Graphic Designers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,240 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Columbia earn between $45,630 and $65,630.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $56KMedian
- $66K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,670 | $4,889 | $28.21 |
| Median | $55,690 | $4,641 | $26.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,630 | $3,802 | $21.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,630 | $5,469 | $31.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Columbia earn 3% less than the South Carolina average ($60,610) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $58,670 | $55,690 | $37,210 | $86,240 | 320 |
| South Carolina | $60,610 | $57,170 | $37,190 | $90,000 | 1,930 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $58,670, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $47,747 a year, or $3,979 a month and $1,836 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).
Is Columbia a good place for graphic designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $58,670 buys what about $62,640 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($64,310).
- Charleston$64,310
- Greenville$62,350
- Spartanburg$60,930
- Florence$60,680
- Hilton Head Island$59,530
- Columbia$58,670
- Myrtle Beach$57,070
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 Columbia: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Columbia?
$28.21 an hour on average, and $26.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $47,747 a year ($3,979 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,670.
Do graphic designers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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