Graphic Designers pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,780 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Chico earn between $47,310 and $73,880.
- $39K10th
- $47K25th
- $58KMedian
- $74K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,400 | $5,283 | $30.48 |
| Median | $58,040 | $4,837 | $27.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,310 | $3,942 | $22.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,880 | $6,157 | $35.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Chico earn 27% less than the California average ($86,800) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $63,400 | $58,040 | $39,460 | $97,780 | 70 |
| California | $86,800 | $75,130 | $46,190 | $129,560 | 27,390 |
| United States | $70,560 | $62,960 | $39,520 | $104,910 | 197,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Graphic Designers salary after taxes in Chico
On the average salary of $63,400, a single filer in Chico takes home about $51,122 a year, or $4,260 a month and $1,966 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Chico a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $63,400 buys what about $62,650 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 19th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($107,360).
- San Jose$107,360
- San Francisco$102,130
- Santa Maria$84,370
- Santa Rosa$82,320
- Los Angeles$81,680
- Vallejo$81,440
- Sacramento$80,000
- Napa$79,990
- Oxnard$79,010
- Chico$63,400
Highest-paying cities for graphic designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,360).
- San Jose, CA$107,360
- San Francisco, CA$102,130
- Portland, OR$92,530
- Washington, DC$89,540
- New York, NY$85,950
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Graphic Designers salary in Chico: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Chico?
$30.48 an hour on average, and $27.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Chico?
About $51,122 a year ($4,260 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,400. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,560).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1024; area Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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