Graphic Designers pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $117,870 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Sacramento earn between $59,030 and $91,670.
- $47K10th
- $59K25th
- $75KMedian
- $92K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38.46 |
| Median | $74,680 | $6,223 | $35.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,030 | $4,919 | $28.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,670 | $7,639 | $44.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Sacramento earn 8% less than the California average ($86,800) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $80,000 | $74,680 | $46,870 | $117,870 | 920 |
| California | $86,800 | $75,130 | $46,190 | $129,560 | 27,390 |
| 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 Sacramento
On the average salary of $80,000, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $61,762 a year, or $5,147 a month and $2,375 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Sacramento a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $80,000 buys what about $74,998 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 7th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($107,360).
- San Jose$107,360
- San Francisco$102,130
- Santa Maria$84,370
- Santa Rosa$82,320
- Los Angeles$81,680
- Vallejo$81,440
- Sacramento$80,000
- Napa$79,990
- Oxnard$79,010
- Riverside$74,730
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 Sacramento: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Sacramento?
$38.46 an hour on average, and $35.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $61,762 a year ($5,147 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,000. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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