Graphic Designers pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,810 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in State College earn between $48,390 and $67,120.
- $39K10th
- $48K25th
- $58KMedian
- $67K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,570 | $4,881 | $28.16 |
| Median | $58,340 | $4,862 | $28.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,390 | $4,032 | $23.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,120 | $5,593 | $32.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Graphic Designers salary after taxes in State College
On the average salary of $58,570, a single filer in State College takes home about $47,443 a year, or $3,954 a month and $1,825 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is State College a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $58,570 buys what about $60,530 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 10th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($69,820).
- Philadelphia$69,820
- Gettysburg$69,280
- Erie$61,300
- Pittsburgh$61,000
- Harrisburg$60,970
- Allentown$60,960
- Williamsport$60,230
- York$59,870
- Lancaster$59,370
- State College$58,570
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 State College: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in State College?
$28.16 an hour on average, and $28.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in State College?
About $47,443 a year ($3,954 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,570. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($71,400).
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 State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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