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Graphic art designer salary
Average graphic art designer salary
$42,598
Understanding Graphic Art Designer Salaries
The average salary for a Graphic Art Designer in the United States is approximately $42,598 annually, translating to about $20 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and specific industries. For instance, designers with more experience or those working in high-demand markets can command higher wages.
Average Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level Graphic Art Designers typically start around $30,000 per year, while those with 5-10 years of experience can earn upwards of $50,000. Senior designers and those in managerial positions may see salaries exceeding $70,000, especially in metropolitan areas.
Highest Paying States and Cities
Graphic Art Designers in states like California and New York often report higher salaries due to the demand for creative talent in these regions. Cities such as San Francisco and New York City are known for offering some of the highest compensation rates in the industry.
Career Opportunities
For aspiring Graphic Art Designers, the potential for career advancement is significant. With the right skills and portfolio, you can explore opportunities across various sectors, including advertising, digital media, and product design, enhancing both your experience and salary prospects.
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Where can a Graphic Art Designer earn more?
Graphic art designer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level graphic art designer | $26,600 | $12.80 |
| Mid-level graphic art designer | $37,300 | $17.94 |
| Senior-level graphic art designer | $58,200 | $27.97 |
Average graphic art designer salary by state
The highest-paying states for graphic art designers are California, New York, and Maryland. The lowest average graphic art designer salary states are Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Vermont.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for graphic art designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $63,530 | $30.54 |
| 2 | New York | $57,835 | $27.81 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $59,321 | $28.52 |
| 4 | Virginia | $54,722 | $26.31 |
| 5 | Washington | $52,322 | $25.15 |
| 6 | Maryland | $55,746 | $26.80 |
| 7 | Oregon | $43,443 | $20.89 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $45,523 | $21.89 |
| 9 | Arizona | $47,575 | $22.87 |
| 10 | Nevada | $46,993 | $22.59 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $46,842 | $22.52 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $41,581 | $19.99 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $40,395 | $19.42 |
| 14 | Utah | $38,983 | $18.74 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $41,708 | $20.05 |
| 16 | Texas | $41,887 | $20.14 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $36,942 | $17.76 |
| 18 | Georgia | $38,416 | $18.47 |
| 19 | Michigan | $36,618 | $17.60 |
| 20 | Colorado | $38,895 | $18.70 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $42,577 | $20.47 |
| 22 | Delaware | $42,029 | $20.21 |
| 23 | Illinois | $36,984 | $17.78 |
| 24 | Idaho | $38,829 | $18.67 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $37,986 | $18.26 |
| 26 | Ohio | $35,991 | $17.30 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $35,455 | $17.05 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $35,058 | $16.85 |
| 29 | Iowa | $34,698 | $16.68 |
| 30 | Missouri | $35,399 | $17.02 |
| 31 | Indiana | $35,198 | $16.92 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $35,297 | $16.97 |
| 33 | Florida | $35,024 | $16.84 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $32,937 | $15.84 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $33,757 | $16.23 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $32,262 | $15.51 |
| 37 | Alaska | $37,065 | $17.82 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $41,982 | $20.18 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $34,196 | $16.44 |
| 40 | Montana | $34,299 | $16.49 |
| 41 | Kansas | $32,170 | $15.47 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $33,631 | $16.17 |
| 43 | Vermont | $30,264 | $14.55 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $32,159 | $15.46 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $33,903 | $16.30 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $32,127 | $15.45 |
| 47 | Maine | $27,529 | $13.24 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $31,998 | $15.38 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $30,995 | $14.90 |
| 50 | Alabama | $29,027 | $13.96 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $25,211 | $12.12 |
Highest paying cities for graphic art designers
The highest-paying cities for graphic art designers are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Frederick, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $67,723 | $32.56 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $58,635 | $28.19 |
| 3 | Frederick, MD | $54,946 | $26.42 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $38,742 | $18.63 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $38,556 | $18.54 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $37,088 | $17.83 |
| 8 | Lansing, MI | $36,175 | $17.39 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $35,233 | $16.94 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $35,102 | $16.88 |
Graphic art designer salary details
A graphic art designer's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a graphic art designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $42,598 | $3,550 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying graphic art designer jobs
The highest paying types of graphic art designers are lead designer, interactive designer, and visual designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web Designer | $63,842 | $5,320 | $30.69 | 50,899 |
| Visual Designer | $86,495 | $7,208 | $41.58 | 46,815 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| Interactive Designer | $97,929 | $8,161 | $47.08 | 48,136 |
| Lead Designer | $110,001 | $9,167 | $52.89 | 45,423 |
| Freelance Designer | $57,260 | $4,772 | $27.53 | 45,914 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for graphic art designers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Abby Guido
Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Top companies hiring graphic art designers now:
Which companies pay graphic art designers the most?
