Graphic Designer salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A graphic designer earns a median of $62,960 a year ($30.27 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $70,560. About 197,830 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $62,960
- Gross pay
- $2,421.54
- Federal income tax
- −$206.74
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$150.14
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$35.11
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,029.55
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $62,960
- Federal
- $5,375
- FICA
- $4,816
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $52,768
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Graphic Designer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $87,920 | $94,630 | 1,150 |
| Rhode Island | $78,220 | $78,900 | 750 |
| New York | $77,340 | $82,410 | 14,530 |
| Massachusetts | $76,710 | $79,690 | 4,450 |
| California | $75,130 | $86,800 | 27,390 |
| Maryland | $75,120 | $77,770 | 3,050 |
| New Jersey | $73,790 | $79,430 | 5,670 |
| Washington | $72,710 | $77,910 | 3,960 |
| Connecticut | $72,700 | $75,420 | 1,930 |
| Virginia | $72,310 | $76,670 | 4,740 |
| Colorado | $66,330 | $74,460 | 4,200 |
| Oregon | $66,040 | $85,140 | 4,140 |
| Vermont | $65,690 | $72,420 | 410 |
| Minnesota | $63,860 | $68,280 | 5,570 |
| Nevada | $62,890 | $64,700 | 1,570 |
| Alaska | $62,570 | $67,140 | 180 |
| Illinois | $62,560 | $66,980 | 8,960 |
| Utah | $62,310 | $67,600 | 2,720 |
| Florida | $61,660 | $68,070 | 12,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,730 | $66,620 | 8,150 |
| New Hampshire | $60,490 | $67,240 | 790 |
| Georgia | $60,250 | $64,240 | 5,920 |
| Texas | $60,150 | $62,570 | 13,670 |
| Delaware | $60,130 | $64,420 | 360 |
| Ohio | $60,080 | $65,130 | 7,280 |
| Maine | $60,030 | $61,780 | 560 |
| Wisconsin | $59,900 | $62,410 | 4,130 |
| Arizona | $58,510 | $63,570 | 3,560 |
| North Carolina | $58,450 | $63,250 | 5,660 |
| Hawaii | $58,070 | $61,870 | 520 |
| Michigan | $57,350 | $60,250 | 6,070 |
| Tennessee | $57,270 | $62,670 | 3,880 |
| South Carolina | $57,170 | $60,610 | 1,930 |
| Montana | $56,890 | $61,670 | 610 |
| Missouri | $56,750 | $59,660 | 4,500 |
| New Mexico | $56,730 | $57,870 | 850 |
| Nebraska | $56,700 | $58,000 | 1,670 |
| North Dakota | $56,470 | $56,160 | 460 |
| Indiana | $55,480 | $61,990 | 3,450 |
| Kansas | $53,630 | $57,850 | 1,730 |
| Oklahoma | $53,630 | $55,570 | 2,040 |
| Kentucky | $52,960 | $56,050 | 2,060 |
| Alabama | $51,070 | $57,010 | 1,760 |
| Idaho | $50,350 | $55,780 | 920 |
| Iowa | $50,310 | $54,820 | 2,100 |
| Louisiana | $49,910 | $54,850 | 1,750 |
| South Dakota | $48,390 | $50,880 | 470 |
| Arkansas | $46,220 | $52,670 | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $45,640 | $52,280 | 830 |
| Wyoming | $45,150 | $51,110 | 240 |
| West Virginia | $40,350 | $45,600 | 520 |
Similar jobs
- News Analyst: $62,200
- Designer: $64,950
- Interpreter and Translator: $60,170
- Broadcast Technician: $59,570
- Athlete and Sports Competitor: $66,710
- Interior Designer: $67,190
- Audio and Video Technician: $58,100
- Lighting Technician: $68,060
BLS occupation: Graphic Designers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 27-1024). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $30.27; the average is $33.92.
Which state pays graphic designers the most?
District of Columbia ($87,920 median), followed by Rhode Island and New York.
What is the salary range for a graphic designer?
The bottom 10% earn under $39,520 and the top 10% earn over $104,910 a year.
How much is $62,960 after taxes?
About $52,768 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $50,133 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.