Graphic Design Services — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the graphic design services industry earns $83,360 per year ($40.08/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$83,360
Avg Annual Pay
57,649
Total Employees
20,046
Total Establishments
3
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Graphic Design Workers Earn?

At $83,360/year (equivalent to $40.08/hour for a full-time worker), graphic design services wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.

Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.

The typical graphic design services business employs 3 people. Most operations are small — often owner-operated with a handful of staff. Labor costs are manageable relative to revenue.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

62.9%

For the average graphic design services business generating $398K/year with 3 employees at $83,360 each, total payroll represents roughly 62.9% of revenue. This is a labor-intensive industry — payroll is the dominant expense.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a graphic design servicesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $108,368/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 3 employees = ~$250,080/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $40.08/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $398K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Graphic Design Services revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do graphic design services employees make?
The average graphic design services employee earns $83,360 per year, which is equivalent to $40.08/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the graphic design services industry?
The graphic design services industry employs 57,649 workers across 20,046 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 3 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).