Graphic Designers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,000 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Boston earn between $61,490 and $98,260.
- $51K10th
- $61K25th
- $78KMedian
- $98K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,350 | $6,862 | $39.59 |
| Median | $78,270 | $6,522 | $37.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,490 | $5,124 | $29.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,260 | $8,188 | $47.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Boston earn 3% more than the Massachusetts average ($79,690) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $82,350 | $78,270 | $51,440 | $116,000 | 3,560 |
| Massachusetts | $79,690 | $76,710 | $47,830 | $108,970 | 4,450 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $82,350, a single filer in Boston takes home about $62,966 a year, or $5,247 a month and $2,422 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $66,763 | $5,564 |
| Working in MA | $62,966 | $5,247 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $82,350 buys what about $76,063 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$82,350
- Barnstable$77,340
- Worcester$71,700
- Amherst$71,610
- Pittsfield$70,550
- Springfield$68,220
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 Boston: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Boston?
$39.59 an hour on average, and $37.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Boston?
About $62,966 a year ($5,247 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,350. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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