Graphic Designers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,690 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Charleston earn between $45,510 and $80,540.
- $36K10th
- $46K25th
- $61KMedian
- $81K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,310 | $5,359 | $30.92 |
| Median | $61,450 | $5,121 | $29.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,510 | $3,792 | $21.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,540 | $6,712 | $38.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Charleston earn 6% more than the South Carolina average ($60,610) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $64,310 | $61,450 | $36,290 | $95,690 | 320 |
| South Carolina | $60,610 | $57,170 | $37,190 | $90,000 | 1,930 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $64,310, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $51,905 a year, or $4,325 a month and $1,996 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 Charleston a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $64,310 buys what about $63,697 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$64,310
- Greenville$62,350
- Spartanburg$60,930
- Florence$60,680
- Hilton Head Island$59,530
- Columbia$58,670
- Myrtle Beach$57,070
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 Charleston: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Charleston?
$30.92 an hour on average, and $29.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $51,905 a year ($4,325 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,310.
Do graphic designers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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