Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
Graphic designers in Pennsylvania earn a median $60,730 a year ($29.20 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($62,960), 20th of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in Pennsylvania is $49,690, so this pays 22% more than the typical job there.
- $60,730median a year in Pennsylvania
- $29.20median an hour
- −4%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 8,150employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Pennsylvania?
Half of graphic designers in Pennsylvania earn between $47,670 and $80,480. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.6 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $39,430 | $39,520 | $18.96 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $47,670 | $49,040 | $22.92 |
| Median | $60,730 | $62,960 | $29.20 |
| 75th | $80,480 | $81,830 | $38.69 |
| 90th percentile | $102,090 | $104,910 | $49.08 |
The mean (average) is $66,620, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Pennsylvania compare with other states?
Pennsylvania sits 20th of 53, between Florida ($61,660) and New Hampshire ($60,490).
| Delaware | $60,130 | −1% | 360 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $75,120 | +24% | 3,050 |
| New Jersey | $73,790 | +22% | 5,670 |
| New York | $77,340 | +27% | 14,530 |
| Ohio | $60,080 | −1% | 7,280 |
| West Virginia | $40,350 | −34% | 520 |
Which cities in Pennsylvania pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in Pennsylvania where BLS publishes a median for the job, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington pays most, at $63,090, 4% above the state median.
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,360 | $63,090 | $30.33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,200 | $57,830 | $27.81 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 410 | $59,710 | $28.71 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 400 | $58,150 | $27.96 |
| Lancaster, PA | 350 | $55,360 | $26.62 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 250 | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| Reading, PA | 230 | $54,340 | $26.13 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 230 | $54,980 | $26.43 |
How many graphic designers work in Pennsylvania?
BLS estimates 8,150 employee jobs, 1.34 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.06).
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 Pennsylvania?
3 of the 5 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Pennsylvania.
| UX/UI designer | $104,160 | 2,820 |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriter | $77,410 | 1,080 |
| Motion designer | $71,760 | 300 |
| Videographer | $51,760 | 670 |
| Photographer | $40,520 | 1,870 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Pennsylvania's employee median of $29.20 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 Pennsylvania?
The median is $60,730 a year and the mean is $66,620, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 8,150 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Pennsylvania?
The median hourly wage is $29.20. The bottom 10% earn under $18.96 and the top 10% over $49.08.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Pennsylvania?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Pennsylvania earn under $47,670 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $39,430, 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 = 8,150 jobs in the Pennsylvania 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