Graphic Design Specialist III Salary in the United States
How much does a Graphic Design Specialist III make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Graphic Design Specialist III in the United States is $84,957 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.
However, a Graphic Design Specialist III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,310
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $78,002 to $93,517
Key Factors That Influence Graphic Design Specialist III Salaries
A Graphic Design Specialist III'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 Design Specialist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Graphic Design Specialist III'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 III 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 IIIs.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $94,064.
California: $93,708.
Massachusetts: $92,459.
District of Columbia$94,064
California$93,708
Massachusetts$92,459
Washington$92,119
New Jersey$92,085
Alaska$91,966
Connecticut$90,794
New York$90,318
Hawaii$88,797
Rhode Island$88,083
Maryland$87,599
Minnesota$86,936
Colorado$86,682
Illinois$86,597
Oregon$86,274
Delaware$86,036
New Hampshire$85,886
Virginia$85,552
Pennsylvania$84,575
Nevada$84,082
North Dakota$83,921
Michigan$83,666
Wisconsin$83,572
Vermont$83,385
Texas$82,867
Maine$82,833
Arizona$82,782
Ohio$82,723
Georgia$81,941
Indiana$81,550
Wyoming$81,474
Utah$81,355
Iowa$81,304
Kansas$80,896
Louisiana$80,777
North Carolina$80,735
Missouri$80,718
Florida$80,386
Montana$80,208
Nebraska$80,038
Kentucky$79,945
South Carolina$79,605
Tennessee$79,392
Idaho$79,307
New Mexico$78,687
Oklahoma$78,551
Alabama$78,050
South Dakota$77,209
Arkansas$76,750
West Virginia$76,504
Mississippi$75,765
Top Paying Cities for Graphic Design Specialist IIIs
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: $107,156
San Francisco: $105,983
Oakland: $103,749
San Jose, CA$107,156
San Francisco, CA$105,983
Oakland, CA$103,749
New York, NY$97,819
Paramus, NJ$96,629
Queens Village, NY$96,625
Passaic, NJ$96,544
Bergenfield, NJ$96,537
Stamford, CT$96,350
Huntington, NY$96,315
Newark, NJ$95,687
Bridgeport, CT$95,508
Vallejo, CA$95,339
New Brunswick, NJ$95,305
Petaluma, CA$95,254
Middlesex, NJ$95,092
Somerset, NJ$95,033
Santa Cruz, CA$94,922
Boston, MA$94,404
Monterey, CA$94,106
Seattle, WA$93,911
Santa Rosa, CA$93,894
Los Angeles, CA$93,869
Juneau, AK$93,648
Washington, DC$93,555
Orange, CA$93,252
Santa Ana, CA$93,028
Long Beach, CA$92,943
Anaheim, CA$92,926
Anchorage, AK$92,883
Santa Maria, CA$92,629
Everett, WA$92,612
Danbury, CT$92,313
Bremerton, WA$92,195
Tacoma, WA$91,889
New Suffolk, NY$91,888
Sacramento, CA$91,864
Santa Barbara, CA$91,771
Trenton, NJ$91,677
San Diego, CA$91,677
Brockton, MA$91,584
Fairbanks, AK$91,376
Lompoc, CA$91,159
Lowell, MA$91,090
Ventura, CA$91,074
Nashua, NH$91,057
Stockton, CA$91,048
Modesto, CA$90,428
Poughkeepsie, NY$90,241
Olympia, WA$90,080
Kennewick, WA$90,080
New Haven, CT$90,046
Lawrence, MA$89,740
Hartford, CT$89,655
Riverside, CA$89,638
New Bedford, MA$89,553
Richland, WA$89,553
Bakersfield, CA$89,434
San Bernardino, CA$89,400
New Britain, CT$89,392
Atlantic City, NJ$89,392
New London, CT$89,358
Norwich, CT$89,332
Portsmouth, NH$89,315
Boulder, CO$89,135
Portland, OR$89,018
Worcester, MA$89,009
Minneapolis, MN$88,746
Philadelphia, PA$88,627
Honolulu, HI$88,347
Saint Paul, MN$88,306
Vineland, NJ$88,287
Providence, RI$88,041
Chicago, IL$87,795
Bellingham, WA$87,693
Springfield, MA$87,625
Baltimore, MD$87,599
Chico, CA$87,387
Pittsfield, MA$87,157
Manchester, NH$86,996
Spokane, WA$86,622
Denver, CO$86,614
Albany, NY$86,214
Troy, NY$86,180
Nassau, NY$86,089
Schenectady, NY$86,002
Wilmington, DE$85,934
Burlington, VT$85,815
Salem, OR$85,781
Portland, ME$85,518
Yakima, WA$85,433
Rochester, MN$85,169
Reno, NV$85,127
Fresno, CA$85,127
Milwaukee, WI$85,050
Detroit, MI$84,965
Ann Arbor, MI$84,951
Allentown, PA$84,940
Colorado Springs, CO$84,796
Syracuse, NY$84,753
Carson City, NV$84,753
Houston, TX$84,634
Eugene, OR$84,592
Gary, IN$84,490
Springfield, OR$84,422
Bismarck, ND$84,405
Galveston, TX$84,345
Medford, OR$84,218
Fort Collins, CO$84,184
Concord, NH$84,141
Austin, TX$84,116
Mesa, AZ$83,938
Reading, PA$83,929
Phoenix, AZ$83,921
Dallas, TX$83,895
Saint Cloud, MN$83,813
Madison, WI$83,700
Utica, NY$83,470
Rochester, NY$83,334
Des Moines, IA$83,326
Raleigh, NC$83,317
Atlanta, GA$83,190
Battle Creek, MI$83,164
Salt Lake City, UT$83,139
