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Junior designer salary
Average junior designer salary
$53,349
Average Junior Designer Salary
The Junior Designer position typically offers an average salary of $53,349 per year. This figure reflects the combined impact of experience, education, and geographic location on earnings. Junior Designers often work under the guidance of senior professionals, allowing them to develop their skills and advance in their careers.
Salary by State
Salary ranges can vary significantly across different states. For example, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for creative talent. In contrast, states with a lower cost of living may present more modest salary ranges.
Job Opportunities and Industries
Junior Designers find roles in various sectors such as advertising, digital media, and fashion. Positions may include Graphic Designer, UI/UX Designer, or Fashion Assistant Designer. Those looking to enhance their earning potential should consider gaining experience through internships or freelance work, which can lead to higher-paying opportunities in the future.
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Where can a Junior Designer earn more?
Junior designer salary estimates from across the web
Average junior designer salary by state
The average junior designer salary in Alaska, New Jersey, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average junior designer salary states are Oklahoma, Kansas, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for junior designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $61,729 | $29.68 |
| 2 | California | $61,965 | $29.79 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $59,376 | $28.55 |
| 5 | New York | $57,879 | $27.83 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $61,540 | $29.59 |
| 7 | Virginia | $56,614 | $27.22 |
| 8 | Michigan | $54,608 | $26.25 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $62,624 | $30.11 |
| 10 | Oregon | $54,279 | $26.10 |
| 11 | Alaska | $65,506 | $31.49 |
| 12 | Illinois | $54,131 | $26.02 |
| 13 | Colorado | $55,106 | $26.49 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $54,273 | $26.09 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $54,139 | $26.03 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $52,216 | $25.10 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $54,816 | $26.35 |
| 18 | Arizona | $53,144 | $25.55 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $51,378 | $24.70 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $50,120 | $24.10 |
| 21 | Indiana | $52,574 | $25.28 |
| 22 | Ohio | $51,129 | $24.58 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| 24 | Maryland | $52,378 | $25.18 |
| 25 | Utah | $48,628 | $23.38 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $51,008 | $24.52 |
| 27 | Delaware | $50,405 | $24.23 |
| 28 | Maine | $47,827 | $22.99 |
| 29 | Texas | $48,358 | $23.25 |
| 30 | Vermont | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| 31 | Georgia | $46,832 | $22.52 |
| 32 | Nevada | $49,208 | $23.66 |
| 33 | Montana | $49,750 | $23.92 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $53,943 | $25.93 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $46,784 | $22.49 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $47,321 | $22.75 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $46,452 | $22.33 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $46,122 | $22.17 |
| 39 | Missouri | $46,695 | $22.45 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $45,858 | $22.05 |
| 41 | Idaho | $45,553 | $21.90 |
| 42 | Iowa | $44,393 | $21.34 |
| 43 | Alabama | $43,644 | $20.98 |
| 44 | Kansas | $43,689 | $21.00 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $45,075 | $21.67 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $44,107 | $21.21 |
| 47 | Florida | $44,421 | $21.36 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $44,781 | $21.53 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $41,630 | $20.01 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $41,146 | $19.78 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $37,044 | $17.81 |
Highest paying cities for junior designers
The highest-paying cities for junior designers are Santa Rosa, CA, Seattle, WA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $63,922 | $30.73 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $61,987 | $29.80 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $61,522 | $29.58 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $59,289 | $28.50 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $57,903 | $27.84 |
| 6 | McLean, VA | $57,363 | $27.58 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $55,124 | $26.50 |
| 8 | Southfield, MI | $54,684 | $26.29 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,366 | $26.14 |
| 10 | Beaverton, OR | $54,298 | $26.10 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $54,208 | $26.06 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,237 | $25.59 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $51,932 | $24.97 |
| 14 | Windsor, CT | $50,997 | $24.52 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,989 | $23.55 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $48,275 | $23.21 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,343 | $22.76 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $46,914 | $22.55 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $44,473 | $21.38 |
Junior designer salary details
A junior designer's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a junior designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $53,349 | $4,446 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying junior designer jobs
The highest paying types of junior designers are interactive designer, visual designer, and designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer Internship | $35,800 | $2,983 | $17.21 | 93,292 |
| Graphic Designer/Production | $48,619 | $4,052 | $23.37 | 95,831 |
| Graphic Designer, Marketing | $48,763 | $4,064 | $23.44 | 115,113 |
| Design Internship | $45,791 | $3,816 | $22.01 | 97,018 |
| Web Graphic Designer | $52,574 | $4,381 | $25.28 | 51,462 |
| Architectural Designer | $59,122 | $4,927 | $28.42 | 54,358 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for junior designers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Abby Guido
Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Top companies hiring junior designers now:
Which companies pay junior designers the most?
