Graphic Designers pay range in Rockford
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,070 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Rockford earn between $44,830 and $64,590.
- $39K10th
- $45K25th
- $55KMedian
- $65K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,460 | $4,705 | $27.14 |
| Median | $54,530 | $4,544 | $26.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,830 | $3,736 | $21.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,590 | $5,382 | $31.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Rockford vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Rockford earn 16% less than the Illinois average ($66,980) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $56,460 | $54,530 | $38,710 | $77,070 | 110 |
| Illinois | $66,980 | $62,560 | $36,060 | $98,750 | 8,960 |
| 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 Rockford
On the average salary of $56,460, a single filer in Rockford takes home about $44,892 a year, or $3,741 a month and $1,727 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Rockford a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rockford area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $56,460 buys what about $61,267 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Rockford ($47,120). A typical home costs $221,368, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Illinois cities
Rockford ranks 6th of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($71,470).
- Chicago$71,470
- Bloomington$63,960
- Peoria$60,530
- Champaign$60,300
- Springfield$57,720
- Rockford$56,460
- Decatur$56,080
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 Rockford: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Rockford?
$27.14 an hour on average, and $26.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Rockford?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Rockford?
About $44,892 a year ($3,741 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,460.
Do graphic designers earn more in Rockford than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Rockford, IL (40420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 (2025 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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