Graphic Designers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,370 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Rochester earn between $50,220 and $77,290.
- $46K10th
- $50K25th
- $61KMedian
- $77K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,670 | $5,389 | $31.09 |
| Median | $61,240 | $5,103 | $29.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,220 | $4,185 | $24.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,290 | $6,441 | $37.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Rochester earn 5% less than the Minnesota average ($68,280) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $64,670 | $61,240 | $45,510 | $91,370 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $68,280 | $63,860 | $42,690 | $96,960 | 5,570 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $64,670, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $51,268 a year, or $4,272 a month and $1,972 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 (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $64,670 buys what about $71,206 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($72,700).
- Minneapolis$72,700
- Rochester$64,670
- Mankato$59,250
- St. Cloud$58,600
- Duluth$57,040
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 Rochester: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Rochester?
$31.09 an hour on average, and $29.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $51,268 a year ($4,272 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,670. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Rochester, MN (40340). 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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