Graphic Designer.
Los Angeles.
$71,000
median salary, 16% above the national average
$55,000 to $92,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Graphic Designer in Los Angeles earns a median of $71,000 in 2026. That is 16% above the national average. The range runs from $55,000 to $92,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Industry (tech and advertising pay the most), specialization (brand identity, motion graphics, or 3D), and portfolio quality are the primary drivers. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Graphic Designer in Los Angeles, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $72,400 for Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, based on 13,810 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$45,500
25th percentile
$53,790
Median
$72,400
75th percentile
$95,440
90th percentile
$123,590
Workers surveyed
13,810
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024) rather than Graphic Designer specifically. The Los Angelesrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 27-1024Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $64,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$46,000
to $57,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$60,000
to $75,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$78,000
to $92,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$89,000
to $110,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $19,000 to the total package.
Base
$71,000
Equity
$11,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $90,000
How Los Angeles compares.
Los Angeles, CA
$71,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$61,000
Los Angeles is $10,000 above
Graphic Designer salary by city.
Salary by role in Los Angeles.
What you should know.
The Graphic Designer landscape in Los Angeles is not what most salary sites will tell you. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. Industry (tech and advertising pay the most), specialization (brand identity, motion graphics, or 3D), and portfolio quality are the primary drivers. Designers who can demonstrate measurable business impact through their work (conversion rates, engagement metrics) earn significantly more. Proficiency in emerging tools like Figma and After Effects also adds value.
Junior graphic designers start at $40,000 to $52,000, reaching mid level at $55,000 to $72,000 in two to three years. Senior designers earn $72,000 to $95,000. Art directors reach $95,000 to $130,000, and creative directors at agencies or large companies can earn $140,000 to $200,000+. In Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 5 to 10% are common in corporate and agency roles. Freelance graphic designers can earn 30 to 50% more per hour but sacrifice benefits and income stability. Benefits at design firms often include creative software subscriptions, portfolio development time, and conference budgets. And on the tax side: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $71,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for Graphic Designers in Los Angeles runs from $55,000 to $92,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Common questions.
Graphic Designer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Los Angeles.
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