Graphic Designers Salary
The median pay for a graphic designers in Wisconsin is $59,900/year ($28.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $63,500 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 30.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Wisconsin?
About graphic designers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Graphic designers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level graphic designers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Graphic Designers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha | $67K | +12% | 70 |
| Madison | $64K | +7% | 700 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $62K | +3% | 1,200 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $61K | +1% | 50 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $60K | +0% | 90 |
| Appleton | $60K | +0% | 210 |
| Green Bay | $59K | -1% | 240 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $59K | -2% | 280 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $57K | -5% | 130 |
| Eau Claire | $56K | -6% | 100 |
| Wausau | $55K | -8% | 60 |
| Fond du Lac | $54K | -9% | 30 |
| Sheboygan | $53K | -11% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
Track graphic designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a graphic designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 30% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new graphic designers typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,561/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for graphic designers?
Wisconsin pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do graphic designers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $59,900 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,680, and experienced graphic designers can clear $85,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,003/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 30% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $63,500 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.