Graphic Designers Salary
The median pay for a graphic designers in Connecticut is $72,700/year ($34.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.88), that's roughly $70,665 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,679/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Connecticut. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Connecticut?
About graphic designers
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What this looks like in Connecticut
Connecticut sits well above the national pay line for graphic designers, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,679/month, which is 36% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Connecticut
Entry-level graphic designers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Graphic Designers salary by metro in Connecticut
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury | $82K | +13% | 650 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $71K | -3% | 500 |
| Waterbury-Shelton | $68K | -6% | 270 |
| New Haven | $68K | -6% | 260 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic | $66K | -10% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track graphic designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Connecticut numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a graphic designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Connecticut?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 36% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,679/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for graphic designers in Connecticut?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new graphic designers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,845/month. At HUD’s $1,679/month FMR, rent would take 59% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is graphic designer a high-paying job in Connecticut?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $73K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Connecticut compare to the national average for graphic designers?
Connecticut pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do graphic designers make in Connecticut?
The median is $72,700 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,420, and experienced graphic designers can clear $106,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Connecticut?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,665/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,679/month, which eats 36% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a graphic designers salary go in Connecticut?
Connecticut has a Regional Price Parity of 102.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median graphic designers salary is worth about $70,665 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do graphic designers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.