Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Montana (2026)
Graphic designers in Montana earn a median $56,890 a year ($27.35 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($62,960), 34th of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in Montana is $48,740, so this pays 17% more than the typical job there.
- $56,890median a year in Montana
- $27.35median an hour
- −10%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 610employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Montana?
Half of graphic designers in Montana earn between $43,640 and $70,980. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.8 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $37,790 | $39,520 | $18.17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $43,640 | $49,040 | $20.98 |
| Median | $56,890 | $62,960 | $27.35 |
| 75th | $70,980 | $81,830 | $34.13 |
| 90th percentile | $104,780 | $104,910 | $50.37 |
The mean (average) is $61,670, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Montana compare with other states?
Montana sits 34th of 53, between South Carolina ($57,170) and Missouri ($56,750).
| Idaho | $50,350 | −11% | 920 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $56,470 | −1% | 460 |
| South Dakota | $48,390 | −15% | 470 |
| Wyoming | $45,150 | −21% | 240 |
Which cities in Montana pay graphic designers best?
Of the 5 metro areas in Montana where BLS publishes a median for the job, Helena pays most, at $63,690, 12% above the state median.
| Billings, MT | 110 | $57,050 | $27.43 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 100 | $58,200 | $27.98 |
| Missoula, MT | 80 | $61,930 | $29.77 |
| Great Falls, MT | 40 | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| Helena, MT | 30 | $63,690 | $30.62 |
How many graphic designers work in Montana?
BLS estimates 610 employee jobs, 1.18 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 0.93).
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 Montana?
1 of the 4 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Montana.
| UX/UI designer | $77,030 | 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Videographer | $50,910 | 110 |
| Video editor | $42,520 | 110 |
| Photographer | $39,900 | 190 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Montana's employee median of $27.35 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 Montana?
The median is $56,890 a year and the mean is $61,670, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 610 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Montana?
The median hourly wage is $27.35. The bottom 10% earn under $18.17 and the top 10% over $50.37.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Montana?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Montana earn under $43,640 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $37,790, 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 = 610 jobs in the Montana 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
- Colorado $66,330
- Oregon $66,040