Graphic Designers pay range in Tuscaloosa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,890 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Tuscaloosa earn between $35,350 and $56,040.
- $33K10th
- $35K25th
- $46KMedian
- $56K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,460 | $4,038 | $23.30 |
| Median | $45,760 | $3,813 | $22.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,350 | $2,946 | $17.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,040 | $4,670 | $26.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Tuscaloosa vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Tuscaloosa earn 15% less than the Alabama average ($57,010) and 31% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa | $48,460 | $45,760 | $32,810 | $72,890 | 70 |
| Alabama | $57,010 | $51,070 | $33,050 | $89,130 | 1,760 |
| 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 Tuscaloosa
On the average salary of $48,460, a single filer in Tuscaloosa takes home about $39,116 a year, or $3,260 a month and $1,504 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Tuscaloosa a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tuscaloosa area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $48,460 buys what about $55,243 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Tuscaloosa ($45,220). A typical home costs $223,201, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Alabama cities
Tuscaloosa ranks 10th of 11 Alabama metro areas for this job; Huntsville pays the most ($66,870).
- Huntsville$66,870
- Birmingham$59,710
- Auburn$56,580
- Montgomery$54,460
- Decatur$53,150
- Mobile$52,370
- Anniston$50,450
- Daphne$50,000
- Dothan$49,690
- Tuscaloosa$48,460
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 Tuscaloosa: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Tuscaloosa?
$23.30 an hour on average, and $22.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Tuscaloosa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Tuscaloosa?
About $39,116 a year ($3,260 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,460. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Tuscaloosa than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% 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 Tuscaloosa, AL (46220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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