Graphic Designers Salary
The median pay for a graphic designers in Oregon is $66,040/year ($31.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $64,467 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,555/month, about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Oregon?
About graphic designers
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What this looks like in Oregon
Graphic designers pay in Oregon tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,555/month, which is 37.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level graphic designers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $125K spread from bottom to top.
Graphic Designers salary by metro in Oregon
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $76K | +15% | 3,090 |
| Salem | $66K | -0% | 210 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $58K | -12% | 200 |
| Bend | $58K | -12% | 130 |
| Albany | $55K | -16% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track graphic designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a graphic designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 37.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for graphic designers in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new graphic designers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,716/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is graphic designer a high-paying job in Oregon?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for graphic designers?
Oregon pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do graphic designers make in Oregon?
The median is $66,040 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,260, and experienced graphic designers can clear $170,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,133/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 37.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a graphic designers salary go in Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median graphic designers salary is worth about $64,467 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do graphic designers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.