Graphic Designer Salary in California
Median annual pay in California
$75,130
$36.12/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in California
$67,856
Regional Price Parity: 110.720 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($62,960): +$12,170 (+19.3%)
California ranks 5th of 51 states by median pay, and 9th of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| 25th percentile | $55,500 | $26.68 |
| Median | $75,130 | $36.12 |
| 75th percentile | $99,240 | $47.71 |
| 90th percentile | $129,560 | $62.29 |
Employment
- Employment in California
- 27,390
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in California
- $75,130
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $62,960
- Difference
- +$12,170 (+19.3%)
Cost of living
$75,130 ÷ 110.720 × 100 = $67,856
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| New York | ||
| 3rd | $77,340 | $71,664 4th |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 4th | $76,710 | $72,534 3rd |
| California This page | ||
| 5th | $75,130 | $67,856 9th |
| Maryland | ||
| 6th | $75,120 | $71,571 5th |
| New Jersey | ||
| 7th | $73,790 | $67,819 10th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Special Effects Artist and Animator salary in the U.S.
$102,030/year U.S.
- Art Director salary in the U.S.
$114,850/year U.S.
- Web and Digital Interface Designer salary in the U.S.
$104,000/year U.S.
- Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in the U.S.
$55,490/year U.S.
- Desktop Publisher salary in the U.S.
$55,290/year U.S.
- Interior Designer salary in California
$80,230/year California
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- −1.7%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Bachelor's degree
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Graphic Designer salary in nearby places
- Graphic Designer salary in Arizona
$58,510/year Arizona
- Graphic Designer salary in Nevada
$62,890/year Nevada
- Graphic Designer salary in Oregon
$66,040/year Oregon
- Graphic Designer salary in the U.S.
$62,960/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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