Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Ohio (2026)
Graphic designers in Ohio earn a median $60,080 a year ($28.88 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($62,960), 25th of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in Ohio is $49,380, so this pays 22% more than the typical job there.
- $60,080median a year in Ohio
- $28.88median an hour
- −5%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 7,280employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Ohio?
Half of graphic designers in Ohio earn between $47,380 and $77,150. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.5 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $39,050 | $39,520 | $18.78 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $47,380 | $49,040 | $22.78 |
| Median | $60,080 | $62,960 | $28.88 |
| 75th | $77,150 | $81,830 | $37.09 |
| 90th percentile | $99,370 | $104,910 | $47.78 |
The mean (average) is $65,130, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Ohio compare with other states?
Ohio sits 25th of 53, between Delaware ($60,130) and Maine ($60,030).
| Indiana | $55,480 | −8% | 3,450 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $52,960 | −12% | 2,060 |
| Michigan | $57,350 | −5% | 6,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,730 | +1% | 8,150 |
| West Virginia | $40,350 | −33% | 520 |
Which cities in Ohio pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in Ohio where BLS publishes a median for the job, Columbus pays most, at $64,000, 7% above the state median.
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,730 | $62,260 | $29.93 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,470 | $64,000 | $30.77 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,430 | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 480 | $61,030 | $29.34 |
| Akron, OH | 360 | $58,460 | $28.11 |
| Toledo, OH | 290 | $50,320 | $24.19 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 160 | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 130 | $47,170 | $22.68 |
How many graphic designers work in Ohio?
BLS estimates 7,280 employee jobs, 1.31 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.03).
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 Ohio?
4 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Ohio.
| UX/UI designer | $83,360 | 2,520 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $67,000 | 200 |
| Copywriter | $65,930 | 830 |
| Videographer | $64,860 | 520 |
| Video editor | $56,410 | 340 |
| Photographer | $38,470 | 1,540 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Ohio's employee median of $28.88 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 Ohio?
The median is $60,080 a year and the mean is $65,130, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 7,280 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Ohio?
The median hourly wage is $28.88. The bottom 10% earn under $18.78 and the top 10% over $47.78.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Ohio?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Ohio earn under $47,380 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $39,050, 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 = 7,280 jobs in the Ohio 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