Graphic Designers salary in San Francisco, CA
Median pay for graphic designers in San Francisco, CA: $92,380/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $50,460 – $144,690 · about 4,840 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($50,005) by +$42,375 (+85%).
What it's really worth in San Francisco
With San Francisco's cost of living at 118 (US=100), that $92,380 has the buying power of about $78,587 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $129,315 · median home $1,149,215 · median rent $3,258/mo.
How San Francisco ranks for this job
On raw pay, San Francisco, CA is 2nd of the 186 metros we hold graphic designers wages for. Once San Francisco's cost of living is applied, it ranks 2nd.
Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so San Francisco sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.
What that salary buys in San Francisco
A median home in San Francisco, CA costs $1,149,215 — about 12.4× 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 $3,258/mo works out at 42% 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 San Francisco.
| Metro | Median pay | vs San Francisco | Rent vs San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $96,260 | +4% | 1.1× |
| Washington, DC | $80,100 | −13% | 0.7× |
| New York, NY | $75,900 | −18% | 1.1× |
| Seattle, WA | $74,390 | −19% | 0.7× |
Same job elsewhere in CA
| Metro | Median pay | vs San Francisco | Rent vs San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $96,260 | +4% | 1.1× |
| Los Angeles, CA | $74,050 | −20% | 0.9× |
| Santa Maria, CA | $72,480 | −22% | 1× |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $68,660 | −26% | 1.1× |
Staying in CA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires graphic designers around San Francisco
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Salesforce · Tech
- Uber · Tech
Other jobs in San Francisco
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.