Graphic Designers pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,410 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Lexington earn between $47,120 and $67,450.
- $39K10th
- $47K25th
- $59KMedian
- $67K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,530 | $5,044 | $29.10 |
| Median | $58,880 | $4,907 | $28.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,120 | $3,927 | $22.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,450 | $5,621 | $32.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Lexington earn 8% more than the Kentucky average ($56,050) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $60,530 | $58,880 | $39,140 | $88,410 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $56,050 | $52,960 | $32,620 | $81,690 | 2,060 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $60,530, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $47,150 a year, or $3,929 a month and $1,813 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $60,530 buys what about $65,164 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 1st of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lexington$60,530
- Louisville$59,810
- Elizabethtown$57,340
- Bowling Green$51,050
- Owensboro$44,650
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Graphic Designers salary in Lexington: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Lexington?
$29.10 an hour on average, and $28.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Lexington?
About $47,150 a year ($3,929 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,530. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do graphic designers earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.