Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Lead graphic designer salary
Average lead graphic designer salary
$76,009
Understanding the Lead Graphic Designer Salary
The average salary for a Lead Graphic Designer is approximately $76,009 per year, translating to about $37 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and specific industry demands. For instance, states like California and New York often feature higher salaries due to the concentration of creative industries and higher living costs.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions may start around $48,000, while experienced designers with over ten years in the field can earn upwards of $100,000. This growth reflects the increasing responsibilities and skills developed over time.
Job Opportunities
Lead Graphic Designers can find roles in various sectors, including advertising, marketing, and technology. Companies are seeking creative professionals who can manage design projects effectively and lead teams. Exploring job boards like Zippia can help candidates find opportunities that match their skills and salary expectations.
Let Zippia find your next lead graphic designer job
Let Zippia find your next lead graphic designer job
Where can a Lead Graphic Designer earn more?
Lead graphic designer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level lead graphic designer | $47,500 | $22.83 |
| Mid-level lead graphic designer | $66,600 | $32.01 |
| Senior-level lead graphic designer | $104,000 | $49.90 |
Lead graphic designer salary estimates from across the web
Average lead graphic designer salary by state
The highest-paying states for lead graphic designers are California, Hawaii, and New York. The lowest average lead graphic designer salary states are Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for lead graphic designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $92,671 | $44.55 |
| 2 | New York | $85,114 | $40.92 |
| 3 | Washington | $81,325 | $39.10 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $76,286 | $36.68 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $77,861 | $37.43 |
| 6 | Nevada | $64,453 | $30.99 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $75,337 | $36.22 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $72,079 | $34.65 |
| 9 | Virginia | $69,246 | $33.29 |
| 10 | Alaska | $63,949 | $30.74 |
| 11 | Michigan | $65,073 | $31.29 |
| 12 | Oregon | $64,896 | $31.20 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $87,145 | $41.90 |
| 14 | Maryland | $69,201 | $33.27 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $71,192 | $34.23 |
| 16 | Delaware | $67,748 | $32.57 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $61,495 | $29.56 |
| 18 | Ohio | $59,430 | $28.57 |
| 19 | Arizona | $62,213 | $29.91 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $62,019 | $29.82 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $63,154 | $30.36 |
| 22 | Illinois | $55,241 | $26.56 |
| 23 | Idaho | $48,032 | $23.09 |
| 24 | Utah | $50,187 | $24.13 |
| 25 | Montana | $46,777 | $22.49 |
| 26 | Maine | $53,475 | $25.71 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $45,643 | $21.94 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $51,229 | $24.63 |
| 29 | Colorado | $51,553 | $24.79 |
| 30 | Indiana | $55,191 | $26.53 |
| 31 | Vermont | $53,109 | $25.53 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $51,032 | $24.53 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $52,921 | $25.44 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $46,211 | $22.22 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $42,045 | $20.21 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $40,357 | $19.40 |
| 37 | Texas | $43,993 | $21.15 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $47,244 | $22.71 |
| 39 | Kansas | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $38,923 | $18.71 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $45,762 | $22.00 |
| 42 | Missouri | $44,867 | $21.57 |
| 43 | Georgia | $38,753 | $18.63 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $34,587 | $16.63 |
| 45 | Iowa | $42,731 | $20.54 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| 47 | Florida | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| 48 | Alabama | $37,231 | $17.90 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $38,472 | $18.50 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $37,091 | $17.83 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $34,823 | $16.74 |
Highest paying cities for lead graphic designers
The highest-paying cities for lead graphic designers are San Francisco, CA, Urban Honolulu, HI, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $107,806 | $51.83 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $92,130 | $44.29 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $85,725 | $41.21 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $82,307 | $39.57 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $77,834 | $37.42 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $76,250 | $36.66 |
| 7 | McLean, VA | $74,236 | $35.69 |
| 8 | Harrisburg, PA | $71,890 | $34.56 |
| 9 | Jersey City, NJ | $71,159 | $34.21 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $69,765 | $33.54 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $65,688 | $31.58 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $63,615 | $30.58 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $63,064 | $30.32 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,344 | $29.97 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $55,995 | $26.92 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $51,559 | $24.79 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $51,403 | $24.71 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,165 | $24.60 |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $44,509 | $21.40 |
Lead graphic designer salary details
A lead graphic designer's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $131,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a lead graphic designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $131,000 | $10,917 | $63 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| Average | $76,009 | $6,334 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying lead graphic designer jobs
The highest paying types of lead graphic designers are head designer, lead designer, and senior designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Artist | $54,900 | $4,575 | $26.39 | 8,752 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| Visual Designer | $86,495 | $7,208 | $41.58 | 46,815 |
| Web Designer | $63,842 | $5,320 | $30.69 | 50,899 |
| Freelance Designer | $57,260 | $4,772 | $27.53 | 45,914 |
| Interactive Designer | $97,929 | $8,161 | $47.08 | 48,136 |
Top companies hiring lead graphic designers now:
Which companies pay lead graphic designers the most?
