Salary AI Book a Demo

Computer Graphics Artist Salary in the United States

How much does a Computer Graphics Artist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Computer Graphics Artist in the United States is $68,457 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a Computer Graphics Artist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,037
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,890 to $74,519
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,821
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Computer Graphics Artist Salaries

A Computer Graphics Artist'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 Computer Graphics Artist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Computer Graphics Artist'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): $58,046
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $68,012
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $82,568
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $101,962
  • Expert (over 8 years): $119,874
Levels Salary
Graphic D... Level Computer Graphics Artist$58,046
Computer ... Level Computer Graphics Artist$68,012
Graphic D... Level Computer Graphics Artist$82,568
Graphic D... Level Computer Graphics Artist$101,962
Graphic D... Level Computer Graphics Artist$119,874
View as Graph

How Do Computer Graphics Artist 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 Computer Graphics Artists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $75,796.
  • California: $75,508.
  • Massachusetts: $74,502.

Top Paying Cities for Computer Graphics Artists

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: $86,345
  • San Francisco: $85,400
  • Oakland: $83,600

What Skills Can Increase a Computer Graphics Artist'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%
See More Skills

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 Computer Graphics Artist'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 $71,196
4%
Consulting $71,196
4%
Leadership $71,196
4%
Get Latest Data

Computer Graphics Artist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Computer Graphics Artist 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, Computer Graphics Artist positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Computer Graphics Artist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Computer Graphics Artist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$88,994$43.030%
Software & Networking$88,994$43.030%
Internet$85,572$41.025%
Biotechnology$82,149$39.020%
Pharmaceuticals$82,149$39.020%

How Education impacts a Computer Graphics Artist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Computer Graphics Artists 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 Computer Graphics Artist with a Associate's Degree is between $67,790 and $71,824).

Computer Graphics Artist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Computer Graphics Artist
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%
View as Graph

Computer Graphics Artist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Computer Graphics Artist'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 September 01, 2026
$62,890
Average $68,457/year
$74,519
$5,241
Average $5,705/month
$6,210
$1,209
Average $1,316/week
$1,433
$30
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,519 $6,210 $1,433 $36
Average $68,457 $5,705 $1,316 $33
25th Percentile $62,890 $5,241 $1,209 $30

Most common benefits for Computer Graphics Artist

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

Common company salaries for Computer Graphics Artist

Here are companies hiring for Computer Graphics Artist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Computer Graphics Artist Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Computer Graphics Artist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Computer Graphics Artist?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Computer Graphics Artist 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.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst