Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia graphic designers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $72,490 and $109,980, with a median of $90,710.
Graphic Designers in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 11 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 1 | $53,456 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $68,765 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $85,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $104,790 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Graphic Designers in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | Manager JC50 - Graphic Designers | 8 | $86,237 |
| FORD MOTOR COMPANY | Lead Product Designer | 1 | $125,460 |
| Throughline, Inc. | SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER | 1 | $85,000 |
| The Gospel Herald Inc | Senior Graphic/Web Designer | 1 | $53,456 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Manager JC50 - Graphic Designers at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP$88,421WashingtonDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-450752
- Lead Product Designer at FORD MOTOR COMPANY$125,460WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Jan 27, 2025I-200-25017-626090
- SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER at Throughline, Inc.$85,000WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Nov 29, 2024I-200-24326-492282
- Senior Graphic/Web Designer at The Gospel Herald Inc$53,456WashingtonWage Level IDecided Nov 22, 2024I-200-24320-479100
- Senior Manager JC45 - Graphic Designers at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP$104,790WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Aug 7, 2025I-200-25212-213815
- Manager JC50 - Graphic Designers at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP$88,421WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Jul 25, 2025I-200-25201-187318
- Manager JC50 - Graphic Designers at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP$84,053WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-034174
- Senior Associate JC60 - Graphic Designers at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP$68,765WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Jun 2, 2025I-200-25146-016866
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Graphic Designers pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Graphic Designers specialties in District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is Manager JC50 - Graphic Designers at a median of $88,421.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager JC50 - Graphic Designers | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 5 | $88,421 |
| Senior Associate JC60 - Graphic Designers | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 3 | $68,765 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Graphic Designers in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 11 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $84,053.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 9 | $84,053 |
| Manufacturing | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 1 | $125,460 |
| Professional services | Throughline, Inc. | 1 | $85,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Fine Arts
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Communications and Media
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Originality
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Fluency of Ideas
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Near Vision
Ability
- 3.8 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
- 02
Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
- 03
Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
- 04
Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
- 05
Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
- 06
Use computer software to generate new images.
- 07
Prepare digital files for printing.
- 08
Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+2.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Graphic Designers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in District of Columbia
Metro-level salary data for graphic designers in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$82,360
Compare Graphic Designers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Graphic Designers in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Graphic Designers in District of Columbia is $90,710.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Graphic Designers?
- The District of Columbia median is +45.5% versus the BLS national figure of $62,356.
- What is the salary range for Graphic Designers in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $60,710 and the 90th-percentile at $137,610, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Graphic Designers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 2.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Graphic Designers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.