Graphic Designers pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,260 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Appleton earn between $47,960 and $74,010.
- $45K10th
- $48K25th
- $60KMedian
- $74K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,570 | $5,214 | $30.08 |
| Median | $59,980 | $4,998 | $28.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,960 | $3,997 | $23.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,010 | $6,168 | $35.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Appleton earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($62,410) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $62,570 | $59,980 | $44,620 | $81,260 | 210 |
| Wisconsin | $62,410 | $59,900 | $42,680 | $85,050 | 4,130 |
| 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 Appleton
On the average salary of $62,570, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $50,249 a year, or $4,187 a month and $1,933 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $62,570 buys what about $67,703 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 4th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Kenosha pays the most ($73,130).
- Kenosha$73,130
- Madison$66,620
- Milwaukee$64,080
- Appleton$62,570
- Janesville$62,570
- Racine$61,930
- Green Bay$60,880
- Oshkosh$60,360
- Fond du Lac$59,560
- Eau Claire$59,440
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 Appleton: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Appleton?
$30.08 an hour on average, and $28.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Appleton?
About $50,249 a year ($4,187 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,570.
Do graphic designers earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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