Graphic Designers Salary in Wilmington, NC
The median pay for a graphic designers in Wilmington, NC is $47,360/year ($22.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.42), that's roughly $49,118 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,426/month — about 43.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (96.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wilmington, NC
Entry-level graphic designers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Graphic Designers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $91K | +48% | 1,280 |
| California | $76K | +25% | 28,310 |
| Massachusetts | $76K | +25% | 4,890 |
| Washington | $76K | +24% | 5,460 |
| New York | $75K | +22% | 16,730 |
| Virginia | $70K | +14% | 5,500 |
| New Jersey | $67K | +9% | 5,870 |
| Maryland | $66K | +8% | 3,880 |
| Connecticut | $65K | +7% | 1,980 |
| Rhode Island | $64K | +5% | 820 |
| Oregon | $64K | +4% | 3,080 |
| Vermont | $62K | +1% | 470 |
| Texas | $62K | +1% | 19,360 |
| Illinois | $60K | -2% | 7,900 |
| Utah | $59K | -4% | 3,070 |
| Minnesota | $59K | -4% | 5,460 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | -5% | 4,630 |
| Florida | $58K | -6% | 14,010 |
| Georgia | $58K | -6% | 5,410 |
| New Mexico | $58K | -6% | 1,170 |
| New Hampshire | $57K | -7% | 680 |
| Nevada | $57K | -7% | 1,970 |
| Indiana | $56K | -8% | 4,480 |
| South Carolina | $56K | -8% | 1,990 |
| Delaware | $56K | -8% | 420 |
| Montana | $55K | -10% | 650 |
| Alaska | $55K | -10% | 150 |
| Ohio | $55K | -10% | 7,010 |
| Maine | $53K | -13% | 590 |
| Pennsylvania | $53K | -14% | 8,280 |
| Michigan | $53K | -14% | 5,990 |
| Nebraska | $52K | -14% | 1,780 |
| Arizona | $52K | -15% | 4,330 |
| Tennessee | $52K | -16% | 4,190 |
| Hawaii | $52K | -16% | 510 |
| Missouri | $51K | -17% | 3,700 |
| North Carolina | $51K | -17% | 7,210 |
| Kentucky | $50K | -18% | 1,910 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -18% | 1,770 |
| Kansas | $50K | -19% | 2,080 |
| Idaho | $49K | -21% | 970 |
| Alabama | $48K | -21% | 2,010 |
| North Dakota | $48K | -22% | 500 |
| Iowa | $48K | -22% | 2,230 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -24% | 1,450 |
| Louisiana | $46K | -24% | 1,200 |
| Mississippi | $45K | -26% | 920 |
| South Dakota | $44K | -28% | 470 |
| Wyoming | $43K | -29% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -40% | 540 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track graphic designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wilmington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do graphic designers make in Wilmington, NC?
The median is $47,360 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,480, and experienced graphic designers can clear $83,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,163/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,426/month, which eats 45.1% 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 Wilmington?
Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 96.42 (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 $49,118 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.