Graphic Designers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $103,440 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Rochester earn between $49,740 and $81,180.
- $42K10th
- $50K25th
- $64KMedian
- $81K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,930 | $5,911 | $34.10 |
| Median | $63,530 | $5,294 | $30.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,740 | $4,145 | $23.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,180 | $6,765 | $39.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Rochester earn 14% less than the New York average ($82,410) and about the same as the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $70,930 | $63,530 | $42,090 | $103,440 | 650 |
| New York | $82,410 | $77,340 | $43,680 | $131,250 | 14,530 |
| 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 $70,930, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $55,433 a year, or $4,619 a month and $2,132 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $70,930 buys what about $73,097 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 3rd of 11 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($85,950).
- New York$85,950
- Kiryas Joel$73,220
- Rochester$70,930
- Albany$69,460
- Ithaca$66,330
- Buffalo$64,820
- Utica$62,780
- Kingston$62,520
- Glens Falls$60,730
- Syracuse$58,180
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?
$34.10 an hour on average, and $30.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $55,433 a year ($4,619 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,930. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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