Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Washington (2026)
Graphic designers in Washington earn a median $72,710 a year ($34.96 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 15% more than the US median of $62,960, and 8th of 53 states and territories with published figures. The median for every job in Washington is $62,990, so this pays 15% more than the typical job there.
- $72,710median a year in Washington
- $34.96median an hour
- +15%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 3,960employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Washington?
Half of graphic designers in Washington earn between $57,390 and $93,490. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.4 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $47,780 | $39,520 | $22.97 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $57,390 | $49,040 | $27.59 |
| Median | $72,710 | $62,960 | $34.96 |
| 75th | $93,490 | $81,830 | $44.95 |
| 90th percentile | $115,210 | $104,910 | $55.39 |
The mean (average) is $77,910, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Washington compare with other states?
Washington sits 8th of 53, between New Jersey ($73,790) and Connecticut ($72,700).
Which cities in Washington pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in Washington where BLS publishes a median for the job, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays most, at $76,720, 6% above the state median.
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,090 | $75,650 | $36.37 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,710 | $76,720 | $36.89 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 270 | $56,530 | $27.18 |
| Bellingham, WA | 110 | $59,850 | $28.77 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 110 | $67,710 | $32.55 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 90 | $74,520 | $35.83 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 80 | $70,420 | $33.86 |
| Yakima, WA | 50 | $57,970 | $27.87 |
How many graphic designers work in Washington?
BLS estimates 3,960 employee jobs, 1.12 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 0.88).
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 Washington?
3 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Washington.
| Motion designer | $133,480 | 1,130 |
|---|---|---|
| UX/UI designer | $130,480 | 11,580 |
| Copywriter | $85,700 | 770 |
| Video editor | $66,870 | 450 |
| Videographer | $60,250 | 440 |
| Photographer | $48,050 | 960 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Washington's employee median of $34.96 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 Washington?
The median is $72,710 a year and the mean is $77,910, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 3,960 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly wage is $34.96. The bottom 10% earn under $22.97 and the top 10% over $55.39.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Washington?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Washington earn under $57,390 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $47,780, 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 = 3,960 jobs in the Washington 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
- Connecticut $72,700
- Virginia $72,310
- Colorado $66,330
- Oregon $66,040
- Vermont $65,690