Designers, All Other
Designers, All Other (SOC 27-1029) earn a median $64,950 a year ($31.23 an hour) in the United States, with 9,480 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New Hampshire.
What designers, all other do
This residual category covers designers whose work does not fit the specific design codes for commercial and industrial, fashion, floral, graphic, interior, or set and exhibit design. O*NET's alternate titles give examples, including advertising designers, colorists, china painters, copyists, digital designers, and creative designers. The source definition is a single line, and O*NET lists no core tasks for this code, so the duties are not described in detail. Designers of a type with a specific code are counted under that code instead, whatever the product. The titles listed suggest a wide spread of work, from decorative and reproductive crafts to digital design, and the particular tasks should be read from the job title and not inferred from the heading. Creative designer and digital designer, for example, are listed beside colorist and copyist.
Also called: Advertising Designer, China Painter, Colorer, Colorist, Copyist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $20.69 | $24.53 | $31.23 | $46.09 | $62.07 | $38.02 | 9,480 |
| Annual | $43,030 | $51,020 | $64,950 | $95,860 | $129,110 | $79,090 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where designers, all other earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $18.20 | $24.17 | $45.51 | $46.81 | $46.81 | $35.51 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $37,850 | $50,270 | $94,660 | $97,360 | $97,360 | $73,870 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $28.87 | $33.54 | $41.36 | $58.15 | $78.36 | $48.76 | 1,050 | 0.11 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $60,050 | $69,760 | $86,030 | $120,950 | $162,990 | $101,430 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $21.10 | $21.10 | $41.20 | $49.18 | $49.21 | $34.58 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $43,890 | $43,890 | $85,700 | $102,290 | $102,350 | $71,930 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $12.77 | $30.21 | $40.37 | $69.90 | $82.85 | $47.04 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $26,560 | $62,840 | $83,980 | $145,400 | $172,320 | $97,840 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $31.71 | $32.18 | $37.24 | $46.38 | $49.67 | $38.73 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.09 |
| Annual | $65,970 | $66,940 | $77,460 | $96,460 | $103,310 | $80,550 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $23.58 | $24.53 | $31.45 | $49.55 | $67.52 | $41.85 | 3,110 | 0.17 | 2.80 |
| Annual | $49,050 | $51,020 | $65,420 | $103,060 | $140,430 | $87,050 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $28.87 | $33.54 | $41.36 | $58.15 | $78.36 | $48.76 | 1,050 | 0.11 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $60,050 | $69,760 | $86,030 | $120,950 | $162,990 | $101,430 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $22.32 | $26.92 | $28.15 | $46.09 | $51.48 | $36.30 | 810 | 0.17 | 2.72 |
| Annual | $46,420 | $55,990 | $58,560 | $95,860 | $107,080 | $75,510 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $16.02 | $24.54 | $28.59 | $48.74 | $62.43 | $36.10 | 550 | 0.13 | 2.11 |
| Annual | $33,320 | $51,040 | $59,470 | $101,370 | $129,850 | $75,080 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.58 | $21.12 | $31.49 | $37.12 | $48.56 | $31.76 | 440 | 0.05 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $28,250 | $43,940 | $65,510 | $77,210 | $101,000 | $66,050 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $33.23 | $33.80 | $62.07 | $62.07 | $77.83 | $54.20 | 160 | 0.14 | 2.33 |
| Annual | $69,120 | $70,310 | $129,110 | $129,110 | $161,890 | $112,730 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $28.32 | $37.17 | $49.54 | $62.26 | $81.78 | $52.59 | 320 | 0.13 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $58,910 | $77,320 | $103,040 | $129,500 | $170,100 | $109,400 | ||||
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | Hourly | $22.47 | $24.83 | $41.00 | $50.23 | $74.67 | $47.10 | 120 | 0.11 | 1.84 |
| Annual | $46,740 | $51,640 | $85,280 | $104,470 | $155,320 | $97,960 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $24.09 | $28.12 | $40.47 | $54.65 | $59.66 | $41.82 | 110 | 0.10 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $50,100 | $58,480 | $84,180 | $113,670 | $124,090 | $86,980 | ||||
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | Hourly | $24.45 | $25.32 | $40.37 | $60.74 | $82.07 | $43.16 | 30 | 0.14 | 2.23 |
| Annual | $50,860 | $52,660 | $83,980 | $126,340 | $170,700 | $89,760 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $23.25 | $24.53 | $28.33 | $40.96 | $62.07 | $39.19 | 1,970 | 0.31 | 5.14 |
| Annual | $48,370 | $51,020 | $58,930 | $85,190 | $129,100 | $81,520 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $25.02 | $30.25 | $39.51 | $57.69 | $68.96 | $44.99 | 1,260 | 0.13 | 2.17 |
