The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026.
The design & creative industry includes 38 tracked roles with national median salaries ranging from $38,000 to $185,000. The highest-paying role is AI Creative Director at $185,000 national median. Design and creative roles shape the experiences users have with products and brands.
About design & creative salaries
Design and creative roles shape the experiences users have with products and brands. From UX designers crafting interfaces to motion designers producing video content, this industry values both aesthetic skill and the ability to drive measurable engagement. AI is transforming creative workflows, creating new hybrid roles that command premium pay.