Illinois Median
$62,560
per year
Hourly Rate
$30.08
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $62,960
State Rank
#17 of 51
8,960 employed here
How much does a Graphic Designer make in Illinois?
A Graphic Designer working in Illinois earns a median salary of $62,560 per year, or about $30.08 per hour. That is 1% below the national median of $62,960 for this occupation.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $36,060 while the top 10% make $98,750 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,530 and $81,320 a year.
Graphic Designer salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,060 | $17.34 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,530 | $22.85 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $62,560 | $30.08 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $81,320 | $39.10 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,750 | $47.48 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 17th out of 51 states and territories for Graphic Designer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Graphic Designer salary in other states
District of Columbia $87,920Rhode Island $78,220New York $77,340Massachusetts $76,710California $75,130Maryland $75,120New Jersey $73,790Washington $72,710Connecticut $72,700Virginia $72,310Colorado $66,330Oregon $66,040Vermont $65,690Minnesota $63,860Nevada $62,890Alaska $62,570Utah $62,310Florida $61,660Pennsylvania $60,730New Hampshire $60,490Georgia $60,250Texas $60,150Delaware $60,130Ohio $60,080Maine $60,030Wisconsin $59,900Arizona $58,510North Carolina $58,450Hawaii $58,070Michigan $57,350Tennessee $57,270South Carolina $57,170Montana $56,890Missouri $56,750New Mexico $56,730Nebraska $56,700North Dakota $56,470Indiana $55,480Kansas $53,630Oklahoma $53,630Kentucky $52,960Alabama $51,070Idaho $50,350Iowa $50,310Louisiana $49,910South Dakota $48,390Arkansas $46,220Mississippi $45,640Wyoming $45,150West Virginia $40,350
Working as a Graphic Designer in Illinois
Nationally, about 198,000 people work as Graphic Designers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Illinois pay ($62,560) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Graphic Designer make in Illinois?
The median Graphic Designer salary in Illinois is $62,560 per year, or about $30.08 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,060 at the entry level to $98,750 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Graphic Designers about 1% less than the national median of $62,960. Illinois ranks 17th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Graphic Designers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $62,560 a year. About 8,960 Graphic Designers are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Graphic Designer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.