Salaries › Graphic Designer › Kentucky
Graphic Designer Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$25.46 per hour · take-home ≈ $42,880/year ($3,573/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for Graphic Designer pay, with a median about 18% below the national average. Of the 2,060 Graphic Designer jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $52,960 a year — though pay ranges from $32,620 for newcomers to $81,690 at the top.
Graphic Designer pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $32,620 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $42,210 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $52,960 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $65,330 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $81,690 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 2,060 Graphic Designer jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 27-1024, “Graphic Designers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Graphic Designer salary of $52,960 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $42,880 — an effective tax rate of 19.0%.
| Gross (median) | $52,960 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,175 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,051 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,854 |
| Take-home (annual) | $42,880 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,573 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Graphic Designer make in Kentucky?
- The median Graphic Designer salary in Kentucky is $52,960 per year ($25.46 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $42,210 and $65,330.
- What is the take-home pay for a Graphic Designer in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $52,960, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $42,880 per year ($3,573 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.0%.
- How many Graphic Designer jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 2,060 Graphic Designer jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Graphic Designers
Other salaries in Kentucky
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Kentucky state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Kentucky.