Graphic Designers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,580 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Hickory earn between $40,340 and $64,770.
- $36K10th
- $40K25th
- $51KMedian
- $65K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,430 | $4,702 | $27.13 |
| Median | $50,540 | $4,212 | $24.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,340 | $3,362 | $19.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,770 | $5,398 | $31.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Hickory earn 11% less than the North Carolina average ($63,250) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $56,430 | $50,540 | $35,860 | $82,580 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $63,250 | $58,450 | $37,680 | $95,380 | 5,660 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $56,430, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $45,779 a year, or $3,815 a month and $1,761 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $56,430 buys what about $63,773 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 12th of 14 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($67,480).
- Durham$67,480
- Raleigh$66,820
- Charlotte$64,580
- Wilmington$64,160
- Burlington$61,170
- Greensboro$60,400
- Jacksonville$59,470
- Asheville$59,390
- Rocky Mount$58,290
- Hickory$56,430
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 Hickory: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Hickory?
$27.13 an hour on average, and $24.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $45,779 a year ($3,815 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,430.
Do graphic designers earn more in Hickory 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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