Graphic Designers Salary
The median pay for a graphic designers in Kentucky is $52,960/year ($25.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $58,694 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 31.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $53K get you in Kentucky?
About graphic designers
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for graphic designers in Kentucky runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level graphic designers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Graphic Designers salary by metro in Kentucky
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $59K | +11% | 380 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $57K | +8% | 820 |
| Elizabethtown | $49K | -8% | 40 |
| Bowling Green | $48K | -10% | 100 |
| Owensboro | $45K | -15% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track graphic designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a graphic designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 31.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for graphic designers in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new graphic designers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,957/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $53K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for graphic designers?
Kentucky pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do graphic designers make in Kentucky?
The median is $52,960 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,620, and experienced graphic designers can clear $81,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,539/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 31.4% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $58,694 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.