Freelance Graphic Designer Salary in the United States

How much does a Freelance Graphic Designer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Freelance Graphic Designer in the United States is $56,107 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, a Freelance Graphic Designer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,882
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,094 to $62,271
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,441
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View as table View as graph 25% $52,094 10% $48,441 90% $67,882 75% $62,271 $56,107 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Freelance Graphic Designer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $62,271 $5,189 $1,198 $30
Average $56,107 $4,676 $1,079 $27
25th Percentile $52,094 $4,341 $1,002 $25
Check out Freelance Graphic Designer Job Openings in the United States
Junior Graphic Designer

CenCore LLC - SPRINGVILLE, UT

Graphic Designer

Peraton - BETHESDA, MD

Graphic Designer

KBR - CHANTILLY, VA

Graphic Designer

FWI (FedWriters, Inc.) - ALEXANDRIA, VA

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Key Factors That Influence Freelance Graphic Designer Salaries

A Freelance Graphic Designer'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 Freelance Graphic Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Freelance Graphic Designer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $56,664
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $57,161
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $58,791
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $59,118
  • Expert (over 8 years): $59,335
Levels Salary
Entry Level Freelance Graphic Designer$56,664
Intermediate Level Freelance Graphic Designer$57,161
Senior Level Freelance Graphic Designer$58,791
Specialist Level Freelance Graphic Designer$59,118
Expert Level Freelance Graphic Designer$59,335
$56,664 0 yr
$57,161 < 2 yrs
$58,791 2-4 yrs
$59,118 5-8 yrs
$59,335 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Freelance Graphic Designers

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: $70,768
  • San Francisco: $70,072
  • Oakland: $68,518

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.22% 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.
  • Photoshop (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Photoshop is an image creation, graphic design and photo editing software developed by Adobe. It is used to demonstrate knowledge of image resolution, image size, and image file format for web, video, and print.
  • Sales Systems (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): Tracking and containing relevant information about the sale using tools and software to organize the sales process.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.22%
Photoshop 2.43%
Sales Systems 1.74%
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 Freelance Graphic Designer's salary.
  • Study Design: Can increase your salary by up to 32%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Study Design
$74,061
32%
Consulting
$65,084
16%
Leadership
$64,523
15%
Innovation
$62,840
12%
Illustration
$61,718
10%
Project Management
$61,157
9%
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Freelance Graphic Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Freelance Graphic Designer'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Freelance Graphic Designer

Salaries for a Freelance Graphic Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $55,860 in 2023 to around $55,768 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Freelance Graphic Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Freelance Graphic Designer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$55,860
2024
$56,125
2025
$55,768
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $55,860
2024 $56,125
2025 $55,768
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Freelance Graphic Designer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Freelance Graphic Designer

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

Find Your Next Freelance Graphic Designer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Freelance Graphic Designer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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