Graphic Design Professor Salary in the United States

How much does a Graphic Design Professor make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Graphic Design Professor in the United States is $69,628 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,624
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,380 to $75,384
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,692
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View as table View as graph 25% $63,380 10% $57,692 90% $80,624 75% $75,384 $69,628 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Graphic Design Professor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $75,384 $6,282 $1,450 $36
Average $69,628 $5,802 $1,339 $33
25th Percentile $63,380 $5,282 $1,219 $30
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Key Factors That Influence Graphic Design Professor Salaries

A Graphic Design Professor'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 Professor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Graphic Design Professor'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): $59,804
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,062
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,065
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $105,079
  • Expert (over 8 years): $123,472
Levels Salary
Graphic D... Level Graphic Design Professor$59,804
Graphic D... Level Graphic Design Professor$70,062
Graphic D... Level Graphic Design Professor$85,065
Graphic D... Level Graphic Design Professor$105,079
Graphic D... Level Graphic Design Professor$123,472
$59,804 0 yr
$70,062 < 2 yrs
$85,065 2-4 yrs
$105,079 5-8 yrs
$123,472 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Graphic Design Professor 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 Professors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $77,092.
  • California: $76,800.
  • Massachusetts: $75,776.

Top Paying Cities for Graphic Design Professors

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: $87,822
  • San Francisco: $86,959
  • Oakland: $85,030

What Skills Can Increase a Graphic Design Professor'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.
See More Skills
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 Design Professor'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
$72,413
4%
Consulting
$72,413
4%
Leadership
$72,413
4%
Innovation
$71,717
3%
Collaboration
$71,717
3%
Storytelling
$71,717
3%
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How Education impacts a Graphic Design Professor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Graphic Design Professors 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 Professor with a Associate's Degree is between $67,790 and $71,824).

Graphic Design Professor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Graphic Design Professor
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%
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Graphic Design Professor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Graphic Design Professor'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 Graphic Design Professor

Salaries for a Graphic Design Professor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $68,855 in 2023 to around $67,803 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Graphic Design Professor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Graphic Design Professor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$68,855
2024
$68,561
2025
$67,803
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $68,855
2024 $68,561
2025 $67,803
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Graphic Design Professor

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

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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.)

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

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