Graphic Designer salary in Washington, DC
Based on 56 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Arlington, Fairfax, Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,382 |
| 25th | $68,765 |
| 50th (median) | $84,053 |
| 75th | $99,522 |
| 90th | $136,006 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,000 | $58,240 | $84,552 | 37 |
| FY2021 | $74,651 | $61,526 | $90,000 | 30 |
| FY2022 | $77,397 | $63,523 | $130,000 | 36 |
| FY2023 | $77,002 | $62,960 | $94,463 | 31 |
| FY2024 | $85,000 | $71,500 | $142,401 | 49 |
| FY2025 | $84,053 | $68,765 | $101,198 | 44 |
| FY2026 | $72,800 | $72,030 | $88,566 | 12 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Graphic Designer salary of $84,053 is worth about $77,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Graphic Designers in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $85,420 in May 2025 (4,420 employed). The H-1B median here is $84,053, 2% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $84,053 | 20 |
| Ecru Emissary | too few | 5 |
| Amazon | too few | 4 |
| Allagi Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Cato Institute | too few | 2 |
| Cisco Systems | too few | 2 |
| Media Barn | too few | 2 |
| Peblla | too few | 2 |
| Yahoo Holdings | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $72,030 | 27 |
| Senior · Level III | $88,421 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 7 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $68,765 | $72,030 | 27 |
| Senior · Level III | $84,053 | $88,421 | 13 |
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.