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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Graphic Design Assistant is approximately $40,835 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience level, and the specific industry in which you work. For instance, graphic design assistants in metropolitan areas often earn higher salaries due to the increased demand for creative talent.
When considering where to work, you may find that states like California, New York, and Washington offer some of the highest salaries for this role. Additionally, gaining experience in specific industries, such as advertising or technology, can also influence salary potential. Entry-level positions may start around $35,000, while more experienced roles can reach upwards of $50,000 or more.
To increase your earning potential, consider pursuing skills in software like Adobe Creative Suite, which is often required for job postings. Networking within the industry and showcasing a strong portfolio can also enhance your job prospects. Explore job openings today to find a graphic design assistant position that aligns with your career goals.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level graphic design assistant | $25,500 | $12.27 |
| Mid-level graphic design assistant | $35,800 | $17.20 |
| Senior-level graphic design assistant | $55,800 | $26.81 |
The highest-paying states for graphic design assistants are New York, Alaska, and Virginia. The lowest average graphic design assistant salary states are Oklahoma, Kansas, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $52,104 | $25.05 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $48,510 | $23.32 |
| 3 | Washington | $44,457 | $21.37 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $43,578 | $20.95 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $43,019 | $20.68 |
| 6 | Virginia | $45,219 | $21.74 |
| 7 | Michigan | $40,637 | $19.54 |
| 8 | Alaska | $45,837 | $22.04 |
| 9 | California | $41,833 | $20.11 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $40,319 | $19.38 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $45,089 | $21.68 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $41,108 | $19.76 |
| 13 | Arizona | $38,918 | $18.71 |
| 14 | Delaware | $41,535 | $19.97 |
| 15 | Maryland | $42,773 | $20.56 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $42,413 | $20.39 |
| 17 | Ohio | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| 18 | Oregon | $37,029 | $17.80 |
| 19 | Texas | $36,334 | $17.47 |
| 20 | Indiana | $39,357 | $18.92 |
| 21 | Illinois | $38,657 | $18.59 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $37,978 | $18.26 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $35,332 | $16.99 |
| 24 | Colorado | $37,402 | $17.98 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $35,534 | $17.08 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $36,164 | $17.39 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $40,785 | $19.61 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $34,111 | $16.40 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $33,983 | $16.34 |
| 30 | Missouri | $35,497 | $17.07 |
| 31 | Nevada | $35,121 | $16.89 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $34,803 | $16.73 |
| 33 | Utah | $32,355 | $15.56 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $33,598 | $16.15 |
| 35 | Vermont | $32,885 | $15.81 |
| 36 | Montana | $33,858 | $16.28 |
| 37 | Iowa | $32,375 | $15.56 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $33,339 | $16.03 |
| 39 | Georgia | $32,738 | $15.74 |
| 40 | Maine | $32,550 | $15.65 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $32,999 | $15.86 |
| 42 | Alabama | $32,069 | $15.42 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $33,230 | $15.98 |
| 44 | Florida | $31,986 | $15.38 |
| 45 | Kansas | $31,010 | $14.91 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $31,528 | $15.16 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $31,928 | $15.35 |
| 48 | Idaho | $30,377 | $14.60 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $30,078 | $14.46 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $26,352 | $12.67 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $30,035 | $14.44 |
The highest-paying cities for graphic design assistants are New York, NY, Fairbanks, AK, and North Bergen, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $52,589 | $25.28 |
| 2 | Fairbanks, AK | $45,518 | $21.88 |
| 3 | North Bergen, NJ | $44,792 | $21.53 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $44,727 | $21.50 |
| 5 | Lynchburg, VA | $43,216 | $20.78 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $43,011 | $20.68 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $41,726 | $20.06 |
| 8 | Livonia, MI | $40,799 | $19.61 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $39,599 | $19.04 |
| 10 | Fargo, ND | $38,007 | $18.27 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $37,376 | $17.97 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $36,896 | $17.74 |
| 13 | Menomonee Falls, WI | $34,217 | $16.45 |
| 14 | Fremont, NE | $33,165 | $15.94 |
| 15 | Rome, GA | $32,879 | $15.81 |
| 16 | Davie, FL | $32,066 | $15.42 |
A graphic design assistant's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| Average | $40,835 | $3,403 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of graphic design assistants are lead graphic designer, graphic design manager, and production artist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Merchandiser | $38,037 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 74,351 |
| Production Artist | $61,870 | $5,156 | $29.75 | 59,103 |
| Design Internship | $45,791 | $3,816 | $22.01 | 97,018 |
| Freelance Designer | $57,260 | $4,772 | $27.53 | 45,914 |
| Student Graphic Designer | $27,337 | $2,278 | $13.14 | 55,508 |
| Lead Graphic Designer | $76,009 | $6,334 | $36.54 | 46,260 |
Top companies hiring graphic design assistants now:
Graphic design assistant salaries at Google and San Francisco University High School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average graphic design assistant salary at companies like Drees Homes and WestRock are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $68,236 | $32.81 | |
| 2 | San Francisco University High School | $52,728 | $25.35 |
| 3 | Drees Homes | $52,541 | $25.26 |
| 4 | WestRock | $51,375 | $24.70 |
| 5 | Penguin Random House | $49,083 | $23.60 |
| 6 | Structural Component Systems | $48,015 | $23.08 |
| 7 | Calvin Klein | $47,890 | $23.02 |
| 8 | Faherty Brand | $47,534 | $22.85 |
| 9 | Colorado State Express | $47,399 | $22.79 |
| 10 | Coach | $46,473 | $22.34 |
| 11 | Chapman University | $46,429 | $22.32 |
| 12 | University of Alaska | $45,826 | $22.03 |
| 13 | Builders FirstSource | $44,679 | $21.48 |
| 14 | Neiman Marcus Group | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| 15 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $43,582 | $20.95 |
| 16 | Tapestry Salon & Day Spa | $42,649 | $20.50 |
| 17 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City | $42,076 | $20.23 |
| 18 | Express Employment Indy South | $40,317 | $19.38 |
| 19 | University of Georgia Small Business Development Center | $39,426 | $18.95 |
| 20 | WinShape Teams | $38,314 | $18.42 |
The average graphic design assistant salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $57,595 | $27.69 |
| 2 | Technology | $47,243 | $22.71 |
| 3 | Professional | $47,066 | $22.63 |
| 4 | Media | $46,885 | $22.54 |
| 5 | Education | $46,761 | $22.48 |
| 6 | Government | $42,776 | $20.57 |
| 7 | Retail | $39,342 | $18.91 |
| 8 | Manufacturing | $38,454 | $18.49 |
The average graphic design assistant salary has risen by $7,168 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average graphic design assistant earned $33,667 annually, but today, they earn $40,835 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for graphic design assistants over the last decade.
Compare graphic design assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare graphic design assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,800 | $19.63 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $39,900 | $19.17 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $38,500 | $18.53 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $37,300 | $17.91 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $36,400 | $17.52 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The College of New Jersey | Web & Graphic Design Assistant-Center for Global Engagement Student Worker | Downe, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $34,415 |
| Framingham State University | Graphic Design Assistant-Framingham State University | Framingham, MA | 06/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| University of North Florida | Graphic Design Assistant-OPS | Jacksonville, FL | 06/20/2025 | $31,305 |
| Tailored Shared Services | Design Assistant | New York, NY | 06/20/2025 | $54,888 |
| Graphic Design Assistant at UW-Madison | Graphic Design Assistant | Ione, WA | 06/14/2025 | $29,218 |
| Bellmont Cabinets | Cabinet Design Assistant | Bellevue, WA | 06/11/2025 | $41,740 |
| BCI Brands | Temporary Design Assistant | New York, NY | 05/29/2025 | $43,827 |
| Everlane | Design Assistant | San Francisco, CA | 05/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Graphic Design Studio Assistant | Richmond, KY | 05/14/2025 | $16,696 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Graphic Design Studio Assistant | Richmond, VA | 05/13/2025 | $16,696 |
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