Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| District of Columbia | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $87,920 | $64,771 | +36% |
| Median hourly wage | $42.27 | $31.14 | +36% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $80,000.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $78,299 | $52,000 | $104,000 | 152 |
The median annual salary for a Graphic Designer in District of Columbia is $87,920, or about $42.27 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Graphic Designers is $64,771. District of Columbia is +36% above the national median.
Entry-level graphic designers in District of Columbia typically earn from $52,000 depending on the city and employer.
With 1,150 graphic designer jobs on record and a median salary of $87,920, District of Columbia offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 207 of the 465 occupations reported in District of Columbia — higher than 55% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Writers and Authors at $129,300, Technical Writers at $117,810, Photographers at $110,970 — all figures are median annual wages for District of Columbia.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. District of Columbia 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 152.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 207 of the 465 occupations reported in District of Columbia — higher than 55% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in District of Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Writers and Authors | $129,300 | $1,050 |
| Technical Writers | $117,810 | $440 |
| Photographers | $110,970 | $260 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $109,970 | $280 |
| Broadcast Technicians | $108,270 | $290 |
| Sound Engineering Technicians | $106,630 | $90 |
District of Columbia 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 152.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 465 occupations in District of Columbia.