Graphic Designers in Illinois. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Illinois graphic designers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $47,530 and $81,320, with a median of $62,560.
Graphic Designers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 39 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $66,747. 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 | 8 | $46,880 |
| Level II — qualified | 15 | $70,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 7 | $66,747 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 9 | $120,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Graphic Designers in Illinois. 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 | 6 | $66,747 |
| Expedia, Inc. | User Experience Designer | 2 | $61,017 |
| Kettle Solutions LLC | Art Director | 2 | $140,000 |
| SPOTIFY USA, INC. | Senior Product Designer | 2 | $222,770 |
| Adyen N.V. | Graphic Designer (Head of UX) | 1 | $105,202 |
| Amount, Inc. | Product Designer | 1 | $112,000 |
| Chervon North America, Inc. | UX RESEARCHER | 1 | $90,000 |
| Cision US Inc. | Senior Product Designer | 1 | $119,676 |
| Crystal Dynamics, Inc. | Environment Artist (Artist I) | 1 | $60,000 |
| DARLEY ROAD STUDIOS INC. | DESIGNER | 1 | $74,922 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- User Experience Designer at Expedia, Inc.$66,747ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided —I-200-26084-730290
- Senior Product Designer at Cision US Inc.$119,676ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-719347
- Senior Product Designer at SPOTIFY USA, INC.$227,140ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Jan 23, 2026I-200-26015-561437
- Graphic Designer at Mysa Spa LLC$55,286Mount ProspectWage Level IIDecided Nov 21, 2025I-200-25318-408213
- Senior Art Director at Kettle Solutions LLC$150,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-326037
- Visual Designer at Farooqi & Husain, LLC$70,000Oakbrook TerraceWage Level IIIDecided Sep 3, 2025I-200-25238-269168
- Graphic Designer at FT Channel Inc.$48,000Wood DaleWage Level IDecided Aug 29, 2025I-200-25235-263037
- Senior Manager JC45 - Graphic Designers at COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP$78,187Buffalo GroveWage Level IVDecided Aug 4, 2025I-200-25209-205357
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.
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Graphic Designers pay by experience level in Illinois
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 Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 21 certified offers. The most common variant is Graphic Designer at a median of $52,271.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | Adyen N.V. | 8 | $52,271 |
| Manager JC50 - Graphic Designers | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 6 | $66,747 |
| Senior Product Designer | SPOTIFY USA, INC. | 4 | $169,038 |
| Senior Art Director | Kettle Solutions LLC | 3 | $130,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Graphic Designers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 38 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $72,467.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 16 | $72,467 |
| Professional services | Kettle Solutions LLC | 8 | $78,461 |
| Finance and insurance | Adyen N.V. | 4 | $85,350 |
| Manufacturing | EFE INTERNATIONAL INC | 3 | $56,228 |
| Education | Elivy Youth Performing Arts Institute | 3 | $45,760 |
| Retail and wholesale | Chervon North America, Inc. | 2 | $69,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Lighthouse Catholic Media NFP | 1 | $53,000 |
| Real estate | Ehomie Chicago Inc. | 1 | $52,541 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for graphic designers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$66,490
Compare Graphic Designers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Illinois with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Graphic Designers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Graphic Designers in Illinois is $62,560.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Graphic Designers?
- The Illinois median is -3.4% versus the BLS national figure of $64,771.
- What is the salary range for Graphic Designers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $36,060 and the 90th-percentile at $98,750, 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.