Graphic art designer salaries at Meta and University of Maryland, Baltimore are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average graphic art designer salary at companies like Chapman University and NFHS Network are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $155,061 | $74.55 |
| 2 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $100,776 | $48.45 |
| 3 | Chapman University | $87,053 | $41.85 |
| 4 | NFHS Network | $56,039 | $26.94 |
| 5 | Johnson Brothers | $52,051 | $25.02 |
| 6 | Proviso Township Schools | $49,105 | $23.61 |
| 7 | State Bar of Michigan | $47,489 | $22.83 |
| 8 | Sul Ross State University | $31,084 | $14.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Graphic Art Designer salary by industry
The average graphic art designer salary varies across industries:
- The average graphic art designer salary in the hospitality industry is $69,509, the highest of any industry.
- The average graphic art designer salary in the finance industry is $64,663.
- Graphic art designers in the start-up industry earn an average salary of $56,178, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for graphic art designers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $69,509 | $33.42 |
| 2 | Technology | $64,663 | $31.09 |
| 3 | Education | $58,417 | $28.09 |
| 4 | Professional | $57,332 | $27.56 |
| 5 | Media | $57,053 | $27.43 |
| 6 | Start-up | $56,178 | $27.01 |
High paying graphic art designer jobs
Graphic art designer salary trends
The average graphic art designer salary has risen by $7,478 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average graphic art designer earned $35,120 annually, but today, they earn $42,598 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for graphic art designers over the last decade.
Compare graphic art designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average graphic art designer salary over time
Compare graphic art designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Graphic art designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $42,600 | $20.48 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $41,600 | $19.99 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $40,200 | $19.32 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $38,900 | $18.68 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $38,000 | $18.28 | +1.6% |
Recently added graphic art designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland | Graphics Art Designer | Maryland | 06/15/2025 | $54,000 |
| Dartmouth College | Exhibits and Graphic Arts Designer | Hanover, NH | 02/25/2025 | $56,579 |
| V & J Holding Companies | Graphic Arts Designer | Milwaukee, WI | 02/25/2025 | $35,479 |
| UMCP | Graphics Art Designer | Maryland | 02/18/2025 | $53,000 |
| Dashing Diva | Nail Art Designer | Port Washington, NY | 02/17/2025 | $50,151 |
| Abcnashville | Graphic Designer Frist Art Museum | Nashville, TN | 02/16/2025 | $52,175 |
| Oakview Group | Food & Beverage Event Aesthetic Designer Ensemble Arts | Philadelphia, PA | 01/17/2025 | $52,175 |
| City & County of San Francisco (Ca | TPV-Illustrator and Art Designer-SAN Francisco Public Library | San Francisco, CA | 12/13/2024 | $96,232 |
| City and County of San Francisco | TPV-Illustrator and Art Designer-SAN Francisco Public Library | San Francisco, CA | 12/12/2024 | $96,232 |
| Army Installation Management Command | Graphic Arts Designer | White Sands, NM | 12/11/2024 | $45,000 |
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