Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Iowa (2026)
Graphic designers in Iowa earn a median $50,310 a year ($24.19 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 20% below the US median of $62,960; Iowa is 45th of 53 states and territories. That is roughly what the typical job in Iowa pays ($48,540).
- $50,310median a year in Iowa
- $24.19median an hour
- −20%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 2,100employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Iowa?
Half of graphic designers in Iowa earn between $44,610 and $63,640. Pay is bunched more tightly than nationally: the 90th percentile is 2.0 times the 10th, against 2.7 times across the US.
| 10th percentile | $36,970 | $39,520 | $17.77 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $44,610 | $49,040 | $21.45 |
| Median | $50,310 | $62,960 | $24.19 |
| 75th | $63,640 | $81,830 | $30.60 |
| 90th percentile | $75,510 | $104,910 | $36.30 |
The mean (average) is $54,820, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Iowa compare with other states?
Iowa sits 45th of 53, between Idaho ($50,350) and Louisiana ($49,910).
Which cities in Iowa pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in Iowa where BLS publishes a median for the job, Cedar Rapids pays most, at $58,520, 16% above the state median.
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,020 | $58,020 | $27.90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 740 | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 200 | $58,520 | $28.14 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 170 | $52,500 | $25.24 |
| Dubuque, IA | 120 | $48,620 | $23.38 |
| Ames, IA | 110 | $57,060 | $27.43 |
| Iowa City, IA | 110 | $49,350 | $23.73 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 110 | $51,060 | $24.55 |
How many graphic designers work in Iowa?
BLS estimates 2,100 employee jobs, 1.34 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.06).
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 Iowa?
3 of the 5 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Iowa.
| UX/UI designer | $69,060 | 670 |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriter | $61,010 | 290 |
| Videographer | $57,220 | 90 |
| Motion designer | $47,530 | n/a |
| Photographer | $38,290 | 430 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Iowa's employee median of $24.19 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 Iowa?
The median is $50,310 a year and the mean is $54,820, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 2,100 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Iowa?
The median hourly wage is $24.19. The bottom 10% earn under $17.77 and the top 10% over $36.30.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Iowa?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Iowa earn under $44,610 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $36,970, 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 = 2,100 jobs in the Iowa 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