Graphic Designers pay range in Grand Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,230 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Grand Rapids earn between $46,860 and $69,600.
- $39K10th
- $47K25th
- $58KMedian
- $70K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,770 | $4,981 | $28.74 |
| Median | $57,870 | $4,822 | $27.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,860 | $3,905 | $22.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,600 | $5,800 | $33.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Grand Rapids vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Grand Rapids earn about the same as the Michigan average ($60,250) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $59,770 | $57,870 | $38,990 | $84,230 | 730 |
| Michigan | $60,250 | $57,350 | $38,770 | $86,320 | 6,070 |
| 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 Grand Rapids
On the average salary of $59,770, a single filer in Grand Rapids takes home about $47,102 a year, or $3,925 a month and $1,812 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Grand Rapids a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Rapids area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $59,770 buys what about $62,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Rapids ($47,570). A typical home costs $359,923, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Michigan cities
Grand Rapids ranks 7th of 13 Michigan metro areas for this job; Jackson pays the most ($64,630).
- Jackson$64,630
- Detroit$63,800
- Ann Arbor$61,640
- Niles$60,590
- Battle Creek$60,300
- Lansing$59,870
- Grand Rapids$59,770
- Kalamazoo$59,550
- Muskegon$54,810
- Traverse City$54,340
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 Grand Rapids: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Grand Rapids?
$28.74 an hour on average, and $27.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Grand Rapids?
About $47,102 a year ($3,925 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,770. Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Do graphic designers earn more in Grand Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (24340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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