Create visual concepts using design software to communicate ideas through images and layouts. Median salary in Durham: $58K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Durham, North Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Durham-based Graphic Designers. Many Durham professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Durham's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Durham ($1,500/mo) consumes approximately 47% of an after-tax median Graphic Designer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($78K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $58K by 2030.
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The median Graphic Designer salary in Durham, NC is $58,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Durham–NC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Graphic Designers in Durham with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $42,000 and $58,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $58,000 to $78,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $78,000 to $102,000 or more.
Durham has a cost of living index of 100 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Durham are close to the national average. North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in Graphic Design or Fine Arts. This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Durham-based professionals.