Lead graphic designer salaries at Netflix and The Walt Disney Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lead graphic designer salary at companies like Google and Intel are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netflix | $181,380 | $87.20 |
| 2 | The Walt Disney Company | $162,643 | $78.19 |
| 3 | $139,837 | $67.23 | |
| 4 | Intel | $108,447 | $52.14 |
| 5 | Hearsay Systems | $108,280 | $52.06 |
| 6 | Electronic Arts | $105,730 | $50.83 |
| 7 | Rocket Lawyer | $98,899 | $47.55 |
| 8 | Medical Billing | $93,624 | $45.01 |
| 9 | Stryker | $92,392 | $44.42 |
| 10 | Wpp Us Holdings Inc | $90,737 | $43.62 |
| 11 | method | $84,754 | $40.75 |
| 12 | Infosys Public Service | $82,781 | $39.80 |
| 13 | MITRE | $80,401 | $38.65 |
| 14 | Wsp USA Buildings Inc. | $74,419 | $35.78 |
| 15 | Deloitte | $74,276 | $35.71 |
| 16 | National Renewable Energy Laboratory | $72,424 | $34.82 |
| 17 | Texas Medical Center | $70,408 | $33.85 |
| 18 | Keep Holdings | $70,051 | $33.68 |
| 19 | BELOIT HOUSING AUTHORITY | $69,903 | $33.61 |
| 20 | CoStar Group | $67,528 | $32.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Lead Graphic Designer salary by industry
The average lead graphic designer salary varies across industries:
- The average lead graphic designer salary in the technology industry is $85,443, the highest of any industry.
- The average lead graphic designer salary in the finance industry is $76,573.
- Lead graphic designers in the real estate industry earn an average salary of $48,077, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for lead graphic designers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $85,443 | $41.08 |
| 2 | Professional | $76,573 | $36.81 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $73,570 | $35.37 |
| 4 | Media | $69,956 | $33.63 |
| 5 | Retail | $58,913 | $28.32 |
| 6 | Real Estate | $48,077 | $23.11 |
High paying lead graphic designer jobs
Lead graphic designer salary trends
The average lead graphic designer salary has risen by $13,342 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lead graphic designer earned $62,667 annually, but today, they earn $76,009 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for lead graphic designers over the last decade.
Compare lead graphic designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average lead graphic designer salary over time
Compare lead graphic designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Lead graphic designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $76,000 | $36.54 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $74,200 | $35.67 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $71,700 | $34.48 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $69,300 | $33.34 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $67,800 | $32.61 | +1.6% |
Recently added lead graphic designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Home Star | Lead Graphic Designer | Elmhurst, IL | 06/25/2025 | $50,000 |
| Rivian | Lead Graphic Designer, Visual Identity | El Segundo, CA | 06/14/2025 | $112,100 |
| Booster | Lead Graphic Designer, Gear | Peachtree City, GA | 05/29/2025 | $42,000 |
| Boosterthon | Lead Graphic Designer, Gear | Alpharetta, GA | 05/25/2025 | $42,000 |
| Teamworks | Lead Graphic Designer, Gear | Alpharetta, GA | 05/23/2025 | $42,000 |
| Bonterra Tech | Lead Designer, Video & Motion Graphics | Nome, TX | 05/22/2025 | $85,000 |
| Boosterthon | Lead Graphic Designer, Gear | Alpharetta, GA | 04/28/2025 | $42,000 |
| Booster | Lead Graphic Designer, Gear | Peachtree City, GA | 04/24/2025 | $42,000 |
| Teamworks | Lead Graphic Designer, Gear | Alpharetta, GA | 04/23/2025 | $42,000 |
| Associated Students | Lead Graphic Designer | San Luis Obispo, CA | 03/26/2025 | $37,566 |
Lead graphic designer salary FAQs
Search for lead graphic designer jobs