont | $50,519 | $24.29 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $51,731 | $24.87 |
| 28 | Texas | $51,548 | $24.78 |
| 29 | Montana | $52,526 | $25.25 |
| 30 | Georgia | $49,101 | $23.61 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| 32 | Ohio | $48,905 | $23.51 |
| 33 | Florida | $50,181 | $24.13 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $54,191 | $26.05 |
| 35 | Maine | $46,511 | $22.36 |
| 36 | Iowa | $48,144 | $23.15 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $46,143 | $22.18 |
| 38 | Indiana | $47,923 | $23.04 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $47,616 | $22.89 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $44,618 | $21.45 |
| 41 | Missouri | $47,198 | $22.69 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $44,074 | $21.19 |
| 43 | Kansas | $43,087 | $20.71 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $43,415 | $20.87 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $44,684 | $21.48 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $42,310 | $20.34 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $42,418 | $20.39 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $36,115 | $17.36 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $39,932 | $19.20 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,450 | $19.45 |
| 51 | Alabama | $36,835 | $17.71 |
Highest paying cities for digital media designers
The highest-paying cities for digital media designers are Seattle, WA, Novato, CA, and Columbia, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $73,910 | $35.53 |
| 2 | Novato, CA | $71,202 | $34.23 |
| 3 | Columbia, MD | $69,420 | $33.38 |
| 4 | Quincy, MA | $64,633 | $31.07 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $63,880 | $30.71 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,354 | $27.09 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $54,864 | $26.38 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | $52,171 | $25.08 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,728 | $24.87 |
| 10 | Arlington, TX | $51,175 | $24.60 |
| 11 | Fort Myers, FL | $50,641 | $24.35 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $49,043 | $23.58 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,578 | $22.87 |
| 14 | San Juan, PR | $44,848 | $21.56 |
Digital media designer salary details
A digital media designer's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a digital media designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $56,476 | $4,706 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying digital media designer jobs
The highest paying types of digital media designers are head designer, lead designer, and senior designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer, Marketing | $48,763 | $4,064 | $23.44 | 115,113 |
| Lead Graphic Designer | $76,009 | $6,334 | $36.54 | 46,260 |
| Web Graphic Designer | $52,574 | $4,381 | $25.28 | 51,462 |
| Motion Graphics Designer | $62,558 | $5,213 | $30.08 | 44,960 |
| Interactive Designer | $97,929 | $8,161 | $47.08 | 48,136 |
| Graphic Designer | $49,450 | $4,121 | $23.77 | 45,625 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for digital media designers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Abby Guido
Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Top companies hiring digital media designers now:
Which companies pay digital media designers the most?
Digital media designer salaries at FNB and ARA are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average digital media designer salary at companies like Global Health Strategies and VIVA USA are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FNB | $71,414 | $34.33 |
| 2 | ARA | $62,991 | $30.28 |
| 3 | Global Health Strategies | $62,043 | $29.83 |
| 4 | VIVA USA | $61,812 | $29.72 |
| 5 | Highspot | $59,937 | $28.82 |
| 6 | Parker Global Strategies | $59,426 | $28.57 |
| 7 | Invenshure | $58,980 | $28.36 |
| 8 | Endeavor | $58,612 | $28.18 |
| 9 | The University of Texas at El Paso | $57,303 | $27.55 |
| 10 | Corporate Office Properties Trust | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| 11 | Cox Automotive | $50,906 | $24.47 |
| 12 | University of Michigan | $48,587 | $23.36 |
| 13 | Florida Gulf Coast University | $45,282 | $21.77 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Digital media designer salary trends
The average digital media designer salary has risen by $9,914 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average digital media designer earned $46,562 annually, but today, they earn $56,476 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for digital media designers over the last decade.
Compare digital media designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average digital media designer salary over time
Compare digital media designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Digital media designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,500 | $27.15 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $55,100 | $26.51 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $53,300 | $25.62 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $51,500 | $24.77 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $50,400 | $24.23 | +1.6% |
Recently added digital media designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | Digital Media-Graphic Designer | Owings Mills, MD | 05/18/2025 | $58,500 |
| Sega of America | Digital Media Designer | Irvine, CA | 03/28/2025 | $75,000 |
| Ultimate Staffing | Digital Media Designer | Washington, DC | 03/28/2025 | $56,349 |
| Ultimate Staffing | Digital Media Designer | Washington, DC | 02/24/2025 | $56,349 |
| Amazon.com, Inc. | Digital Media Designer, Career Choice | Seattle, WA | 01/25/2025 | $108,400 |
| State of Michigan | Digital Media Designer | Lansing, MI | 10/07/2024 | $57,000 |
| Indian River State College | Adjunct Graphic Design and Digital Media | Fort Pierce, FL | 10/06/2024 | $46,123 |
| Indian River State College | Adjunct Graphic Design and Digital Media | Fort Pierce, FL | 09/28/2024 | $46,123 |
| Electronic Arts Inc. | Digital Media Designer | Marina del Rey, CA | 09/19/2024 | $99,000 |
| Indian River State College | Adjunct Graphic Design and Digital Media | Fort Pierce, FL | 07/30/2024 | $46,123 |
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