Graphic Designers pay range in Athens
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,990 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Athens earn between $37,200 and $57,790.
- $28K10th
- $37K25th
- $48KMedian
- $58K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,430 | $3,952 | $22.80 |
| Median | $47,750 | $3,979 | $22.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,200 | $3,100 | $17.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,790 | $4,816 | $27.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Athens vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Athens earn 26% less than the Georgia average ($64,240) and 33% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $47,430 | $47,750 | $28,370 | $64,990 | 80 |
| Georgia | $64,240 | $60,250 | $34,860 | $100,110 | 5,920 |
| United States | $70,560 | $62,960 | $39,520 | $104,910 | 197,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Graphic Designers salary after taxes in Athens
On the average salary of $47,430, a single filer in Athens takes home about $38,672 a year, or $3,223 a month and $1,487 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Athens a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Athens area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.3), so the average $47,430 buys what about $50,813 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Athens ($41,220). A typical home costs $373,118, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Georgia cities
Athens ranks 10th of 12 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($67,650).
- Atlanta$67,650
- Dalton$61,200
- Warner Robins$59,840
- Savannah$57,150
- Gainesville$56,770
- Augusta$55,540
- Columbus$54,280
- Macon$52,020
- Brunswick$51,890
- Athens$47,430
Highest-paying cities for graphic designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,360).
- San Jose, CA$107,360
- San Francisco, CA$102,130
- Portland, OR$92,530
- Washington, DC$89,540
- New York, NY$85,950
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Graphic Designers salary in Athens: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Athens?
$22.80 an hour on average, and $22.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Athens?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Athens?
About $38,672 a year ($3,223 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,430.
Do graphic designers earn more in Athens than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,560).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1024; area Athens-Clarke County, GA (12020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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