Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Tennessee | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $57,270 | $64,771 | -12% |
| Median hourly wage | $27.53 | $31.14 | -12% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $62,318.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $60,230 | $40,000 | $80,000 | 105 |
| Memphis | $53,002 | $35,200 | $70,400 | 85 |
The median annual salary for a Graphic Designer in Tennessee is $57,270, or about $27.53 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Graphic Designers is $64,771. Tennessee is -12% below the national median.
Entry-level graphic designers in Tennessee typically earn from $40,000 depending on the city and employer.
With 3,880 graphic designer jobs on record and a median salary of $57,270, Tennessee offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 350 of the 730 occupations reported in Tennessee — higher than 52% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Art Directors at $89,860, Special Effects Artists and Animators at $83,080, Music Directors and Composers at $79,640 — all figures are median annual wages for Tennessee.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, so take-home pay is closer to the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 92.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 350 of the 730 occupations reported in Tennessee — higher than 52% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Tennessee | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | $89,860 | $930 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $83,080 | $90 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $79,640 | $400 |
| Technical Writers | $79,550 | $480 |
| Producers and Directors | $73,020 | $2,920 |
| Designers, All Other | $72,450 | $280 |
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, so take-home pay is closer to the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 92.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 730 occupations in Tennessee.