Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Colorado (2026)
Graphic designers in Colorado earn a median $66,330 a year ($31.89 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($62,960), 11th of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in Colorado is $59,800, so this pays 11% more than the typical job there.
- $66,330median a year in Colorado
- $31.89median an hour
- +5%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 4,200employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Colorado?
Half of graphic designers in Colorado earn between $55,000 and $85,810. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.5 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $47,030 | $39,520 | $22.61 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $55,000 | $49,040 | $26.44 |
| Median | $66,330 | $62,960 | $31.89 |
| 75th | $85,810 | $81,830 | $41.26 |
| 90th percentile | $118,560 | $104,910 | $57.00 |
The mean (average) is $74,460, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Colorado compare with other states?
Colorado sits 11th of 53, between Virginia ($72,310) and Oregon ($66,040).
Which cities in Colorado pay graphic designers best?
Of the 7 metro areas in Colorado where BLS publishes a median for the job, Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays most, at $72,500, 9% above the state median.
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,590 | $72,500 | $34.86 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 400 | $67,680 | $32.54 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 400 | $60,790 | $29.22 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 240 | $62,060 | $29.84 |
| Greeley, CO | 110 | $64,640 | $31.08 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 60 | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Pueblo, CO | 30 | $56,730 | $27.27 |
How many graphic designers work in Colorado?
BLS estimates 4,200 employee jobs, 1.46 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.15).
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 Colorado?
5 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Colorado.
| UX/UI designer | $95,880 | 3,250 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $91,290 | 210 |
| Video editor | $84,620 | 380 |
| Copywriter | $76,830 | 1,300 |
| Videographer | $74,990 | 300 |
| Photographer | $47,070 | 1,140 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Colorado's employee median of $31.89 an hour is inside that range. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average graphic designer salary in Colorado?
The median is $66,330 a year and the mean is $74,460, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 4,200 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Colorado?
The median hourly wage is $31.89. The bottom 10% earn under $22.61 and the top 10% over $57.00.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Colorado?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Colorado earn under $55,000 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $47,030, 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 = 4,200 jobs in the Colorado 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
- California $75,130
- Maryland $75,120
- New Jersey $73,790
- Washington $72,710
- Connecticut $72,700
- Virginia $72,310
- Oregon $66,040
- Vermont $65,690