Senior Graphic Designer salary in Washington, DC
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Arlington, Fairfax, Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $84,053 |
| 25th | $85,000 |
| 50th (median) | $88,421 |
| 75th | $120,240 |
| 90th | $155,035 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,985 | $70,970 | $86,375 | 10 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2024 | $121,950 | $83,000 | $154,400 | 21 |
| FY2025 | $88,421 | $84,290 | $120,240 | 10 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 3 |
Cost of living
Washington's median senior Graphic Designer salary of $88,421 is worth about $81,200 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 $88,421, 4% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | too few | 6 |
| Cisco Systems | 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.