Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| North Carolina | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $58,450 | $64,771 | -10% |
| Median hourly wage | $28.10 | $31.14 | -10% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $61,983.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $63,242 | $42,000 | $84,000 | 101 |
| Charlotte | $61,435 | $40,800 | $81,600 | 100 |
The median annual salary for a Graphic Designer in North Carolina is $58,450, or about $28.10 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Graphic Designers is $64,771. North Carolina is -10% below the national median.
Entry-level graphic designers in North Carolina typically earn from $42,000 depending on the city and employer.
With 5,660 graphic designer jobs on record and a median salary of $58,450, North Carolina offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 345 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 54% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Art Directors at $90,000, Special Effects Artists and Animators at $88,350, Technical Writers at $86,320 — all figures are median annual wages for North Carolina.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. North Carolina 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 95.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 345 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 54% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in North Carolina | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | $90,000 | — |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $88,350 | $370 |
| Technical Writers | $86,320 | $2,860 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $81,850 | $80 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $80,620 | $1,000 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $78,690 | $180 |
North Carolina 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 95.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 745 occupations in North Carolina.