Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Indiana (2026)
Graphic designers in Indiana earn a median $55,480 a year ($26.67 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 12% below the US median of $62,960; Indiana is 39th of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in Indiana is $47,860, so this pays 16% more than the typical job there.
- $55,480median a year in Indiana
- $26.67median an hour
- −12%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 3,450employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Indiana?
Half of graphic designers in Indiana earn between $46,600 and $70,260. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.5 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $38,520 | $39,520 | $18.52 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $46,600 | $49,040 | $22.41 |
| Median | $55,480 | $62,960 | $26.67 |
| 75th | $70,260 | $81,830 | $33.78 |
| 90th percentile | $98,020 | $104,910 | $47.13 |
The mean (average) is $61,990, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Indiana compare with other states?
Indiana sits 39th of 53, between North Dakota ($56,470) and Kansas ($53,630).
Which cities in Indiana pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in Indiana where BLS publishes a median for the job, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays most, at $66,490, 20% above the state median.
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,590 | $66,490 | $31.97 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,730 | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1,530 | $60,520 | $29.10 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 820 | $57,340 | $27.57 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 270 | $52,280 | $25.14 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 160 | $51,370 | $24.70 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 140 | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| Evansville, IN | 110 | $51,450 | $24.74 |
How many graphic designers work in Indiana?
BLS estimates 3,450 employee jobs, 1.08 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 0.85).
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 Indiana?
4 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Indiana.
| Copywriter | $75,820 | 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $75,250 | 300 |
| UX/UI designer | $63,430 | 1,160 |
| Videographer | $56,810 | 200 |
| Video editor | $46,780 | 450 |
| Photographer | $35,960 | 810 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Indiana's employee median of $26.67 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 Indiana?
The median is $55,480 a year and the mean is $61,990, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 3,450 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Indiana?
The median hourly wage is $26.67. The bottom 10% earn under $18.52 and the top 10% over $47.13.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Indiana?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Indiana earn under $46,600 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $38,520, 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 = 3,450 jobs in the Indiana 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