Creative pay 2026
Graphic designer salary in South Dakota (2026)
Graphic designers in South Dakota earn a median $48,390 a year ($23.26 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 23% below the US median of $62,960; South Dakota is 47th of 53 states and territories. That is roughly what the typical job in South Dakota pays ($47,080).
- $48,390median a year in South Dakota
- $23.26median an hour
- −23%vs the US median ($62,960)
- 470employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a graphic designer in South Dakota?
Half of graphic designers in South Dakota earn between $40,990 and $57,560. Pay is bunched more tightly than nationally: the 90th percentile is 1.8 times the 10th, against 2.7 times across the US.
| 10th percentile | $36,290 | $39,520 | $17.45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $40,990 | $49,040 | $19.71 |
| Median | $48,390 | $62,960 | $23.26 |
| 75th | $57,560 | $81,830 | $27.67 |
| 90th percentile | $66,620 | $104,910 | $32.03 |
The mean (average) is $50,880, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does South Dakota compare with other states?
South Dakota sits 47th of 53, between Louisiana ($49,910) and Arkansas ($46,220).
| Iowa | $50,310 | +4% | 2,100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $63,860 | +32% | 5,570 |
| Montana | $56,890 | +18% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $56,700 | +17% | 1,670 |
| North Dakota | $56,470 | +17% | 460 |
| Wyoming | $45,150 | −7% | 240 |
Which cities in South Dakota pay graphic designers best?
Of the 3 metro areas in South Dakota where BLS publishes a median for the job, Sioux Falls pays most, at $50,030, 3% above the state median.
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 200 | $50,030 | $24.05 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 80 | $49,990 | $24.03 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 60 | $47,270 | $22.73 |
How many graphic designers work in South Dakota?
BLS estimates 470 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 South Dakota?
1 of the 4 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in South Dakota.
| Copywriter | $56,700 | 60 |
|---|---|---|
| Photographer | $45,330 | 190 |
| Videographer | $44,160 | 50 |
| Video editor | $39,090 | 30 |
What do freelance graphic designers charge?
Upwork, graphic designers list $15 to $35 an hour, worldwide. South Dakota's employee median of $23.26 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 Dakota?
The median is $48,390 a year and the mean is $50,880, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 470 employee jobs.
How much does a graphic designer make an hour in South Dakota?
The median hourly wage is $23.26. The bottom 10% earn under $17.45 and the top 10% over $32.03.
What does a starting graphic designer earn in South Dakota?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of graphic designers in South Dakota earn under $40,990 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $36,290, 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 = 470 jobs in the South Dakota 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