Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| California | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $75,130 | $64,771 | +16% |
| Median hourly wage | $36.12 | $31.14 | +16% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $67,868.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $93,357 | $62,000 | $124,000 | 244 |
| Oakland | $84,322 | $56,000 | $112,000 | 196 |
| Los Angeles | $77,094 | $51,200 | $102,400 | 173 |
| Long Beach | $72,276 | $48,000 | $96,000 | 153 |
| San Diego | $71,071 | $47,200 | $94,400 | 161 |
| Sacramento | $65,048 | $43,200 | $86,400 | 130 |
| Fresno | $57,219 | $38,000 | $76,000 | 105 |
The median annual salary for a Graphic Designer in California is $75,130, or about $36.12 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Graphic Designers is $64,771. California is +16% above the national median.
Entry-level graphic designers in California typically earn from $62,000 depending on the city and employer.
With 27,390 graphic designer jobs on record and a median salary of $75,130, California offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 372 of the 793 occupations reported in California — higher than 53% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Art Directors at $137,780, Special Effects Artists and Animators at $130,540, Producers and Directors at $129,790 — all figures are median annual wages for California.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. California levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 145.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 372 of the 793 occupations reported in California — higher than 53% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in California | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | $137,780 | $12,430 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $130,540 | $7,410 |
| Producers and Directors | $129,790 | $34,110 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $116,020 | $1,400 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $106,900 | $4,700 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $105,030 | $2,690 |
California levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 145.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 793 occupations in California.