Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Illinois | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $62,560 | $64,771 | -3% |
| Median hourly wage | $30.08 | $31.14 | -3% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $62,560.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $63,242 | $42,000 | $84,000 | 107 |
The median annual salary for a Graphic Designer in Illinois is $62,560, or about $30.08 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Graphic Designers is $64,771. Illinois is -3% below the national median.
Entry-level graphic designers in Illinois typically earn from $42,000 depending on the city and employer.
With 8,960 graphic designer jobs on record and a median salary of $62,560, Illinois offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 374 of the 747 occupations reported in Illinois — higher than 50% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Art Directors at $103,550, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film at $100,170, Technical Writers at $88,700 — all figures are median annual wages for Illinois.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Illinois 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 100.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 374 of the 747 occupations reported in Illinois — higher than 50% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Illinois | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | $103,550 | $2,960 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $100,170 | $1,060 |
| Technical Writers | $88,700 | $1,040 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $81,180 | $630 |
| Producers and Directors | $81,080 | $3,170 |
| Designers, All Other | $77,460 | $30 |
Illinois 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 100.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 747 occupations in Illinois.