Graphic Designers pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,740 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Portland earn between $51,070 and $78,150.
- $41K10th
- $51K25th
- $68KMedian
- $78K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,540 | $5,462 | $31.51 |
| Median | $67,650 | $5,638 | $32.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,070 | $4,256 | $24.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,150 | $6,512 | $37.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Portland earn 6% more than the Maine average ($61,780) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $65,540 | $67,650 | $41,020 | $83,740 | 270 |
| Maine | $61,780 | $60,030 | $39,160 | $79,000 | 560 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $65,540, a single filer in Portland takes home about $52,095 a year, or $4,341 a month and $2,004 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $65,540 buys what about $64,344 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Maine cities
Portland ranks 1st of 3 Maine metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Portland?
$31.51 an hour on average, and $32.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Portland?
About $52,095 a year ($4,341 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,540. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do graphic designers earn more in Portland 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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