What Graphic Designers do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Graphic Designers this way: "Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts"; "Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type"; "Use computer software to generate new images"; "Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer"; "Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is bachelor's degree.
Job outlook for Graphic Designers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 253,100 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 248,800 in 2035, a decrease of 4,300 jobs (-1.7%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 16,000 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 6.3% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. 20.5% of workers in this occupation are self-employed; the wage figures below cover wage and salary workers. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $62,960, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Graphic Designers earn the most
Across the 3 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $75,852 in New Jersey to $76,251 in New York, a gap of $399 (1.01 times). 3 of those 3 states average above the BLS national median of $62,960 and 0 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 23,370, which is 38.5% of the 60,700 counted across them. New Jersey follows with 19,300.
Highest-paying states
New York ($76,251), California ($76,246) and New Jersey ($75,852) lead the ranking, while New Jersey ($75,852) and California ($76,246) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Graphic Designers: pay against the cost of living
We compare 3 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Bergen County, NJ (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) at $30,139. The smallest margin is $18,389 in Los Angeles County, CA.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 3 of the 3 markets. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 38.8% and 54.1% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Graphic Designers
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers belong to the same detailed SOC group. Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (27-1000) include Art Directors.
Frequently asked questions about Graphic Designers
How much do Graphic Designers earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $62,960. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $75,852 to $76,251.
Which state pays Graphic Designers the most?
New York, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $76,251. California is next at $76,246.
Is Graphic Designers a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to shrink by 1.7% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 16,000 openings a year.
What education do Graphic Designers need?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree, according to BLS.
Where can Graphic Designers afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Bergen County, NJ leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $30,139 on a median wage of $79,280.