"How long does it take to become a graphic designer in Oregon?"

"Most paths into the graphic designer field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for graphic designers in Oregon?"

"In Oregon, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Graphic Designer in Oregon

Q: "How much do graphic designers earn in Oregon?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), graphic designers in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $66,040. Employment concentration in Oregon is about 1.66 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for graphic designers in Oregon?"

"Oregon currently employs approximately 4,140 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Oregon graphic designers earn a median annual wage of $66,040 ($31.75/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,140 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.9% above the national median of $62,960 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $66,040 ($31.75/hr)
25th percentile: $57,420 per year
75th percentile: $103,220 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $170,680 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,260 per year
Workers employed in Oregon: 4,140
Versus national median: 4.9% above the U.S. median of $62,960
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.66 - this occupation is more concentrated in Oregon than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Oregon employs approximately 4,140 graphic designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $66,040 ¹. The state’s concentration of graphic designer jobs is 1.66x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, graphic designer employment is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 20,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a graphic designer in Oregon, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Graphic Designer in Oregon

How do I become a graphic designer in Oregon? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for graphic designers in Oregon.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do graphic designers earn in Oregon? The median annual wage for graphic designers in Oregon is $66,040 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,260 and experienced professionals can earn $170,680 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Oregon): $66,040 per year ¹

Graphic Designer Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

Graphic Designers Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), graphic designers wages in Oregon vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	3,090	$75,650	$92,530	$47,890	$170,680
Salem	210	$65,720	$65,470	$37,630	$88,550
Eugene-Springfield	200	$57,970	$60,710	$38,290	$86,570
Bend	130	$57,800	$63,830	$38,790	$97,430
Medford	90	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Albany	40	$55,250	$58,550	$37,290	$77,060
Corvallis	30	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Graphic designers in Oregon

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest graphic designer employment within Oregon according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	3,090	$75,650
Salem	210	$65,720
Eugene-Springfield	200	$57,970
Bend	130	$57,800
Medford	90	n/a

Explore graphic designer programs in Portland, Salem, and Eugene.

Explore More Trades in Oregon

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for graphic designers in Oregon? Oregon currently employs approximately 4,140 graphic designers ¹. Nationally, graphic designer employment is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Oregon? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Oregon.

How much do graphic designers earn in Oregon compared to the national average? The median annual wage for graphic designers in Oregon is $66,040, which is $4,740 above the national median of $61,300 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)