Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Alabama (2026)
Graphic designers in Alabama earn a median $51,070 a year ($24.55 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 19% below the US median of $62,960; Alabama is 43rd of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in Alabama is $45,670, so this pays 12% more than the typical job there.
- $51,070median a year in Alabama
- $24.55median an hour
- −19%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 1,760employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Alabama?
Half of graphic designers in Alabama earn between $39,030 and $67,430. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.7 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $33,050 | $39,520 | $15.89 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $39,030 | $49,040 | $18.77 |
| Median | $51,070 | $62,960 | $24.55 |
| 75th | $67,430 | $81,830 | $32.42 |
| 90th percentile | $89,130 | $104,910 | $42.85 |
The mean (average) is $57,010, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Alabama compare with other states?
Alabama sits 43rd of 53, between Kentucky ($52,960) and Idaho ($50,350).
| Florida | $61,660 | +21% | 12,660 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $60,250 | +18% | 5,920 |
| Mississippi | $45,640 | −11% | 830 |
| Tennessee | $57,270 | +12% | 3,880 |
Which cities in Alabama pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in Alabama where BLS publishes a median for the job, Huntsville pays most, at $62,720, 23% above the state median.
| Birmingham, AL | 530 | $52,480 | $25.23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 270 | $62,720 | $30.15 |
| Montgomery, AL | 150 | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 110 | $48,750 | $23.44 |
| Mobile, AL | 100 | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 70 | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 70 | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 60 | $53,120 | $25.54 |
How many graphic designers work in Alabama?
BLS estimates 1,760 employee jobs, 0.83 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is rarer here than nationally: a location quotient of 0.65, where 1 is the US average.
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in Alabama?
4 of the 5 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Alabama.
| Video editor | $74,410 | 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriter | $66,950 | 180 |
| Videographer | $61,800 | 220 |
| UX/UI designer | $51,860 | 130 |
| Photographer | $36,130 | 530 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Alabama's employee median of $24.55 an hour is inside that range. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average graphic designer salary in Alabama?
The median is $51,070 a year and the mean is $57,010, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,760 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Alabama?
The median hourly wage is $24.55. The bottom 10% earn under $15.89 and the top 10% over $42.85.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Alabama?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Alabama earn under $39,030 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $33,050, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 27-1024, Graphic Designers. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 1,760 jobs in the Alabama estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Graphic designer pay in other states
- District of Columbia $87,920
- Rhode Island $78,220
- New York $77,340
- Massachusetts $76,710
- California $75,130
- Maryland $75,120
- New Jersey $73,790
- Washington $72,710
- Connecticut $72,700
- Virginia $72,310
- Colorado $66,330
- Oregon $66,040