Entry-level Graphic Designer salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 36 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, San Bruno, Fremont, San Mateo.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $56,077 |
| 25th | $57,852 |
| 50th (median) | $63,188 |
| 75th | $70,000 |
| 90th | $97,840 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $48,000 | $45,718 | $57,000 | 17 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | $57,629 | $49,858 | $96,025 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $48,360 | $48,360 | $54,454 | 10 |
| FY2024 | $65,000 | $54,454 | $75,000 | 21 |
| FY2025 | $60,403 | $56,115 | $65,000 | 22 |
| FY2026 | $70,000 | $59,930 | $91,760 | 14 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median entry-level Graphic Designer salary of $63,188 is worth about $54,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Graphic Designers in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $92,050 in May 2025 (3,870 employed). The H-1B median here is $63,188, 31% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| DreamCraft Entertainment | too few | 4 |
| Il Fantuan | too few | 2 |
| Lenme | too few | 2 |
| The Joy Culture Foundation | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $63,188 | 36 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $114,813 | 96 |
| Senior · Level III | $149,750 | 66 |
| Expert · Level IV | $193,550 | 123 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $56,077 | $63,188 | 36 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $75,650 | $114,813 | 96 |
| Senior · Level III | $95,202 | $149,750 | 66 |
| Expert · Level IV | $114,774 | $193,550 | 123 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.