Graphic Designers Salary
The median pay for a graphic designers in Iowa is $50,310/year ($24.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $56,617 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 32.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Iowa?
About graphic designers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for graphic designers in Iowa runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level graphic designers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Graphic Designers salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $59K | +16% | 200 |
| Ames | $57K | +13% | 110 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $57K | +12% | 740 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $53K | +4% | 170 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $51K | +1% | 110 |
| Iowa City | $49K | -2% | 110 |
| Dubuque | $49K | -3% | 120 |
| Sioux City | $47K | -6% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track graphic designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a graphic designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 31.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for graphic designers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new graphic designers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,218/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Iowa?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $50K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for graphic designers?
Iowa pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do graphic designers make in Iowa?
The median is $50,310 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,970, and experienced graphic designers can clear $75,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,335/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 31.9% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $56,617 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.