Graphic Designers pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,730 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Madison earn between $50,990 and $76,970.
- $45K10th
- $51K25th
- $64KMedian
- $77K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,620 | $5,552 | $32.03 |
| Median | $63,970 | $5,331 | $30.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,990 | $4,249 | $24.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,970 | $6,414 | $37.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Madison earn 7% more than the Wisconsin average ($62,410) and 6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $66,620 | $63,970 | $45,190 | $94,730 | 700 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $66,620, a single filer in Madison takes home about $53,251 a year, or $4,438 a month and $2,048 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 Madison a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $66,620 buys what about $68,478 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 2nd 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 Madison: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Madison?
$32.03 an hour on average, and $30.76 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Madison?
About $53,251 a year ($4,438 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,620.
Do graphic designers earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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