Lancaster, PA$83,011
Harrisburg, PA$82,893
Kansas City, MO$82,808
Champaign, IL$82,791
Kansas City, KS$82,791
Fort Worth, TX$82,782
Columbus, OH$82,768
Boca Raton, FL$82,748
Pittsburgh, PA$82,714
Richmond, VA$82,680
Indianapolis, IN$82,663
Cleveland, OH$82,655
Las Vegas, NV$82,553
Cincinnati, OH$82,553
Petersburg, VA$82,425
Huntsville, AL$82,298
Lansing, MI$82,241
Lebanon, PA$82,230
Pueblo, CO$82,221
Appleton, WI$82,196
Buffalo, NY$82,162
Dayton, OH$82,136
Racine, WI$82,119
Charlotte, NC$82,111
Saint Louis, MO$82,085
York, PA$82,034
Elkhart, IN$82,034
Gastonia, NC$82,018
Billings, MT$81,998
Beaumont, TX$81,975
Lorain, OH$81,958
Benton Harbor, MI$81,941
Toledo, OH$81,924
Binghamton, NY$81,882
Rock Hill, SC$81,873
Rockford, IL$81,831
Springfield, IL$81,797
Elyria, OH$81,788
Fargo, ND$81,788
Flagstaff, AZ$81,729
Fort Lauderdale, FL$81,678
Duluth, MN$81,627
Miami, FL$81,627
Cheyenne, WY$81,567
Grand Forks, ND$81,567
Bangor, ME$81,380
Cedar Rapids, IA$81,287
Durham, NC$81,251
Louisville, KY$81,244
Grand Rapids, MI$81,227
Hialeah, FL$81,219
Casper, WY$81,100
Scranton, PA$80,998
New Orleans, LA$80,973
Virginia Beach, VA$80,964
Akron, OH$80,922
Peoria, IL$80,811
Sarasota, FL$80,794
Nashville, TN$80,735
Omaha, NE$80,735
Green Bay, WI$80,735
Baton Rouge, LA$80,692
Charleston, SC$80,675
Jamestown, NY$80,633
Davenport, IA$80,633
Tucson, AZ$80,590
Saint Petersburg, FL$80,539
Tampa, FL$80,522
Evansville, IN$80,471
Port Arthur, TX$80,471
Bradenton, FL$80,437
Santa Fe, NM$80,284
Orlando, FL$80,131
Clearwater, FL$80,106
Canton, OH$79,928
La Crosse, WI$79,928
Albuquerque, NM$79,877
Newport News, VA$79,868
High Point, NC$79,843
Ogden, UT$79,809
Corpus Christi, TX$79,741
Norfolk, VA$79,690
Laramie, WY$79,690
Rock Island, IL$79,639
Saginaw, MI$79,622
Jacksonville, FL$79,613
Salisbury, NC$79,596
Boise, ID$79,579
Moline, IL$79,537
Fort Myers, FL$79,511
Memphis, TN$79,494
Tulsa, OK$79,452
Waterloo, IA$79,401
Spartanburg, SC$79,316
Lincoln, NE$79,273
Fort Wayne, IN$79,256
Provo, UT$79,248
Cedar Falls, IA$79,146
San Antonio, TX$79,112
Greensboro, NC$79,078
South Bend, IN$79,069
Savannah, GA$78,976
Muskegon, MI$78,942
Birmingham, AL$78,934
Winston Salem, NC$78,892
Lake Charles, LA$78,687
Anderson, IN$78,670
Lexington, KY$78,645
Augusta, GA$78,619
Greenville, SC$78,619
Lima, OH$78,551
Wichita, KS$78,543
Tuscaloosa, AL$78,543
Columbia, SC$78,466
Springfield, OH$78,449
Asheville, NC$78,313
Bloomington, IN$78,254
Knoxville, TN$77,948
Shreveport, LA$77,940
Wilmington, NC$77,829
Roanoke, VA$77,829
Topeka, KS$77,676
Frankfort, KY$77,667
Oklahoma City, OK$77,608
Chillicothe, OH$77,574
Longview, TX$77,566
Melbourne, FL$77,557
Sioux Falls, SD$77,421
Mobile, AL$77,413
Terre Haute, IN$77,379
Altoona, PA$77,328
Amarillo, TX$77,268
Killeen, TX$77,243
Fayetteville, AR$77,175
Chattanooga, TN$77,149
Sioux City, IA$77,073
Idaho Falls, ID$77,056
Lynchburg, VA$76,988
Gainesville, FL$76,878
Portsmouth, OH$76,835
Little Rock, AR$76,818
Lafayette, LA$76,784
Youngstown, OH$76,784
Daytona Beach, FL$76,733
Clarksville, TN$76,725
Pensacola, FL$76,716
Temple, TX$76,710
Hopkinsville, KY$76,461
Erie, PA$76,444
Florence, SC$76,410
Charleston, WV$76,274
Great Falls, MT$76,232
Macon, GA$76,113
Tallahassee, FL$76,104
Fayetteville, NC$76,087
Waco, TX$76,070
Helena, MT$76,011
Pine Bluff, AR$75,979
Vincennes, IN$75,875
Lubbock, TX$75,841
Alamogordo, NM$75,790
Twin Falls, ID$75,714
Rapid City, SD$75,688
Jackson, MS$75,535
Huntington, WV$75,529
Greenville, MS$75,527
Parkersburg, WV$75,440
Montgomery, AL$75,425
Wichita Falls, TX$75,340
Springfield, MO$75,340
Biloxi, MS$75,297
Monroe, LA$75,212
Johnstown, PA$75,153
Sumter, SC$75,119
Columbus, GA$75,110
Pascagoula, MS$74,949
Abilene, TX$74,949
Kingsport, TN$74,728
Albany, GA$74,728
Gulfport, MS$74,703
Alexandria, LA$74,422
Fort Smith, AR$74,210
El Paso, TX$73,981
Las Cruces, NM$73,598
Harlingen, TX$73,382
Pocatello, ID$73,369
Florence, AL$73,258
Brownsville, TX$73,241
Mcallen, TX$73,063
Dothan, AL$72,944
Columbus, MS$72,439
Altus, OK$72,044
Lawton, OK$71,882
Pierre, SD$71,576
What Skills Can Increase a Graphic Design Specialist III's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Presentation (Mentioned in 4.5% 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 2.94% 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.
HTML (Mentioned in 1.82% Job Postings): A computer language that used in creating, updating and maintaining text, graphics and links in a website.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Presentation
