California Graphic Designer Salary and Employment Trends (State and City)

First, if you don't know what a Graphic Designer does, check out our career profile here.

With a median wage of $52,400, Graphic Designers in California earn the third highest median wage of all US States (Washington DC leads at $64,670 followed by New York at $54,310). More graphic designers are employed in California (26,450) than any other state.

State of California info: 

Bakersfield info:

• Bakersfield graphic designer employment increased 30% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Bakersfield graphic designers increased 47% from 2002 to 2011.

Chico info:

• Chico graphic designer employment increased 20% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Chico graphic designers increased 27% from 2002 to 2011.

Fresno info:

• Fresno graphic designer employment still decreased 27% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Fresno graphic designers increased 29% from 2002 to 2011.

Los Angeles area info:

• Despite a reduction in employment after the 2008 recession, Los Angeles area graphic designer employment still increased 62% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Los Angeles area graphic designers increased 31% from 2002 to 2011.

Modesto area info:

• Modesto graphic designer employment decreased 8% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Modesto graphic designers increased 24% from 2002 to 2011.

Oakland area info:

• Despite a reduction in employment after the 2008 recession, Oakland area graphic designer employment still increased 83% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Oakland area graphic designers increased 7% from 2002 to 2011.

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura area info:

• Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura area graphic designer employment decreased 25% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura area graphic designers increased 7% from 2002 to 2011.

Redding area info:

• Redding area graphic designer employment decreased 33% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Redding area graphic designers increased 60% from 2002 to 2011.

Riverside area info:

• Riverside area graphic designer employment increased 86% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Riverside area graphic designers decreased slightly by 1% from 2002 to 2011.

Sacramento area info: 

• Despite a reduction in employment after the 2008 recession, Sacramento area graphic designer employment still increased 10% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Sacramento area graphic designers increased 21% from 2002 to 2011.

San Diego area info:

• Despite a reduction in employment after the 2008 recession, San Diego area graphic designer employment still increased 47% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for San Diego area graphic designers increased 24% from 2002 to 2011.

San Francisco area info:

• Despite a reduction in employment after the 2008 recession, San Francisco area graphic designer employment still increased 17%% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for San Francisco area graphic designers increased 39% from 2002 to 2011.

San Jose area info: 

• San Jose area graphic designer employment increased 20% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for San Jose area graphic designers increased 21% from 2002 to 2011.

San Luis Obispo area info: 

• San Luis Obispo area graphic designer employment increased 144% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for San Luis Obispo area graphic designers increased 14% from 2002 to 2011.

Santa Barbara area info: 

• Santa Barbara area graphic designer employment increased 110% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Santa Barbara area graphic designers increased 18% from 2002 to 2011.

Santa Cruz area info: 

• Santa Cruz area graphic designer employment increased 100% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Santa Cruz area graphic designers increased 7% from 2002 to 2011.

Santa Rosa area info:

• Santa Rosa area graphic designer employment increased 4% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Santa Rosa area graphic designers decreased 1% from 2002 to 2011.

Stockton area info: 

• Despite a reduction in employment after the 2008 recession, Stockton area graphic designer employment still increased 88% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Stockton area graphic designers increased 39% from 2002 to 2011.

Vallejo area info: 

• Vallejo area graphic designer employment is unchanged from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Vallejo area graphic designers increased 34% from 2002 to 2011.

Visalia-Porterville area info: 

• Visalia-Porterville area graphic designer employment decreased 13% from 2002 to 2011.
• The median income for Visalia-Porterville area graphic designers increased 35% from 2002 to 2011.