How much does a designer make?
a year · about $31 an hour
A typical designer in the United States makes $64,950 a year, about $31 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Because this catch-all covers many specialties, days differ: a designer may talk with a client, sketch ideas, and make a digital draft or model. Then they share it, use feedback to revise it, and check details before delivery.
Did you know? Surprise: “Designers, All Other” is a catch-all for designers who don’t fit a more specific job category, so O*NET has no separate task profile for them.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $43,030 and $129,110How do you become one?
U.S. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for this broad group, with no prior experience or extra on-the-job training; a portfolio can show your work. Some specialties, such as interior design, have state licensing rules.
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, useful skills or credentials, employer, and design specialty. Location, industry, hours worked, and job success can matter too.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New Hampshire ($94,660), lowest in Ohio ($38,430).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Kids' questions
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $43,030 | $64,950 | $129,110 | about 9,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $94,660 | — |
| New York | $86,030 | about 1,000 |
| Hawaii | $85,700 | — |
| South Carolina | $83,980 | about 60 |
| Illinois | $77,460 | about 30 |
Official definition: All designers not listed separately.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-1029.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/graphic-designers.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/print/industrial-designers.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-designers.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY