Graphic designer pay in Washington, DC
Graphic designers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a typical $85,420 a year. The middle half earn $66,620 to $107,590, and the top 10% earn more than $131,810. About 4,420 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Graphic Designers, SOC 27-1024).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $48,580 |
| 25th percentile | $66,620 |
| Median (typical) | $85,420 |
| 75th percentile | $107,590 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $131,810 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 3 of 49 large metros for graphic designers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $85,420, a single filer keeps about $64,600 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and D.C. state income tax. Prices in Washington are 9% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $59,300 would in a typical US city. That ranks Washington No. 3 of 49 large metros for graphic designers after cost of living.
Where graphic designers’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$97,360 typical · worth $65.7k
- San Francisco, CA$92,050 typical · worth $59.9k
- Seattle, WA$76,720 typical · worth $56.5k
- Boston, MA$78,270 typical · worth $55.6k
All 49 metros for graphic designers →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among graphic designers in Washington. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.) 1 employer here filed pay above the typical rate in government filings; your check shows how many pay more than you.
Common questions
How much does a graphic designer make in Washington, DC?
The typical (median) graphic designer in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earns $85,420 a year. The middle half earn between $66,620 and $107,590, and the top 10% earn more than $131,810. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a graphic designer in Washington?
Anything above $85,420 pays more than half of graphic designers in Washington. $107,590 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $131,810 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a graphic designer in Washington take home after taxes?
At the typical $85,420, a single filer keeps about $64,600 a year ($5,390 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, D.C. state income tax. With local prices 9% above the US average, that buys what $59,300 would in a typical US city.
Where do graphic designers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 49 largest US metros, typical graphic designer pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA. Washington, DC ranks No. 3.
More: Graphic designer pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Washington, DC
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.