Graphic Designers pay range in Waterloo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,220 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Waterloo earn between $44,310 and $61,480.
- $37K10th
- $44K25th
- $51KMedian
- $61K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,830 | $4,402 | $25.40 |
| Median | $51,060 | $4,255 | $24.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,310 | $3,692 | $21.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,480 | $5,123 | $29.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Waterloo vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Waterloo earn 4% less than the Iowa average ($54,820) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | $52,830 | $51,060 | $36,870 | $69,220 | 110 |
| Iowa | $54,820 | $50,310 | $36,970 | $75,510 | 2,100 |
| 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 Waterloo
On the average salary of $52,830, a single filer in Waterloo takes home about $43,233 a year, or $3,603 a month and $1,663 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Waterloo a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waterloo area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.1), so the average $52,830 buys what about $60,684 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Waterloo ($47,430). A typical home costs $200,191, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Iowa cities
Waterloo ranks 8th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Cedar Rapids pays the most ($58,100).
- Cedar Rapids$58,100
- Des Moines$57,110
- Ames$57,100
- Davenport$56,180
- Iowa City$55,640
- Sioux City$53,480
- Dubuque$52,950
- Waterloo$52,830
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Graphic Designers salary in Waterloo: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Waterloo?
$25.40 an hour on average, and $24.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Waterloo?
About $43,233 a year ($3,603 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,830. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Waterloo than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (47940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.