Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Texas (2026)
Graphic designers in Texas earn a median $60,150 a year ($28.92 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($62,960), 23rd of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in Texas is $48,620, so this pays 24% more than the typical job there.
- $60,150median a year in Texas
- $28.92median an hour
- −4%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 13,670employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Texas?
Half of graphic designers in Texas earn between $45,990 and $75,540. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.6 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $36,340 | $39,520 | $17.47 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $45,990 | $49,040 | $22.11 |
| Median | $60,150 | $62,960 | $28.92 |
| 75th | $75,540 | $81,830 | $36.32 |
| 90th percentile | $92,910 | $104,910 | $44.67 |
The mean (average) is $62,570, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Texas compare with other states?
Texas sits 23rd of 53, between Georgia ($60,250) and Delaware ($60,130).
| Arkansas | $46,220 | −23% | 1,390 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $49,910 | −17% | 1,750 |
| New Mexico | $56,730 | −6% | 850 |
| Oklahoma | $53,630 | −11% | 2,040 |
Which cities in Texas pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in Texas where BLS publishes a median for the job, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos pays most, at $65,060, 8% above the state median.
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4,790 | $63,780 | $30.66 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,770 | $58,400 | $28.08 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,880 | $65,060 | $31.28 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 970 | $59,710 | $28.71 |
| El Paso, TX | 250 | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Lubbock, TX | 180 | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 160 | $42,170 | $20.27 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 110 | $50,530 | $24.29 |
How many graphic designers work in Texas?
BLS estimates 13,670 employee jobs, 0.97 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is rarer here than nationally: a location quotient of 0.76, where 1 is the US average.
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 Texas?
5 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Texas.
| UX/UI designer | $102,650 | 5,910 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $78,930 | n/a |
| Copywriter | $69,990 | 2,320 |
| Videographer | $63,110 | 1,100 |
| Video editor | $61,220 | 1,040 |
| Photographer | $41,280 | 4,330 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Texas's employee median of $28.92 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 Texas?
The median is $60,150 a year and the mean is $62,570, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 13,670 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Texas?
The median hourly wage is $28.92. The bottom 10% earn under $17.47 and the top 10% over $44.67.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Texas?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Texas earn under $45,990 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $36,340, 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 = 13,670 jobs in the Texas 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