Graphic Designer Salary in Memphis, TN
Graphic Designers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $59,000 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,587 take-home, or $4,132 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,900
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,658
- Medicare (1.45%)$856
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,587
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,820 | $18.18 | $32,568 | $2,714 |
| 25th percentile | $47,160 | $22.67 | $40,073 | $3,339 |
| Median (50th) | $59,000 | $28.37 | $49,587 | $4,132 |
| 75th percentile | $79,740 | $38.34 | $64,927 | $5,411 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,990 | $48.55 | $79,876 | $6,656 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,000 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $49,587 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,794 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Graphic Designer jobs are less concentrated in Memphis, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for graphic designers, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #18 of 64 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $97,360 | $71,232 | $64,508 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $81,800 | $63,452 | $59,377 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $85,420 | $64,631 | $59,357 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $92,050 | $68,059 | $58,868 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $76,720 | $62,803 | $56,511 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $75,790 | $58,912 | $56,382 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $78,270 | $60,199 | $55,603 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $65,060 | $54,456 | $55,530 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $59,000 | $49,587 | $53,794 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 64 metros →
Graphic Designer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $60,370
- Knoxville, TN — $56,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make in Memphis, TN?
The median graphic designer salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $59,000 a year, or about $28.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,160 and $79,740.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $59,000 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $49,587 a year ($4,132 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,794 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #18 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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- Coach and Scout — $37,440
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