Graphic Designers salary in Philadelphia, PA

Median pay for graphic designers in Philadelphia, PA: $59,640/yr

Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $39,150 – $94,550 · about 3,630 employed locally

Above the typical metro median ($50,005) by +$9,635 (+19%).

What it's really worth in Philadelphia

With Philadelphia's cost of living at 102 (US=100), that $59,640 has the buying power of about $58,263 in an average-cost US metro.

Local context: median household income $85,555 · median home $390,463 · median rent $1,914/mo.

Full Philadelphia cost of living & taxes →

How Philadelphia ranks for this job

On raw pay, Philadelphia, PA is 34th of the 186 metros we hold graphic designers wages for. Once Philadelphia's cost of living is applied, it ranks 36th.

Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so Philadelphia sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.

What that salary buys in Philadelphia

A median home in Philadelphia, PA costs $390,463 — about 6.5× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.

Median rent of $1,914/mo works out at 39% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.

Where graphic designers earn more

Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Philadelphia.

Metro	Median pay	vs Philadelphia	Rent vs Philadelphia
San Jose, CA	$96,260	+61%	1.9×
San Francisco, CA	$92,380	+55%	1.7×
Washington, DC	$80,100	+34%	1.3×
New York, NY	$75,900	+27%	1.8×

Same job elsewhere in PA

Metro	Median pay	vs Philadelphia	Rent vs Philadelphia
Allentown, PA	$54,960	−8%	1×
Harrisburg, PA	$50,570	−15%	0.8×
York, PA	$50,190	−16%	0.7×
Pittsburgh, PA	$49,480	−17%	0.8×

Staying in PA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.

Other jobs in Philadelphia