Graphic Designers pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,740 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Helena earn between $52,010 and $69,640.
- $44K10th
- $52K25th
- $64KMedian
- $70K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,370 | $5,614 | $32.39 |
| Median | $63,690 | $5,308 | $30.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,010 | $4,334 | $25.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,640 | $5,803 | $33.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Helena earn 9% more than the Montana average ($61,670) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $67,370 | $63,690 | $44,080 | $106,740 | 30 |
| Montana | $61,670 | $56,890 | $37,790 | $104,780 | 610 |
| 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 Helena
On the average salary of $67,370, a single filer in Helena takes home about $53,779 a year, or $4,482 a month and $2,068 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 Helena a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $67,370 buys what about $70,415 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 1st of 5 Montana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Helena$67,370
- Missoula$65,370
- Bozeman$64,480
- Billings$59,760
- Great Falls$57,510
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 Helena: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Helena?
$32.39 an hour on average, and $30.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Helena?
About $53,779 a year ($4,482 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,370.
Do graphic designers earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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