Entry-level Graphic Designer salary in San Jose, CA
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Cupertino.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,736 |
| 25th | $66,554 |
| 50th (median) | $87,840 |
| 75th | $111,807 |
| 90th | $124,219 |
Cost of living
San Jose's median entry-level Graphic Designer salary of $87,840 is worth about $79,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Graphic Designers in the San Jose, CA area earned a median of $97,360 in May 2025 (1,280 employed). The H-1B median here is $87,840, 10% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | too few | 4 |
| Amazon | too few | 2 |
| Richard Lewis Media Group | 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 | $87,840 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $132,750 | 90 |
| Senior · Level III | $159,000 | 77 |
| Expert · Level IV | $178,000 | 109 |
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 | $60,736 | $87,840 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $81,890 | $132,750 | 90 |
| Senior · Level III | $103,064 | $159,000 | 77 |
| Expert · Level IV | $124,218 | $178,000 | 109 |
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.