Graphic Designer.
Salt Lake City.
$62,000
median salary, 2% above the national average
$47,000 to $80,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Graphic Designer offer in Salt Lake City, UT, here is the reality: $47,000 to $80,000, with $62,000 as the midpoint. 2% above the national average. Industry (tech and advertising pay the most), specialization (brand identity, motion graphics, or 3D), and portfolio quality are the primary drivers. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Graphic Designer in Salt Lake City, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,210 for Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024) in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metropolitan area, based on 660 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$39,110
25th percentile
$50,550
Median
$62,210
75th percentile
$78,760
90th percentile
$102,850
Workers surveyed
660
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024) rather than Graphic Designer specifically. The Salt Lake City range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 27-1024Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $56,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$40,000
to $50,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$53,000
to $65,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$68,000
to $81,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$78,000
to $96,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $16,000 to the total package.
Base
$62,000
Equity
$9,000
Bonus
$6,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $78,000
How Salt Lake City compares.
Salt Lake City, UT
$62,000
Cost of living: 2% below average
National Average
$61,000
Salt Lake City is $1,000 above
Graphic Designer salary by city.
Salary by role in Salt Lake City.
What you should know.
Here is what the Graphic Designer market actually looks like in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City anchors the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, home to companies like Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and Domo. The region has attracted significant venture investment and tech relocations. Utah's business friendly environment, young educated workforce, and outdoor lifestyle make it a rising destination for tech professionals seeking affordability without sacrificing career growth. Industry (tech and advertising pay the most), specialization (brand identity, motion graphics, or 3D), and portfolio quality are the primary drivers. Designers who can demonstrate measurable business impact through their work (conversion rates, engagement metrics) earn significantly more. Proficiency in emerging tools like Figma and After Effects also adds value.
Junior graphic designers start at $40,000 to $52,000, reaching mid level at $55,000 to $72,000 in two to three years. Senior designers earn $72,000 to $95,000. Art directors reach $95,000 to $130,000, and creative directors at agencies or large companies can earn $140,000 to $200,000+. In Salt Lake City, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 5 to 10% are common in corporate and agency roles. Freelance graphic designers can earn 30 to 50% more per hour but sacrifice benefits and income stability. Benefits at design firms often include creative software subscriptions, portfolio development time, and conference budgets. And on the tax side: utah has a flat 4.65% state income tax. Salt Lake City imposes no additional city income tax. The moderate rate combined with affordable living costs results in strong net compensation. When someone quotes you $62,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference Silicon Slopes growth when negotiating. Local employers are increasingly matching 85 to 95% of Seattle or Bay Area salaries to compete for tech talent. The range for Graphic Designers in Salt Lake City runs from $47,000 to $80,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Graphic Designer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Salt Lake City.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Graphic Designer Salary in Salt Lake City, UT." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/graphic-designer/salt-lake-city
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