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Hourly Wage for Graphic Designer II Salary in the United States

How much does a Graphic Designer II make hourly?

As of October 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Graphic Designer II in the United States is $34, which translates to an annual salary of about $71,673.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $40 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $32 to $37 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Graphic Designer II Salaries

A Graphic Designer II's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Graphic Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Graphic Designer II's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Design Services Specialist I (0-2 years): $59,723
  • Graphic Designer II (2-4 years): $71,656
  • Design Services Specialist III (4-7 years): $84,954
  • Design Services Specialist IV (7+ years): $104,904
  • Design Services Specialist V (7-10 years): $123,342
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Design Services Specialist I0-2 years$59,723
Graphic Designer II2-4 years$71,656
Design Services Specialist III4-7 years$84,954
Design Services Specialist IV7+ years$104,904
Design Services Specialist V7-10 years$123,342

How Do Graphic Designer II Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Graphic Designer IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $79,353.
  • California: $79,053.
  • Massachusetts: $78,003.

Top Paying Cities for Graphic Designer IIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $90,393
  • San Francisco: $89,413
  • Oakland: $87,523

What Skills Can Increase a Graphic Designer II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 4.34% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Adobe Illustrator (Mentioned in 3.05% Job Postings): Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. Graphic designers use Illustrator to create vector graphics. You can produce logos, detailed illustrations, web page designs and many more.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 4.34%
Adobe Illustrator 3.05%
Microsoft Office 1.63%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Graphic Designer II's salary.

  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight $74,540
4%
Consulting $74,540
4%
Leadership $74,540
4%

Graphic Designer II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Graphic Designer II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $80,015. While startup companies pay approximate $67,753.

Graphic Designer II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $67,753
Growth Stage 51~500 $71,640
Established 501~5000 $77,261
Enterprise 5000+ $80,015

Graphic Designer II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Graphic Designer II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Graphic Designer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Graphic Designer II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Graphic Designer II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$93,175$45.030%
Software & Networking$93,175$45.030%
Internet$89,591$43.025%
Biotechnology$86,008$41.020%
Pharmaceuticals$86,008$41.020%

How Education impacts a Graphic Designer II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Graphic Designer IIs enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Graphic Designer II with a Associate's Degree is between $66,575 and $70,712).

Graphic Designer II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Graphic Designer II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 9.7%
Associates 19.6%
Bachelors 65.4%
Masters 4.4%
Doctorate 0.2%

Graphic Designer II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Graphic Designer II's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$65,753
Average $71,673/year
$77,963
$5,479
Average $5,973/month
$6,497
$1,264
Average $1,378/week
$1,499
$32
Average $34/hour
$37
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $77,963 $6,497 $1,499 $37
Average $71,673 $5,973 $1,378 $34
25th Percentile $65,753 $5,479 $1,264 $32

Most common benefits for Graphic Designer II

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Graphic Designer II

Here are companies hiring for Graphic Designer II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Graphic Designer II

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Graphic Designer II?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Graphic Designer II roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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