Graphic Designers

The range of salaries for graphic designers is quite broad. Salaries depend primarily on the nature and scope of the employer. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that in May 2023, graphic designers earned a median salary of $58,910; the highest paid 10 percent earned $100,450 or more, while the lowest paid 10 percent earned $36,420 or less.

Full-time graphic designers who have been employed one to three years earned salaries that ranged from $52,000 to $79,500 in 2024, according to a salary survey by Robert Half Inc. It also reports the following salary ranges for other types of designers: package designers, $55,750 to $82,750; user experience designers, $95,750 to $140,250; and user interface designers, $79,250 to $121,500.

Self-employed designers can earn a lot one year and substantially more or less the next; their earnings depend on individual talent and business ability. Like any self-employed individual, freelance designers must pay their own insurance costs and taxes and are not compensated for vacation or sick days.

Graphic designers who work for large corporations receive full benefits, including health insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave.