Graphic Design Specialist I Salary in the United States
How much does a Graphic Design Specialist I make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Graphic Design Specialist I in the United States is $59,726 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.
However, a Graphic Design Specialist I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,761
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,312 to $65,502
Key Factors That Influence Graphic Design Specialist I Salaries
A Graphic Design Specialist I'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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Graphic Design Specialist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Graphic Design Specialist I'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:
Graphic Design Specialist I (0-2 years): $59,726
Graphic Design Specialist II (2-4 years): $69,978
Graphic Design Specialist III (4-7 years): $84,957
Graphic Design Specialist IV (7+ years): $104,921
Graphic Design Specialist V (7-10 years): $123,336
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Graphic Design Specialist I
0-2 years
$59,726
Graphic Design Specialist II
2-4 years
$69,978
Graphic Design Specialist III
4-7 years
$84,957
Graphic Design Specialist IV
7+ years
$104,921
Graphic Design Specialist V
7-10 years
$123,336
$59,726Graphic D...
$69,978Graphic D...
$84,957Graphic D...
$104,921Graphic D...
$123,336Graphic D...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Graphic Design Specialist I 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 Design Specialist Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $66,129.
California: $65,878.
Massachusetts: $65,000.
District of Columbia$66,129
California$65,878
Massachusetts$65,000
Washington$64,761
New Jersey$64,737
Alaska$64,653
Connecticut$63,829
New York$63,495
Hawaii$62,426
Rhode Island$61,924
Maryland$61,583
Minnesota$61,118
Colorado$60,938
Illinois$60,879
Oregon$60,652
Delaware$60,485
New Hampshire$60,379
Virginia$60,144
Pennsylvania$59,457
Nevada$59,111
North Dakota$58,997
Michigan$58,818
Wisconsin$58,752
Vermont$58,621
Texas$58,257
Maine$58,233
Arizona$58,197
Ohio$58,155
Georgia$57,606
Indiana$57,331
Wyoming$57,277
Utah$57,194
Iowa$57,158
Kansas$56,871
Louisiana$56,787
North Carolina$56,758
Missouri$56,746
Florida$56,513
Montana$56,387
Nebraska$56,268
Kentucky$56,202
South Carolina$55,963
Tennessee$55,814
Idaho$55,754
New Mexico$55,318
Oklahoma$55,223
Alabama$54,870
South Dakota$54,279
Arkansas$53,956
West Virginia$53,783
Mississippi$53,264
Top Paying Cities for Graphic Design Specialist Is
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: $75,332
San Francisco: $74,508
Oakland: $72,937
San Jose, CA$75,332
San Francisco, CA$74,508
Oakland, CA$72,937
New York, NY$68,768
Paramus, NJ$67,932
Queens Village, NY$67,929
Passaic, NJ$67,872
Bergenfield, NJ$67,867
Stamford, CT$67,735
Huntington, NY$67,711
Newark, NJ$67,269
Bridgeport, CT$67,143
Vallejo, CA$67,025
New Brunswick, NJ$67,001
Petaluma, CA$66,965
Middlesex, NJ$66,851
Somerset, NJ$66,810
Santa Cruz, CA$66,732
Boston, MA$66,368
Monterey, CA$66,158
Seattle, WA$66,021
Santa Rosa, CA$66,009
Los Angeles, CA$65,991
Juneau, AK$65,836
Washington, DC$65,770
Orange, CA$65,558
Santa Ana, CA$65,400
Long Beach, CA$65,340
Anaheim, CA$65,328
Anchorage, AK$65,298
Santa Maria, CA$65,119
Everett, WA$65,107
Danbury, CT$64,897
Bremerton, WA$64,815
Tacoma, WA$64,600
New Suffolk, NY$64,598
Sacramento, CA$64,582
Santa Barbara, CA$64,516
Trenton, NJ$64,450
San Diego, CA$64,450
Brockton, MA$64,385
Fairbanks, AK$64,238
Lompoc, CA$64,086
Lowell, MA$64,038
Ventura, CA$64,026
Nashua, NH$64,014
Stockton, CA$64,008
Modesto, CA$63,572
Poughkeepsie, NY$63,441
Olympia, WA$63,327
Kennewick, WA$63,327
New Haven, CT$63,304
Lawrence, MA$63,089
Hartford, CT$63,029
Riverside, CA$63,017
New Bedford, MA$62,957
Richland, WA$62,957
Bakersfield, CA$62,874
San Bernardino, CA$62,850
New Britain, CT$62,844
Atlantic City, NJ$62,844
New London, CT$62,820
Norwich, CT$62,802
Portsmouth, NH$62,790
Boulder, CO$62,663
Portland, OR$62,581
Worcester, MA$62,575
Minneapolis, MN$62,390
Philadelphia, PA$62,306
Honolulu, HI$62,109
Saint Paul, MN$62,080
Vineland, NJ$62,067
Providence, RI$61,894
Chicago, IL$61,721
Bellingham, WA$61,649
Springfield, MA$61,601
Baltimore, MD$61,583
Chico, CA$61,434
Pittsfield, MA$61,273
Manchester, NH$61,159
Spokane, WA$60,897
Denver, CO$60,891
Albany, NY$60,610
Troy, NY$60,586
Nassau, NY$60,522
Schenectady, NY$60,461
Wilmington, DE$60,413
Burlington, VT$60,329
Salem, OR$60,305
Portland, ME$60,120
Yakima, WA$60,060
Rochester, MN$59,875
Reno, NV$59,845
Fresno, CA$59,845
Milwaukee, WI$59,792
Detroit, MI$59,732
Ann Arbor, MI$59,722
Allentown, PA$59,714
Colorado Springs, CO$59,613
Syracuse, NY$59,583
Carson City, NV$59,583
Houston, TX$59,499
Eugene, OR$59,469
Gary, IN$59,398
Springfield, OR$59,350
Bismarck, ND$59,338
Galveston, TX$59,296
Medford, OR$59,206
Fort Collins, CO$59,182
Concord, NH$59,153
Austin, TX$59,135
Mesa, AZ$59,009
Reading, PA$59,003
Phoenix, AZ$58,997
Dallas, TX$58,979
Saint Cloud, MN$58,922
Madison, WI$58,842
Utica, NY$58,681
Rochester, NY$58,585
Des Moines, IA$58,579
Raleigh, NC$58,573
Atlanta, GA$58,484
Battle Creek, MI$58,466
Salt Lake City, UT$58,448
Lancaster, PA$58,358
Harrisburg, PA$58,275
Kansas City, MO$58,215
Champaign, IL$58,203
Kansas City, KS$58,203
Fort Worth, TX$58,197
Columbus, OH$58,187
Boca Raton, FL$58,173
Pittsburgh, PA$58,149
Richmond, VA$58,125
Indianapolis, IN$58,113
Cleveland, OH$58,107
Las Vegas, NV$58,036
Cincinnati, OH$58,036
Petersburg, VA$57,946
Huntsville, AL$57,857
Lansing, MI$57,817
Lebanon, PA$57,809
Pueblo, CO$57,803
Appleton, WI$57,785
Buffalo, NY$57,761
Dayton, OH$57,743
Racine, WI$57,731
Charlotte, NC$57,725
Saint Louis, MO$57,707
York, PA$57,671
Elkhart, IN$57,671
Gastonia, NC$57,660
Billings, MT$57,646
Beaumont, TX$57,630
Lorain, OH$57,618
Benton Harbor, MI$57,606
Toledo, OH$57,594
Binghamton, NY$57,564
Rock Hill, SC$57,558
Rockford, IL$57,528
Springfield, IL$57,504
Elyria, OH$57,498
Fargo, ND$57,498
Flagstaff, AZ$57,456
Fort Lauderdale, FL$57,421
Duluth, MN$57,385
Miami, FL$57,385
Cheyenne, WY$57,343
Grand Forks, ND$57,343
Bangor, ME$57,212
Cedar Rapids, IA$57,146
Durham, NC$57,121
Louisville, KY$57,116
Grand Rapids, MI$57,104
Hialeah, FL$57,098
Casper, WY$57,014
Scranton, PA$56,943
New Orleans, LA$56,925
Virginia Beach, VA$56,919
Akron, OH$56,889
Peoria, IL$56,811
Sarasota, FL$56,799
Nashville, TN$56,758
Omaha, NE$56,758
Green Bay, WI$56,758
Baton Rouge, LA$56,728
Charleston, SC$56,716
Jamestown, NY$56,686
Davenport, IA$56,686
Tucson, AZ$56,656
Saint Petersburg, FL$56,620
Tampa, FL$56,608
Evansville, IN$56,572
Port Arthur, TX$56,572
Bradenton, FL$56,549
Santa Fe, NM$56,441
Orlando, FL$56,334
Clearwater, FL$56,316
Canton, OH$56,190
La Crosse, WI$56,190
Albuquerque, NM$56,154
Newport News, VA$56,148
High Point, NC$56,130
Ogden, UT$56,107
Corpus Christi, TX$56,059
Norfolk, VA$56,023
Laramie, WY$56,023
Rock Island, IL$55,987
Saginaw, MI$55,975
Jacksonville, FL$55,969
Salisbury, NC$55,957
Boise, ID$55,945
Moline, IL$55,915
Fort Myers, FL$55,898
Memphis, TN$55,886
Tulsa, OK$55,856
Waterloo, IA$55,820
Spartanburg, SC$55,760
Lincoln, NE$55,730
Fort Wayne, IN$55,718
Provo, UT$55,712
Cedar Falls, IA$55,641
San Antonio, TX$55,617
Greensboro, NC$55,593
South Bend, IN$55,587
Savannah, GA$55,521
Muskegon, MI$55,497
Birmingham, AL$55,491
Winston Salem, NC$55,462
Lake Charles, LA$55,318
Anderson, IN$55,306
Lexington, KY$55,288
Augusta, GA$55,270
Greenville, SC$55,270
Lima, OH$55,223
Wichita, KS$55,217
Tuscaloosa, AL$55,217
Columbia, SC$55,163
Springfield, OH$55,151
Asheville, NC$55,055
Bloomington, IN$55,014
Knoxville, TN$54,799
Shreveport, LA$54,793
Wilmington, NC$54,715
Roanoke, VA$54,715
Topeka, KS$54,607
Frankfort, KY$54,601
Oklahoma City, OK$54,560
Chillicothe, OH$54,536
Longview, TX$54,530
Melbourne, FL$54,524
Sioux Falls, SD$54,428
Mobile, AL$54,422
Terre Haute, IN$54,398
Altoona, PA$54,363
Amarillo, TX$54,321
Killeen, TX$54,303
Fayetteville, AR$54,255
Chattanooga, TN$54,237
Sioux City, IA$54,183
Idaho Falls, ID$54,171
Lynchburg, VA$54,124
Gainesville, FL$54,046
Portsmouth, OH$54,016
Little Rock, AR$54,004
Lafayette, LA$53,980
Youngstown, OH$53,980
Daytona Beach, FL$53,945
Clarksville, TN$53,939
Pensacola, FL$53,933
Temple, TX$53,928
Hopkinsville, KY$53,753
Erie, PA$53,741
Florence, SC$53,718
Charleston, WV$53,622
Great Falls, MT$53,592
Macon, GA$53,509
Tallahassee, FL$53,503
Fayetteville, NC$53,491
Waco, TX$53,479
Helena, MT$53,437
Pine Bluff, AR$53,414
Vincennes, IN$53,341
Lubbock, TX$53,317
Alamogordo, NM$53,282
Twin Falls, ID$53,228
Rapid City, SD$53,210
Jackson, MS$53,102
Huntington, WV$53,098
Greenville, MS$53,096
Parkersburg, WV$53,035
Montgomery, AL$53,025
Wichita Falls, TX$52,965
Springfield, MO$52,965
Biloxi, MS$52,935
Monroe, LA$52,875
Johnstown, PA$52,834
Sumter, SC$52,810
Columbus, GA$52,804
Pascagoula, MS$52,690
Abilene, TX$52,690
Kingsport, TN$52,535
Albany, GA$52,535
Gulfport, MS$52,517
Alexandria, LA$52,320
Fort Smith, AR$52,171
El Paso, TX$52,009
Las Cruces, NM$51,741
Harlingen, TX$51,589
Pocatello, ID$51,579
Florence, AL$51,502
Brownsville, TX$51,490
Mcallen, TX$51,364
Dothan, AL$51,281
Columbus, MS$50,926
Altus, OK$50,648
Lawton, OK$50,534
Pierre, SD$50,319
What Skills Can Increase a Graphic Design Specialist I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Presentation (Mentioned in 4.45% 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.
