Graphic Designer Pay

Graphic Designer Salary in Oregon City, OR: $59,332 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time graphic designer in Oregon City, OR earns a median $59,332/year (≈ $28.53/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-1024). Once you factor in Oregon City's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 102.6), that paycheck buys what $57,828 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.0% below the Oregon state average.

$59,332
Median Annual Salary
$28.53/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$38,210
Entry Level (P10)
$91,965
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Graphic Designer Salary in Oregon City, OR — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Oregon City, OR graphic designer salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In 2026, graphic designers in Oregon City, Oregon are projected to earn a median annual salary of $59,332. This figure is approximately 8.83% lower than the national median of $65,075 for the same occupation, illustrating how local market dynamics influence compensation. Salaries for graphic designers in this area range from $38,210 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $91,965 at the higher end (90th percentile), indicating a potential for significant earnings depending on experience and specialty. These estimates, derived from BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional cost variations, reveal a job market that rewards proficiency in areas like motion graphics and brand identity, often leading to premium compensation for those skilled in these specialties.

About the Oregon City Market

Salary estimated from Oregon average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$38,210$18.37
Lower Range (P25)$46,336$22.27
Median (P50)(typical)$59,332$28.53
Upper Range (P75)$75,099$36.10
Top Earners (P90)$91,965$44.22

Median Salary Position

$38,210$91,965
City Median: $59,332
National: $65,075
P10–P90 Range

8.83% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Oregon City

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for graphic designers in Oregon City. The median salary is $59,332, compared to the national median of $65,075.$34.4K$49.9K$65.5K$81.0K$96.6K$38.2K10th Pctl$46.3K25th Pctl$59.3KMedian$75.1K75th Pctl$92.0K90th PctlUS Median$65.1K

In Oregon City, OR, the graphic designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $53,755 (2026 est.). At $59,332, the local median is 8.83% below the national median of $65,075.

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

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,141
per week
$4,945
per month
$59,337
per year

At 40 hours/week in Oregon City: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Oregon City Graphic Designer Pay Compares

Oregon City median: $59,332/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryOregon City Pays
Oregon Average$59,931-1.00% less
National Average$65,075-8.83% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing graphic designer median salary in Oregon City ($59,332) with Oregon average ($59,931) and the US national median ($65,075).Oregon City$59,332Oregon Avg$59,931-1.00%US National$65,075-8.83%

Graphic Designers in Oregon City, OR earn a median of $59,332 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.83% lower than the national median of $65,075 and 1.00% below the Oregon state average of $59,931.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$59,332
Nominal Salary
102.6
CoL Index
$57,828
Adjusted Salary

Oregon City has a cost of living 2.60% above the national average.

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

The nominal salary is $59,332. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 102.6, the purchasing-power equivalent is $57,828, a loss of $1,504.$49.2K$55.6K$62.0K$68.4K$74.8K$59,332NominalSalary$57,828CoL Adjusted(CoL: 102.6) -2.53%US Median $65.1K

Oregon City, OR has a cost-of-living index of 102.6 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $59,332 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $57,828 — a 2.53% reduction.

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2019 BLS Actual

$47,511

2025 BLS Actual

$57,403

2026 Current Est.

$59,332

2019–2027 Growth

+29.1%

Salary Trajectory for Graphic Designers in Oregon City (20192027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for graphic designers in Oregon City. Baseline $47,511 in 2025, projected to $61,325 by 2027.$42.9K$48.7K$54.6K$60.5K$66.3K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$47.5K$48.7K$46.2K$52.9K$53.7K$63.0K$57.4K$59.3K$61.3K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$47,511Actual
2020$48,669Actual
2021$46,234Actual
2022$52,872Actual
2023$53,710Actual
2024$62,990Actual
2025$57,403Actual
2026(current)$59,332Estimated
2027$61,325Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Oregon City metropolitan area, the median graphic designer salary grew 20.8% from $47,511 (2019) to $57,403 (2025). At a 3.36% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $61,325 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,814 (29.08%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Oregon City metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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)$38,210$46,336
3-5 years (Mid Career)$46,336$59,332
5+ years (Experienced)$59,332$75,099
10+ years (Top Earner)$75,099$91,965

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

Graphic Designer Job Market in Oregon City

The employment landscape for graphic designers in Oregon City includes just six professionals, hinting at a small but potentially supportive local network. With a cost of living index of 102.6, salaries must be considered in relation to living expenses, which can impact take-home purchasing power. Companies utilizing in-house corporate marketing teams—such as those in finance or consumer goods—typically offer higher pay compared to many advertising or design agencies. The wage disparity in this market varies significantly based on design specialty and agency tier; top-tier agencies are known to provide premium compensation for advanced roles. To maximize earnings within Oregon City, designers should focus on building strong portfolios that showcase motion graphics and brand identity work, while also considering freelance opportunities that command better rates for experienced professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do graphic designers make in Oregon City, OR in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median graphic designer salary in Oregon City is $59,332/year ($28.53/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 3.36% annual growth). Salaries range from $38,210 at entry level (10th percentile) to $91,965 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Oregon City at 8.8% 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 Oregon City, OR a good place to work as a graphic designer?

Oregon City graphic designer salaries are 8.8% below the national average and 1.0% below the Oregon state average. The metro area employs approximately 6 graphic designers. With a cost-of-living index of 102.6, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can graphic designers make $100K in Oregon City?

The median graphic designer salary in Oregon City is $59,332, and the 90th percentile earns $91,965. 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 Oregon City?

After adjusting for Oregon City's cost-of-living index of 102.6 (where 100 equals the national average), the $59,332 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $57,828 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Oregon City reduce the effective value of your salary by 2.5% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

How much does a graphic designer make per hour in Oregon City?

Graphic Designers in Oregon City earn a median hourly rate of $28.53, which translates to approximately $59,332/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $18.37 for entry-level positions to $44.22 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

Nearby Cities in Oregon

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 $57,403 for graphic designersin the Oregon City 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 (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Salary data for Oregon City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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. · View source data at BLS.gov

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