Junior designer salaries at Nike and Shutterstock are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average junior designer salary at companies like Stitch Fix and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nike | $59,986 | $28.84 |
| 2 | Shutterstock | $59,677 | $28.69 |
| 3 | Stitch Fix | $58,783 | $28.26 |
| 4 | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill | $58,709 | $28.23 |
| 5 | STV Group | $58,607 | $28.18 |
| 6 | Johnson Fain | $58,597 | $28.17 |
| 7 | FiscalNote | $58,327 | $28.04 |
| 8 | LEO A DALY | $58,257 | $28.01 |
| 9 | Payette | $58,053 | $27.91 |
| 10 | Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo | $57,411 | $27.60 |
| 11 | HGA | $57,338 | $27.57 |
| 12 | IA Interior Architects | $57,313 | $27.55 |
| 13 | RAPP | $57,167 | $27.48 |
| 14 | Ketchum | $57,113 | $27.46 |
| 15 | Richmond American Homes | $57,058 | $27.43 |
| 16 | WIX Filters | $57,057 | $27.43 |
| 17 | Fluor Corporation | $56,961 | $27.39 |
| 18 | NBCUniversal | $56,949 | $27.38 |
| 19 | MVE Architects | $56,941 | $27.38 |
| 20 | RPA | $56,855 | $27.33 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Junior Designer salary by industry
The average junior designer salary varies across industries:
- The average junior designer salary in the technology industry is $55,726, the highest of any industry.
- The average junior designer salary in the finance industry is $55,415.
- Junior designers in the media industry earn an average salary of $53,655, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for junior designers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $55,726 | $26.79 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $55,415 | $26.64 |
| 3 | Retail | $55,157 | $26.52 |
| 4 | Professional | $55,116 | $26.50 |
| 5 | Start-up | $54,277 | $26.09 |
| 6 | Media | $53,655 | $25.80 |
High paying junior designer jobs
Junior designer salary trends
The average junior designer salary has risen by $9,364 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average junior designer earned $43,985 annually, but today, they earn $53,349 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for junior designers over the last decade.
Compare junior designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average junior designer salary over time
Compare junior designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Junior designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,300 | $25.65 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $52,100 | $25.04 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $50,300 | $24.20 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $48,700 | $23.40 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $47,600 | $22.89 | +1.6% |
Recently added junior designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M Booth | JR. Designer | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $45,000 |
| Penguin Random House | Junior Designer, Viking Penguin Books | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $56,000 |
| Precision | Junior Designer | New York, NY | 06/20/2025 | $58,500 |
| Book of The Month | Junior Designer | New York, NY | 06/14/2025 | $65,000 |
| Nbcuniversal | JR. Designer | New York, NY | 06/13/2025 | $50,000 |
| Builders Warehouse | Component Design Junior | Aurora, CO | 06/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | Junior Designer Eyewear | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $43,827 |
| Builders Corp | Component Design Junior | Aurora, CO | 06/09/2025 | $41,740 |
| Rexford Industrial | JR. Designer, Marketing | Los Angeles, CA | 06/09/2025 | $60,210 |
| Hypebeast | Junior Creative | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $50,000 |
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