4.5%
Typography
2.94%
HTML
1.82%
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 III's salary.
Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
UI: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Insight
$90,904
7%
Storytelling
$90,054
6%
UI
$90,054
6%
Leadership
$90,054
6%
Solution Design
$89,205
5%
Innovation
$89,205
5%
Get Latest Data
Graphic Design Specialist III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Graphic Design Specialist III salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $95,024.
While startup companies pay approximate $80,362.
Graphic Design Specialist III Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$80,362
Growth Stage
51~500
$84,995
Established
501~5000
$91,764
Enterprise
5000+
$95,024
Graphic Design Specialist III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Graphic Design Specialist III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Graphic Design Specialist positions in Telecom or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Graphic Design Specialist III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Graphic Design Specialist III
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking
$110,444
$53.0
30%
Financial Services
$101,948
$49.0
20%
Healthcare
$97,701
$47.0
15%
Biotechnology
$95,152
$46.0
12%
Insurance
$91,754
$44.0
8%
How Education impacts a Graphic Design Specialist III's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Graphic Design Specialist IIIs 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 Design Specialist III with a Associate's Degree is between
$83,303
and $88,091).
Graphic Design Specialist III Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Graphic Design Specialist III
No Diploma0.6%
High School8.1%
Associates15.8%
Bachelors67.9%
Masters7.4%
Doctorate0.1%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.6%
High School
8.1%
Associates
15.8%
Bachelors
67.9%
Masters
7.4%
Doctorate
0.1%
view as graph
Graphic Design Specialist III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Graphic Design Specialist III'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
$78,002
Average$84,957/year
$93,517
$6,500
Average$7,080/month
$7,793
$1,500
Average$1,634/week
$1,798
$38
Average$41/hour
$45
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$93,517
$7,793
$1,798
$45
Average
$84,957
$7,080
$1,634
$41
25th Percentile
$78,002
$6,500
$1,500
$38
Graphic Design Specialist III Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Graphic Design Specialist III, 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 III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role
Estimate Salary
Projected Raise
Graphic Design Specialist IV
$104,921
23%
Package Designer IV
$116,074
37%
Salaries of jobs related to Graphic Design Specialist III
Salaries for a Graphic Design Specialist III can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $88,619 in 2023
to around $86,567 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Graphic Design Specialist III salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Graphic Design Specialist III Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$88,619
2024
$87,818
2025
$86,567
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$88,619
2024
$87,818
2025
$86,567
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Graphic Design Specialist III
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Graphic Design Specialist III
Here are companies hiring for Graphic Design Specialist III 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 III
1. Where can a Graphic Design Specialist III earn the most?
A Graphic Design Specialist III'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 III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Graphic Design Specialist III is $107,156.
2. What is the highest pay for Graphic Design Specialist III?
The highest pay for Graphic Design Specialist III is $101,310.
3. What is the lowest pay for Graphic Design Specialist III?
The lowest pay for Graphic Design Specialist III is $71,670.
4. What are the responsibilities of Graphic Design Specialist III?
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 generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Graphic Design Specialist III?
The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Graphic Design Specialist III roles,
with salaries approximately 30% 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.
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