Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Rhode Island (2026)
Graphic designers in Rhode Island earn a median $78,220 a year ($37.61 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 24% more than the US median of $62,960, and 2nd-highest of 53 states and territories with published figures. The median for every job in Rhode Island is $56,780, so this pays 38% more than the typical job there.
- $78,220median a year in Rhode Island
- $37.61median an hour
- +24%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 750employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Rhode Island?
Half of graphic designers in Rhode Island earn between $62,050 and $93,370. 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 | $49,330 | $39,520 | $23.71 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $62,050 | $49,040 | $29.83 |
| Median | $78,220 | $62,960 | $37.61 |
| 75th | $93,370 | $81,830 | $44.89 |
| 90th percentile | $107,580 | $104,910 | $51.72 |
The mean (average) is $78,900, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Rhode Island compare with other states?
Rhode Island is in the top five for graphic designers' pay. Only District of Columbia pays more.
| Connecticut | $72,700 | −7% | 1,930 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $76,710 | −2% | 4,450 |
How many graphic designers work in Rhode Island?
BLS estimates 750 employee jobs, 1.49 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.17). The employment estimate is rough: its relative standard error is 19%.
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 Rhode Island?
2 of the 5 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Rhode Island.
| UX/UI designer | $105,990 | 240 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $80,040 | n/a |
| Copywriter | $70,190 | 110 |
| Videographer | $49,790 | 50 |
| Photographer | $37,300 | 220 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Rhode Island's employee median of $37.61 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 Rhode Island?
The median is $78,220 a year and the mean is $78,900, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 750 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Rhode Island?
The median hourly wage is $37.61. The bottom 10% earn under $23.71 and the top 10% over $51.72.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Rhode Island?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Rhode Island earn under $62,050 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $49,330, 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 = 750 jobs in the Rhode Island estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Graphic designer pay in other states
- District of Columbia $87,920
- 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