Graphic Designers salary in Eugene, OR
Median pay for graphic designers in Eugene, OR: $49,900/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $35,720 – $69,710 · about 250 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($50,005) by −$105 (+0%).
What it's really worth in Eugene
With Eugene's cost of living at 104 (US=100), that $49,900 has the buying power of about $48,192 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $65,157 · median home $459,366 · median rent $1,780/mo.
How Eugene ranks for this job
On raw pay, Eugene, OR is 97th of the 186 metros we hold graphic designers wages for. Once Eugene's cost of living is applied, it ranks 164th.
The headline number flatters Eugene. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, graphic designers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Eugene
A median home in Eugene, OR costs $459,366 — about 9.2× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,780/mo works out at 43% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where graphic designers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Eugene.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Eugene | Rent vs Eugene |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $96,260 | +93% | 2× |
| San Francisco, CA | $92,380 | +85% | 1.8× |
| Washington, DC | $80,100 | +61% | 1.4× |
| New York, NY | $75,900 | +52% | 2× |
Same job elsewhere in OR
| Metro | Median pay | vs Eugene | Rent vs Eugene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | $59,590 | +19% | 1× |
| Salem, OR | $58,690 | +18% | 0.9× |
Staying in OR keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires graphic designers around Eugene
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Springhill Suites · Retail
Other jobs in Eugene
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.