What Is the Average Salary for a Graphic Design Artist in NC?

Graphic design artists in North Carolina can earn a wide range of salaries depending on their experience, skillset and industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state’s average annual salary for graphic design artists is $44,740.

The highest-paid graphic design artists in NC can expect to make an average of $72,420 per year, with the top 10 percent earning more than $86,200 annually. On the other end of the spectrum, those at the beginning of their careers may make as little as $27,000 per year.

Graphic designers working in North Carolina’s capital city Raleigh tend to make more than their peers elsewhere in the state. The average salary for a graphic designer in Raleigh is $51,910 per year.

Meanwhile, those employed in Durham make an average salary of $47,250. The city with the lowest average salary for graphic designers is Fayetteville at $41,770 per year.

Factors That Impact Graphic Designer Salaries

Graphic design salaries vary greatly depending on experience and skill level. Graphic designers with advanced skills such as animation or programming tend to command higher salaries than those with basic skills such as photo editing or layout design. In addition to experience and skillset, location also plays a role in determining salaries for graphic designers in North Carolina; larger cities tend to pay higher wages than smaller towns and rural areas.

Industry Type

Graphic designers also have different earning potential based on what type of industry they work in. Those employed by advertising agencies tend to be among some of the highest earners in North Carolina; they make an average annual salary of $50,980 according to BLS data from 2020. Meanwhile those employed by colleges and universities earn an average salary of just over $37k per year.

Education Level

Finally, education level also plays a role in determining how much a graphic designer earns; most employers prefer candidates with at least an associate degree or certificate from a technical school program related to graphics design or digital media production/editing. Those with bachelor’s degrees typically have higher earning potential than less-educated professionals due to their more advanced knowledge and technical skillset.

Conclusion

The average salary for a graphic design artist in NC is $44,740 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; however this figure can vary significantly based on experience level and location as well as industry type and educational attainment.