| Annual | $52,040 | $62,930 | $82,170 | $120,000 | $143,440 | $93,590 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $23.08 | $26.92 | $28.15 | $46.10 | $52.55 | $37.51 | 580 | 0.20 | 3.29 |
| Annual | $48,010 | $55,990 | $58,560 | $95,890 | $109,300 | $78,020 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $28.32 | $37.17 | $49.54 | $62.26 | $81.78 | $52.59 | 320 | 0.13 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $58,910 | $77,320 | $103,040 | $129,500 | $170,100 | $109,400 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $22.13 | $24.31 | $29.65 | $38.46 | $53.83 | $33.25 | 250 | 0.12 | 1.98 |
| Annual | $46,030 | $50,560 | $61,670 | $80,000 | $111,970 | $69,150 | ||||
Top industries employing designers, all other
Specialized Design Services employ 11.4% of designers, all other nationally (1,080 jobs) at a median $51,020 a year ($24.53 an hour), followed by Management of Companies and Enterprises (7.3%) and Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialized Design Services NAICS 541400 | 1,080 | 11.4% | $51,020 | $24.53 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 690 | 7.3% | $90,630 | $43.57 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 550 | 5.8% | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 340 | 3.6% | * | * |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 424300 | 330 | 3.5% | $92,720 | $44.58 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (9,480). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $62,310 for designers, all other in May 2021 and $64,950 in May 2025, with employment of 10,190 and 9,480.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $62,310 | $29.96 | 10,190 |
| May 2022 | $65,390 | $31.44 | 11,180 |
| May 2023 | $67,500 | $32.45 | 9,880 |
| May 2024 | $66,220 | $31.84 | 9,680 |
| May 2025 | $64,950 | $31.23 | 9,480 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
28 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire profile | $45.51 | $94,660 | $37,850 | $97,360 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | New York profile | $41.36 | $86,030 | $60,050 | $162,990 | 1,050 | 0.11 | 1.78 |
| 3 | Hawaii profile | $41.20 | $85,700 | $43,890 | $102,350 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | South Carolina profile | $40.37 | $83,980 | $26,560 | $172,320 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.40 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $37.24 | $77,460 | $65,970 | $103,310 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.09 |
| 6 | Nevada profile | $36.29 | $75,490 | $35,360 | $110,100 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Pennsylvania profile | $34.98 | $72,760 | $49,660 | $105,160 | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | Tennessee profile | $34.83 | $72,450 | $43,000 | $122,190 | 280 | 0.09 | 1.40 |
| 9 | Indiana profile | $32.01 | $66,580 | $40,660 | $123,090 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.38 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $31.55 | $65,630 | $34,810 | $109,380 | 230 | 0.08 | 1.30 |
| 11 | Florida profile | $31.49 | $65,510 | $28,250 | $101,000 | 440 | 0.05 | 0.73 |
| 12 | California profile | $31.45 | $65,420 | $49,050 | $140,430 | 3,110 | 0.17 | 2.80 |
| 13 | Oregon profile | $29.36 | $61,070 | $32,290 | $126,540 | 280 | 0.14 | 2.30 |
| 14 | Maryland profile | $29.28 | $60,910 | $46,450 | $81,100 | 260 | 0.09 | 1.54 |
| 15 | Virginia profile | $28.85 | $60,000 | $39,330 | $110,430 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| 16 | New Jersey profile | $28.59 | $59,470 | $33,320 | $129,850 | 550 | 0.13 | 2.11 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | $28.15 | $58,560 | $46,420 | $107,080 | 810 | 0.17 | 2.72 |
| 18 | Washington profile | $27.65 | $57,510 | $46,030 | $111,970 | 350 | 0.10 | 1.63 |
| 19 | Louisiana profile | $27.41 | $57,020 | $40,910 | $101,750 | 250 | 0.13 | 2.12 |
| 20 | Utah profile | $26.89 | $55,920 | $31,770 | $85,330 | ** | ** | ** |
| 21 | North Carolina profile | $24.88 | $51,740 | $38,360 | $109,380 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| 22 | Missouri profile | $23.23 | $48,320 | $28,600 | $75,670 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.66 |
| 23 | Arkansas profile | $21.38 | $44,470 | $31,200 | $67,510 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.55 |
| 24 | Montana profile | $20.19 | $42,000 | $23,670 | $89,040 | 60 | 0.13 | 2.06 |
| 25 | Texas profile | $20.00 | $41,590 | $32,720 | $82,720 | ** | ** | ** |
| 26 | Ohio profile | $18.48 | $38,430 | $29,550 | $70,820 | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Iowa profile | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.05 | 0.76 |
| – | Michigan profile | * | * | * | * | 150 | 0.04 | 0.57 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-1029 Designers, All Other.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-1029, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-1029.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.