Graphic Designers pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,550 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Salem earn between $51,020 and $77,260.
- $38K10th
- $51K25th
- $66KMedian
- $77K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,470 | $5,456 | $31.48 |
| Median | $65,720 | $5,477 | $31.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,020 | $4,252 | $24.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,260 | $6,438 | $37.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Salem earn 23% less than the Oregon average ($85,140) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $65,470 | $65,720 | $37,630 | $88,550 | 210 |
| Oregon | $85,140 | $66,040 | $45,260 | $170,680 | 4,140 |
| United States | $70,560 | $62,960 | $39,520 | $104,910 | 197,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Graphic Designers salary after taxes in Salem
On the average salary of $65,470, a single filer in Salem takes home about $50,111 a year, or $4,176 a month and $1,927 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $65,470 buys what about $63,165 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 2nd of 5 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($92,530).
Highest-paying cities for graphic designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,360).
- San Jose, CA$107,360
- San Francisco, CA$102,130
- Portland, OR$92,530
- Washington, DC$89,540
- New York, NY$85,950
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Graphic Designers salary in Salem: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Salem?
$31.48 an hour on average, and $31.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Salem?
About $50,111 a year ($4,176 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,470. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,560).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1024; area Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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