Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in District of Columbia (2026)
Graphic designers in District of Columbia earn a median $87,920 a year ($42.27 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 40% more than the US median of $62,960, and the highest of 53 states and territories with published figures. That is roughly what the typical job in District of Columbia pays ($91,540).
- $87,920median a year in District of Columbia
- $42.27median an hour
- +40%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 1,150employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in District of Columbia?
Half of graphic designers in District of Columbia earn between $75,300 and $114,280. Pay is bunched more tightly than nationally: the 90th percentile is 2.2 times the 10th, against 2.7 times across the US.
| 10th percentile | $62,240 | $39,520 | $29.92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $75,300 | $49,040 | $36.20 |
| Median | $87,920 | $62,960 | $42.27 |
| 75th | $114,280 | $81,830 | $54.94 |
| 90th percentile | $136,660 | $104,910 | $65.70 |
The mean (average) is $94,630, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does District of Columbia compare with other states?
District of Columbia pays graphic designers more than any other state: its median is 12% above second-placed Rhode Island.
How many graphic designers work in District of Columbia?
BLS estimates 1,150 employee jobs, 1.64 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is concentrated here: District of Columbia's share of employment in it is 1.29 times the national share (BLS's location quotient).
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 District of Columbia?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than graphic designers do.
| Copywriter | $129,300 | 1,050 |
|---|---|---|
| Photographer | $110,970 | 260 |
| UX/UI designer | $107,650 | 480 |
| Video editor | $98,830 | 370 |
| Videographer | $98,300 | 240 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. District of Columbia's employee median of $42.27 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 District of Columbia?
The median is $87,920 a year and the mean is $94,630, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,150 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in District of Columbia?
The median hourly wage is $42.27. The bottom 10% earn under $29.92 and the top 10% over $65.70.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in District of Columbia?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in District of Columbia earn under $75,300 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $62,240, 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 = 1,150 jobs in the District of Columbia estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Graphic designer pay in other states
- 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
- Colorado $66,330
- Oregon $66,040
- Vermont $65,690