Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in Kentucky (2026)
Graphic designers in Kentucky earn a median $52,960 a year ($25.46 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 16% below the US median of $62,960; Kentucky is 42nd of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in Kentucky is $46,920, so this pays 13% more than the typical job there.
- $52,960median a year in Kentucky
- $25.46median an hour
- −16%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 2,060employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in Kentucky?
Half of graphic designers in Kentucky earn between $42,210 and $65,330. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.5 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $32,620 | $39,520 | $15.68 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $42,210 | $49,040 | $20.29 |
| Median | $52,960 | $62,960 | $25.46 |
| 75th | $65,330 | $81,830 | $31.41 |
| 90th percentile | $81,690 | $104,910 | $39.28 |
The mean (average) is $56,050, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Kentucky compare with other states?
Kentucky sits 42nd of 53, between Oklahoma ($53,630) and Alabama ($51,070).
Which cities in Kentucky pay graphic designers best?
Of the 7 metro areas in Kentucky where BLS publishes a median for the job, Cincinnati pays most, at $62,260, 18% above the state median.
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,730 | $62,260 | $29.93 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 820 | $57,340 | $27.57 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 380 | $58,880 | $28.31 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 100 | $47,650 | $22.91 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 80 | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Owensboro, KY | 60 | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 40 | $48,540 | $23.34 |
How many graphic designers work in Kentucky?
BLS estimates 2,060 employee jobs, 1.03 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 0.81).
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 Kentucky?
3 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Kentucky.
| UX/UI designer | $77,000 | 590 |
|---|---|---|
| Video editor | $62,330 | 60 |
| Videographer | $53,790 | 170 |
| Motion designer | $50,970 | 40 |
| Copywriter | $48,780 | 350 |
| Photographer | $47,170 | 380 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Kentucky's employee median of $25.46 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 Kentucky?
The median is $52,960 a year and the mean is $56,050, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 2,060 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in Kentucky?
The median hourly wage is $25.46. The bottom 10% earn under $15.68 and the top 10% over $39.28.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in Kentucky?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in Kentucky earn under $42,210 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $32,620, 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 = 2,060 jobs in the Kentucky 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