Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Washington | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $72,710 | $64,771 | +12% |
| Median hourly wage | $34.96 | $31.14 | +12% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $67,953.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $79,504 | $52,800 | $105,600 | 165 |
The median annual salary for a Graphic Designer in Washington is $72,710, or about $34.96 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Graphic Designers is $64,771. Washington is +12% above the national median.
Entry-level graphic designers in Washington typically earn from $52,800 depending on the city and employer.
With 3,960 graphic designer jobs on record and a median salary of $72,710, Washington offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 396 of the 757 occupations reported in Washington — higher than 48% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Special Effects Artists and Animators at $133,480, Lighting Technicians at $126,100, Art Directors at $121,170 — all figures are median annual wages for Washington.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Washington has no state income tax on wages, so take-home pay is closer to the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 115.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 396 of the 757 occupations reported in Washington — higher than 48% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Washington | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $133,480 | $1,130 |
| Lighting Technicians | $126,100 | $80 |
| Art Directors | $121,170 | $650 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $107,670 | $80 |
| Technical Writers | $104,070 | $1,620 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $94,280 | $340 |
Washington has no state income tax on wages, so take-home pay is closer to the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 115.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 757 occupations in Washington.