Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in California (2026)
Graphic designers in California earn a median $75,130 a year ($36.12 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 19% more than the US median of $62,960, and 5th of 53 states and territories with published figures. The median for every job in California is $58,240, so this pays 29% more than the typical job there.
- $75,130median a year in California
- $36.12median an hour
- +19%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 27,390employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in California?
Half of graphic designers in California earn between $55,500 and $99,240. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.8 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $46,190 | $39,520 | $22.21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $55,500 | $49,040 | $26.68 |
| Median | $75,130 | $62,960 | $36.12 |
| 75th | $99,240 | $81,830 | $47.71 |
| 90th percentile | $129,560 | $104,910 | $62.29 |
The mean (average) is $86,800, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does California compare with other states?
California is in the top five for graphic designers' pay. Only District of Columbia, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts pay more.
Which cities in California pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in California where BLS publishes a median for the job, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays most, at $97,360, 30% above the state median.
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 13,810 | $72,400 | $34.81 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,870 | $92,050 | $44.25 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,370 | $65,900 | $31.68 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,280 | $97,360 | $46.81 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 920 | $74,680 | $35.90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 390 | $67,300 | $32.36 |
| Fresno, CA | 250 | $58,280 | $28.02 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 210 | $78,500 | $37.74 |
How many graphic designers work in California?
BLS estimates 27,390 employee jobs, 1.5 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.18).
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in California?
5 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in California.
| UX/UI designer | $136,110 | 27,090 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $130,540 | 7,410 |
| Videographer | $106,900 | 4,700 |
| Video editor | $88,490 | 8,110 |
| Copywriter | $86,480 | 8,390 |
| Photographer | $47,840 | 7,980 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. California's employee median of $36.12 an hour is above that range, and a freelancer also has to cover unpaid hours, kit and tax. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average graphic designer salary in California?
The median is $75,130 a year and the mean is $86,800, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 27,390 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage is $36.12. The bottom 10% earn under $22.21 and the top 10% over $62.29.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in California?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in California earn under $55,500 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $46,190, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 27-1024, Graphic Designers. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 27,390 jobs in the California estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Graphic designer pay in other states
- District of Columbia $87,920
- Rhode Island $78,220
- New York $77,340
- Massachusetts $76,710
- Maryland $75,120
- New Jersey $73,790
- Washington $72,710
- Connecticut $72,700
- Virginia $72,310
- Colorado $66,330
- Oregon $66,040
- Vermont $65,690