Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in New Jersey (2026)
Graphic designers in New Jersey earn a median $73,790 a year ($35.48 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 17% more than the US median of $62,960, and 7th of 53 states and territories with published figures. The median for every job in New Jersey is $58,570, so this pays 26% more than the typical job there.
- $73,790median a year in New Jersey
- $35.48median an hour
- +17%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 5,670employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in New Jersey?
Half of graphic designers in New Jersey earn between $59,150 and $92,040. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.6 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $47,490 | $39,520 | $22.83 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $59,150 | $49,040 | $28.44 |
| Median | $73,790 | $62,960 | $35.48 |
| 75th | $92,040 | $81,830 | $44.25 |
| 90th percentile | $122,940 | $104,910 | $59.11 |
The mean (average) is $79,430, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does New Jersey compare with other states?
New Jersey sits 7th of 53, between Maryland ($75,120) and Washington ($72,710).
| Delaware | $60,130 | −19% | 360 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $77,340 | +5% | 14,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,730 | −18% | 8,150 |
Which cities in New Jersey pay graphic designers best?
Of the 5 metro areas in New Jersey where BLS publishes a median for the job, New York-Newark-Jersey City pays most, at $79,280, 7% above the state median.
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 15,160 | $79,280 | $38.12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,360 | $63,090 | $30.33 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 410 | $59,710 | $28.71 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 250 | $71,750 | $34.49 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 120 | $63,830 | $30.69 |
How many graphic designers work in New Jersey?
BLS estimates 5,670 employee jobs, 1.32 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.04).
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 New Jersey?
3 of the 4 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in New Jersey.
| UX/UI designer | $95,310 | 2,170 |
|---|---|---|
| Video editor | $82,890 | 620 |
| Copywriter | $81,590 | 1,180 |
| Photographer | $40,520 | 1,460 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. New Jersey's employee median of $35.48 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 New Jersey?
The median is $73,790 a year and the mean is $79,430, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 5,670 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in New Jersey?
The median hourly wage is $35.48. The bottom 10% earn under $22.83 and the top 10% over $59.11.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in New Jersey?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in New Jersey earn under $59,150 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $47,490, 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 = 5,670 jobs in the New Jersey 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
- Washington $72,710
- Connecticut $72,700
- Virginia $72,310
- Colorado $66,330
- Oregon $66,040
- Vermont $65,690