Designers
SOC 27-1020
The median annual wage for Designers is $47,670, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $57,320, and an estimated 570,330 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +3.7% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -11.9% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Designers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $47,670 | $47,670 | 570,330 |
| 2022 | $46,990 | $48,924 | 563,810 |
| 2021 | $46,370 | $52,142 | 526,080 |
| 2020 | $45,980 | $54,133 | 504,880 |
Nominal change
+3.7%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-11.9%
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$30,490
25th Pct
$36,050
Median
$47,670
75th Pct
$70,000
90th Pct
$96,370
Related Occupations in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media
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All Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media occupations →