Typography (Mentioned in 2.77% Job Postings): Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point sizes, line lengths, line-spacing (leading), and letter-spacing (tracking), and adjusting the space between pairs of letters (kerning). The term typography is also applied to the style, arrangement, and appearance of the letters, numbers, and symbols created by the process. Type design is a closely related craft, sometimes considered part of typography; most typographers do not design typefaces, and some type designers do not consider themselves typographers. Typography also may be used as a decorative device, unrelated to communication of information. Typography is the work of typesetters (also known as compositors), typographers, graphic designers, art directors, manga artists, comic book artists, graffiti artists, and, now, anyone who arranges words, letters, numbers, and symbols for publication, display, or distribution, from clerical workers and newsletter writers to anyone self-publishing materials. Until the Digital Age, typography was a specialized occupation. Digitization opened up typography to new generations of previously unrelated designers and lay users. As the capability to create typography has become ubiquitous, the application of principles and best practices developed over generations of skilled workers and professionals has diminished. So at a time when scientific techniques can support the proven traditions (e.g., greater legibility with the use of serifs, upper and lower case, contrast, etc.) through understanding the limitations of human vision, typography as often encountered may fail to achieve its principal objective: effective communication.
Animation (Mentioned in 2.01% Job Postings): Animation is a method in which pictures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most animations are made with computer-generated imagery (CGI). Computer animation can be very detailed 3D animation, while 2D computer animation can be used for stylistic reasons, low bandwidth or faster real-time renderings. Other common animation methods apply a stop motion technique to two and three-dimensional objects like paper cutouts, puppets or clay figures. Commonly the effect of animation is achieved by a rapid succession of sequential images that minimally differ from each other. The illusion—as in motion pictures in general—is thought to rely on the phi phenomenon and beta movement, but the exact causes are still uncertain. Analog mechanical animation media that rely on the rapid display of sequential images include the phénakisticope, zoetrope, flip book, praxinoscope and film. Television and video are popular electronic animation media that originally were analog and now operate digitally. For display on the computer, techniques like animated GIF and Flash animation were developed.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Presentation
4.45%
Typography
2.77%
Animation
2.01%
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 Design Specialist I's salary.
UI: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
UI
$65,699
10%
Collaboration
$63,310
6%
Storytelling
$62,115
4%
Digital Marketing
$62,115
4%
Animation
$62,115
4%
Insight
$62,115
4%
Get Latest Data
Graphic Design Specialist I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Graphic Design Specialist I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $66,803.
While startup companies pay approximate $56,495.
Graphic Design Specialist I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$56,495
Growth Stage
51~500
$59,753
Established
501~5000
$64,511
Enterprise
5000+
$66,803
Graphic Design Specialist I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Graphic Design Specialist I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average.
In contrast, Graphic Design Specialist positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Graphic Design Specialist I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Graphic Design Specialist I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense
$71,671
$34.0
20%
Graphic Design Specialist I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Graphic Design Specialist I'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$52,312
Average$59,726/year
$65,502
$4,359
Average$4,977/month
$5,459
$1,006
Average$1,149/week
$1,260
$25
Average$29/hour
$31
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$65,502
$5,459
$1,260
$31
Average
$59,726
$4,977
$1,149
$29
25th Percentile
$52,312
$4,359
$1,006
$25
Graphic Design Specialist I Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Graphic Design Specialist I, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Graphic Design Specialist I Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role
Estimate Salary
Projected Raise
Graphic Design Specialist II
$69,978
17%
Package Designer II
$74,340
24%
Salaries of jobs related to Graphic Design Specialist I
Salaries for a Graphic Design Specialist I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $57,992 in 2023
to around $57,323 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Graphic Design Specialist I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Graphic Design Specialist I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$57,992
2024
$57,777
2025
$57,323
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$57,992
2024
$57,777
2025
$57,323
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Graphic Design Specialist I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Graphic Design Specialist I
Here are companies hiring for Graphic Design Specialist I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Graphic Design Specialist I
1. Where can a Graphic Design Specialist I earn the most?
A Graphic Design Specialist I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Graphic Design Specialist I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Graphic Design Specialist I is $75,332.
2. What is the highest pay for Graphic Design Specialist I?
The highest pay for Graphic Design Specialist I is $70,761.
3. What is the lowest pay for Graphic Design Specialist I?
The lowest pay for Graphic Design Specialist I is $45,562.
4. What are the responsibilities of Graphic Design Specialist I?
Designs and produces graphic art and visual materials for print and digital media. Ensures that layout and design are aligned with brand and production standards and follow best practices. Creates and executes design solutions and collateral used for marketing, advertising, sales, and other forms of communication. Coordinates with customers and stakeholders to conceptualize and deliver projects on time and budget. Experienced using a variety of design and editing tools and software such as Adobe. Knowledge of color, composition, typography, digital design and production management. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Graphic Design Specialist I?
The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Graphic Design Specialist I roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.