Revealed: Graphic Designer Salary North Carolina
Graphic designers in North Carolina earn a competitive salary while enjoying a reasonable cost of living compared to other parts of the country.
As the demand for quality design continues to increase across many industries, the career outlook for graphic designers in NC also looks bright.
Graphic designer salary overview for North Carolina
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual pay for a graphic designer in North Carolina is $47,430 as of 2020. This works out to a mean hourly wage of around $22.80.
The actual graphic designer salary can vary quite a bit based on factors like:
- Location within NC
- Years of experience
- Specific job responsibilities and specialization
- Industries like technology, healthcare, engineering, advertising agencies, etc.
Entry level graphic designers in North Carolina can expect to earn around $30k, while senior roles often reach over $65k.
The job outlook also continues to be strong, with an estimated 7% growth in graphic design jobs across NC through 2026.
National comparison
Nationwide, the average graphic designer salary is $53,380 according to 2020 BLS data.
So North Carolina tends to lag behind the national average by about $6,000 per year. Other southern states like Georgia, Florida and Texas also pay slightly higher salaries.
However, the cost of living in North Carolina is often much more affordable than other parts of the country.
So adjusted for expenses, graphic designer pay in NC goes quite a bit further compared to larger metro areas on the west coast or northeast.
Top paying cities for graphic designers in North Carolina
The graphic designer salary can fluctuate quite a bit depending on which part of the state you’re located in.
Here are some of the top paying metro areas and cities for graphic design professionals working in North Carolina as of 2020:
- Raleigh, NC – Average salary of $55,170
- Charlotte, NC – Average salary of $51,640
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC – Average salary of $50,210
- Asheville, NC – Average salary of $46,950
- Wilmington, NC – Average salary of $44,520
Raleigh offers the highest average graphic design salary thanks to the concentration of tech companies and startups in the area.
Many marketing agencies and large corporations base their headquarters in Raleigh as well due to the skilled local workforce.
The Charlotte metro isn’t too far behind, while Durham and Chapel Hill also boast a large number of graphic design professionals.
Wilmington presents strong tourism, hospitality and creative industries that require visual communication services.
No matter which part of the state you’re in, you’ll find active demand for talented graphic designers across all types of large and small businesses in North Carolina.
Graphic designer salary factors and growth potential
A graphic designer’s salary can shift significantly depending on their specific skill sets, experience level, industry and employer.
Here are some of the key factors that influence earning potential as a graphic designer in North Carolina:
1. Specialized skills
Graphic designers who specialize in areas like user experience (UX), user interface (UI) design, animation, 3D modeling or marketing analytics tend to command higher salaries. Learning programming languages like HTML, CSS and JavaScript is also valuable.
2. Education background
Possessing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in graphic design or a related field will qualify candidates for more advanced roles with higher pay ranges compared to self-taught designers.
3. Years of experience
Mid-level designers with 5 – 10 years of experience generally earn between $45k – $65k+. More junior roles start around $30k – $45k while senior designers can make $70k+.
4. Type of employer
Working at a large corporation, startup, nonprofit, agency or government entity can impact pay significantly.
For example, well-funded startups may pay more equity compared to established companies.
5. Location and cost of living
The local job market conditions and typical salary ranges will vary across different metro areas in North Carolina. But cheaper areas generally equal lower pay.
The career outlook for graphic designers also looks strong across North Carolina. Graphic design services continue to see growing demand across virtually every industry.
The expected job growth nationwide for graphic designers sits at 3% through 2029 according to the BLS, on par with the national average across all occupations.
In North Carolina specifically, graphic design jobs are projected to increase by 7% through 2026. So plenty of opportunities should be available, especially for designers with specialized skills in areas like animation, UX and UI design.
How to increase your earning potential as a graphic designer in NC
Here are some tips to help boost your salary expectations and maximize your career advancement potential as a graphic designer working in North Carolina:
1. Get a formal degree – Complete an accredited graphic design, visual arts or interactive media program. Aim for a bachelor’s degree minimum if possible.
2. Build a diversified portfolio – Showcase work across mediums like web, mobile, branding, packaging, illustration and photography. Feature at least 8 – 10 strong pieces.
3. Master trending skills – Develop expertise in high demand areas like responsive web design, animation, 3D, UX principles, design systems, etc.
4. Earn key certifications – Relevant certifications like Google Analytics IQ, Facebook Blueprint and HubSpot help graphic designers stand out.
5. Choose specialization – Focus on mastering an in-demand niche like corporate branding, publication layout, motion graphics, environmental graphics, etc.
6. Relocate to key metro regions – Target your job search efforts on top paying cities like Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham or Asheville metro regions.
7. Work at a boutique agency early on – Smaller agencies tend to develop talent rapidly across many real client projects.
8. Develop technical abilities – Learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript fundamentals even as a print or brand identity designer.
9. Master the latest design tools – Ensure your skills are up to date across Adobe CC, Sketch, Figma, InVision Studio, etc.
10. Consider freelancing on the side – Building freelance experience brings more variety to your portfolio.
11. Always keep refining your skills – Consistently take on new learning opportunities via online courses, mentorships, conferences and local networking events.
Following this roadmap can help maximize your long term career advancement and salary goals as a graphic designer working in the growing North Carolina market.
Job outlook for graphic designers in North Carolina
Beyond competitive salaries, graphic design also provides a creatively fulfilling career path focused on visual communication and problem solving across virtually every industry.
And as businesses small and large continue prioritizing strong branding and standout aesthetics, demand for talented graphic designers only looks to increase moving forward.
Specific design specialities like UI, UX, 3D modeling, animation, AR/VR and video editing should see especially strong demand in the years ahead. Adaptability and technical proficiency will be expected from most graphic designers as well.
Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham, Chapel Hill and Asheville should all feature plentiful graphic design job opportunities thanks to the continued growth in marketing agencies, startups and technology companies across these metro regions.
Wilmington also provides a vibrant market for graphic designers given the strong tourism, hospitality and creative industry footprint.
No matter where you’re located across North Carolina, sharpening your skills in high demand graphic design specialities, mastering the latest tools and actively networking can help drive new career opportunities and salary perks.
Wrapping up
While the national average graphic designer salary trails behind other creative hotspots like New York City and San Francisco, North Carolina still offers plenty of high quality job opportunities with strong earning potential.
Low cost of living, high quality of life and a thriving mix of small agencies and corporations help make a graphic design career quite rewarding across NC.BTN
Specializing in fast-growing areas like UX and UI design, 3D modeling, animation and marketing analytics can truly maximize salary expectations as well. Or even developing basic programming skills in HTML, CSS and JavaScript opens additional job possibilities.
As businesses continue flocking to North Carolina’s affordable metro regions, graphic designers with up-to-date technical abilities should find plentiful job openings and lucrative salaries ahead.
