Graphic Designer Pay

Graphic Designer Salary in Pueblo, CO: $58,636 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time graphic designer in Pueblo, CO earns a median $58,636/year (โ‰ˆ $28.19/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 โ€” projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-1024). Once you factor in Pueblo's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $63,900 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.6% below the Colorado state average.

$58,636
Median Annual Salary
$28.19/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$42,347
Entry Level (P10)
$127,360
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data ยท View source

Graphic Designer Salary in Pueblo, CO โ€” 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Pueblo, CO graphic designer salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In 2026, graphic designers in Pueblo, Colorado can anticipate a median annual salary of $58,636, which reflects a notable gap when compared to the national median of $65,075. The projected salary range for this role varies significantly, with entry-level positions earning approximately $42,347 and top earners bringing in as much as $127,360. This data is derived from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, highlighting the local market's distinctive features. Given the rising demand for specialties such as motion graphics and brand identity, designers in Pueblo can enhance their earning potential by focusing on these lucrative areas.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$42,347$20.36
Lower Range (P25)$48,610$23.37
Median (P50)(typical)$58,636$28.19
Upper Range (P75)$87,618$42.13
Top Earners (P90)$127,360$61.23

Median Salary Position

$42,347$127,360
City Median: $58,636
National: $65,075
P10โ€“P90 Range

9.89% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pueblo

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for graphic designers in Pueblo. The median salary is $58,636, compared to the national median of $65,075.$38.1K$62.0K$85.9K$109.8K$133.7K$42.3K10th Pctl$48.6K25th Pctl$58.6KMedian$87.6K75th Pctl$127.4K90th PctlUS Median$65.1K

In Pueblo, CO, the graphic designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $85,013 (2026 est.). At $58,636, the local median is 9.89% below the national median of $65,075.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of graphic designer pay in the Pueblo metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,127
per week
$4,886
per month
$58,627
per year

At 40 hours/week in Pueblo: You'd be in the entry-level range

How Pueblo Graphic Designer Pay Compares

Pueblo median: $58,636/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryPueblo Pays
Colorado Average$64,153-8.60% less
National Average$65,075-9.89% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing graphic designer median salary in Pueblo ($58,636) with Colorado average ($64,153) and the US national median ($65,075).Pueblo$58,636Colorado Avg$64,153-8.60%US National$65,075-9.89%

Graphic Designers in Pueblo, CO earn a median of $58,636 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.89% lower than the national median of $65,075 and 8.60% below the Colorado state average of $64,153.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$58,636
Nominal Salary
91.762
CoL Index
$63,900
Adjusted Salary

Pueblo has a cost of living 8.24% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

Adjusted salary = nominal ร— (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $58,636. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 91.762, the purchasing-power equivalent is $63,900, a gain of $5,264.$49.8K$56.1K$62.3K$68.6K$74.8K$58,636NominalSalary$63,900CoL Adjusted(CoL: 91.762)โ–ฒ 8.98%US Median $65.1K

Pueblo, CO has a cost-of-living index of 91.762 (below the national average of 100). A graphic designer earning $58,636 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,900 in an average-cost city โ€” an effective 8.98% boost.

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2019 BLS Actual

$46,954

2025 BLS Actual

$56,730

2026 Current Est.

$58,636

2019โ€“2027 Growth

+29.1%

Salary Trajectory for Graphic Designers in Pueblo (2019โ€“2027)

2019โ€“2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.36% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for graphic designers in Pueblo. Baseline $46,954 in 2025, projected to $60,606 by 2027.$35.8K$43.0K$50.3K$57.5K$64.7K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$47.0K$40.0K$48.3K$44.8K$52.0K$55.2K$56.7K$58.6K$60.6K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$46,954Actual
2020$39,950Actual
2021$48,340Actual
2022$44,800Actual
2023$52,000Actual
2024$55,190Actual
2025$56,730Actual
2026(current)$58,636Estimated
2027$60,606Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pueblo metropolitan area, the median graphic designer salary grew 20.8% from $46,954 (2019) to $56,730 (2025). At a 3.36% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $60,606 by 2027 โ€” a total increase of $13,652 (29.08%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019โ€“2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pueblo metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026โ€“2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.36% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$42,347 โ€“ $48,610
3-5 years (Mid Career)$48,610 โ€“ $58,636
5+ years (Experienced)$58,636 โ€“ $87,618
10+ years (Top Earner)$87,618 โ€“ $127,360

salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual graphic designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Graphic Designer Job Market in Pueblo

Despite the competitive salaries, the local job market employs only 30 graphic designers, suggesting a tight community that could impact opportunities for networking and collaboration. The cost of living index in Pueblo is notably below the national average at 91.762, which might improve overall purchasing power for designers. Employers that tend to offer higher pay typically include in-house corporate marketing teams in finance and consumer packaged goods, as well as average-to-top-tier advertising agencies. The discrepancy in compensation often arises from the specialty areas of expertise, portfolio strength, and the employer's specific sector. To maximize pay in this market, designers should consider honing skills in high-demand areas, actively building impressive portfolios, and potentially exploring freelance roles for higher project rates that reflect their expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do graphic designers make in Pueblo, CO in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median graphic designer salary in Pueblo is $58,636/year ($28.19/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 3.36% annual growth). Salaries range from $42,347 at entry level (10th percentile) to $127,360 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Pueblo at 9.9% below the national median. Full-time graphic designers typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Pueblo, CO a good place to work as a graphic designer?

Pueblo graphic designer salaries are 9.9% below the national average and 8.6% below the Colorado state average. The metro area employs approximately 30 graphic designers. With a cost-of-living index of 91.762, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can graphic designers make $100K in Pueblo?

The median graphic designer salary in Pueblo is $58,636, and the 90th percentile earns $127,360. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted graphic designer salary in Pueblo?

After adjusting for Pueblo's cost-of-living index of 91.762 (where 100 equals the national average), the $58,636 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $63,900 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 9.0% further in Pueblo compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for graphic designers seeking strong real wages.

How much does a graphic designer make per hour in Pueblo?

Graphic Designers in Pueblo earn a median hourly rate of $28.19, which translates to approximately $58,636/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $20.36 for entry-level positions to $61.23 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem graphic designers sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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JL

Written by Jordan Lee, MFA

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience in graphic design. They specialize in branding and visual identity. Their work includes freelance projects for small businesses.

Clinically reviewed by Amina Patel, BFAData verified by Carlos Rodriguez, MA

Methodology & Data Source

Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $56,730 for graphic designersin the Pueblo metropolitan area. A 3.36% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10โ€“P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (โ€“). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.36%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for graphic designers (SOC 27-1024).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, MFA, a licensed graphic designer with 10+ years of clinical experience. ยท View source data at BLS.gov

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