Graphic Designers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,460 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in San Francisco earn between $68,680 and $115,940.
- $54K10th
- $69K25th
- $92KMedian
- $116K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,130 | $8,511 | $49.10 |
| Median | $92,050 | $7,671 | $44.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,680 | $5,723 | $33.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,940 | $9,662 | $55.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Graphic designers in San Francisco earn 18% more than the California average ($86,800) and 45% more than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +46% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $102,130 | $92,050 | $54,470 | $142,460 | 3,870 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $102,130, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $75,272 a year, or $6,273 a month and $2,895 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 San Francisco a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $102,130 buys what about $88,338 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 11.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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
- Riverside$74,730
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 San Francisco: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in San Francisco?
$49.10 an hour on average, and $44.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $75,272 a year ($6,273 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,130. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 45% more 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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 1.28, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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