Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Wisconsin | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $59,900 | $64,771 | -8% |
| Median hourly wage | $28.80 | $31.14 | -8% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $63,656.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $57,219 | $38,000 | $76,000 | 96 |
The median annual salary for a Graphic Designer in Wisconsin is $59,900, or about $28.80 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Graphic Designers is $64,771. Wisconsin is -8% below the national median.
Entry-level graphic designers in Wisconsin typically earn from $38,000 depending on the city and employer.
With 4,130 graphic designer jobs on record and a median salary of $59,900, Wisconsin offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, graphic designers rank 370 of the 728 occupations reported in Wisconsin — higher than 49% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Art Directors at $81,130, Commercial and Industrial Designers at $80,590, Technical Writers at $80,030 — all figures are median annual wages for Wisconsin.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Wisconsin 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 370 of the 728 occupations reported in Wisconsin — higher than 49% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Wisconsin | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | $81,130 | $730 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $80,590 | $820 |
| Technical Writers | $80,030 | $910 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $78,690 | $200 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $69,780 | $80 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $67,240 | $4,410 |
Wisconsin 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 728 occupations in Wisconsin.