Graphic Designers Salary
The median pay for a graphic designers in Georgia is $60,250/year ($28.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $65,568 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 36.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Georgia?
About graphic designers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Georgia
Graphic designers pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 36.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level graphic designers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Graphic Designers salary by metro in Georgia
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $63K | +4% | 4,060 |
| Savannah | $57K | -6% | 160 |
| Gainesville | $56K | -8% | 70 |
| Warner Robins | $54K | -11% | 40 |
| Dalton | $54K | -11% | 120 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $53K | -12% | 190 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $51K | -15% | 70 |
| Columbus | $49K | -19% | 110 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $48K | -21% | 80 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $45K | -26% | 30 |
| Valdosta | $43K | -29% | 40 |
| Albany | $39K | -35% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track graphic designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a graphic designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 36.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for graphic designers in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new graphic designers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,092/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for graphic designers?
Georgia pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do graphic designers make in Georgia?
The median is $60,250 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,860, and experienced graphic designers can clear $100,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,966/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 36.2% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median graphic designers salary is worth about $65,568 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.