Designer salary
From 147 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 27-1029: Designers, All Other
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 49% of Designer filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 24% since FY2020. From $58,200 in FY2020 to $72,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Designer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 147 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Designer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 27-1029, Designers, All Other). The median base salary is $72,800, 41% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $62,679 and $85,000. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 49% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 23% of filings
Mid-level · 49% of filings
Senior · 19% of filings
Expert · 8% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $60,000 | 34 |
| Level II · Qualified | $73,299 | 72 |
| Level III · Experienced | $85,000 | 28 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $91,330 | 12 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Designer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 3 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $74,880 | 45 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $72,400 | 24 |
| Boston, MA | $64,000 | 12 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Designer does
All designers not listed separately.
O*NET occupation: Designers, All Other (27-1029.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Designers, All Other), the median annual wage was $64,950 in May 2025, with 9,480 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $72,800, 12% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,459 | $43,030 |
| 25th percentile | $62,679 | $51,020 |
| Median | $72,800 | $64,950 |
| 75th percentile | $85,000 | $95,860 |
| 90th percentile | $97,353 | $129,110 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,459 |
| 25th | $62,679 |
| 50th (median) | $72,800 |
| 75th | $85,000 |
| 90th | $97,353 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $58,200 | $49,920 | $70,000 | 61 |
| FY2021 | $59,005 | $52,000 | $67,000 | 50 |
| FY2022 | $64,000 | $53,500 | $78,925 | 48 |
| FY2023 | $62,700 | $54,000 | $74,000 | 44 |
| FY2024 | $71,006 | $62,800 | $89,340 | 50 |
| FY2025 | $73,441 | $60,725 | $85,000 | 74 |
| FY2026 | $72,000 | $63,981 | $85,000 | 73 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Designer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Designer jobs is $72,800 (147 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $62,679 and $85,000.
What does an entry-level Designer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $60,000. Level I accounts for 23% of Designer filings.
Do H-1B Designers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($72,800) is 12% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($64,950, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.