Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Kentucky | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $52,960 | $64,771 | -18% |
| Median hourly wage | $25.46 | $31.14 | -18% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $58,714.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $54,809 | $36,400 | $72,800 | 89 |
The median annual salary for a Graphic Designer in Kentucky is $52,960, or about $25.46 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Graphic Designers is $64,771. Kentucky is -18% below the national median.
Entry-level graphic designers in Kentucky typically earn from $36,400 depending on the city and employer.
With 2,060 graphic designer jobs on record and a median salary of $52,960, Kentucky offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 374 of the 699 occupations reported in Kentucky — higher than 46% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Technical Writers at $81,070, Art Directors at $76,160, Commercial and Industrial Designers at $76,100 — all figures are median annual wages for Kentucky.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Kentucky levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 89.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 374 of the 699 occupations reported in Kentucky — higher than 46% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Kentucky | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Writers | $81,070 | $340 |
| Art Directors | $76,160 | $320 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $76,100 | $420 |
| Sound Engineering Technicians | $74,100 | $60 |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $63,020 | — |
| Film and Video Editors | $62,330 | $60 |
Kentucky levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 89.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 699 occupations in Kentucky.