Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in South Carolina (2026)
Graphic designers in South Carolina earn a median $57,170 a year ($27.49 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($62,960), 33rd of 53 states and territories. The median for every job in South Carolina is $46,490, so this pays 23% more than the typical job there.
- $57,170median a year in South Carolina
- $27.49median an hour
- −9%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 1,930employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in South Carolina?
Half of graphic designers in South Carolina earn between $44,740 and $72,530. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.4 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $37,190 | $39,520 | $17.88 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $44,740 | $49,040 | $21.51 |
| Median | $57,170 | $62,960 | $27.49 |
| 75th | $72,530 | $81,830 | $34.87 |
| 90th percentile | $90,000 | $104,910 | $43.27 |
The mean (average) is $60,610, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does South Carolina compare with other states?
South Carolina sits 33rd of 53, between Tennessee ($57,270) and Montana ($56,890).
| Georgia | $60,250 | +5% | 5,920 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $58,450 | +2% | 5,660 |
Which cities in South Carolina pay graphic designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in South Carolina where BLS publishes a median for the job, Charleston-North Charleston pays most, at $61,450, 7% above the state median.
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,640 | $59,810 | $28.75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 490 | $58,500 | $28.13 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 320 | $61,450 | $29.54 |
| Columbia, SC | 320 | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 190 | $52,880 | $25.42 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 100 | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 90 | $53,280 | $25.62 |
| Florence, SC | 40 | $60,640 | $29.15 |
How many graphic designers work in South Carolina?
BLS estimates 1,930 employee jobs, 0.84 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is rarer here than nationally: a location quotient of 0.66, 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 South Carolina?
2 of the 4 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in South Carolina.
| UX/UI designer | $80,930 | 800 |
|---|---|---|
| Videographer | $57,940 | 40 |
| Copywriter | $51,920 | 520 |
| Photographer | $37,890 | 630 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. South Carolina's employee median of $27.49 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 South Carolina?
The median is $57,170 a year and the mean is $60,610, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,930 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in South Carolina?
The median hourly wage is $27.49. The bottom 10% earn under $17.88 and the top 10% over $43.27.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in South Carolina?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in South Carolina earn under $44,740 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $37,190, 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 = 1,930 jobs in the South Carolina 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