Graphic Designer Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Graphic Designers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $60,150 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,866 take-home, or $3,989 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median graphic designer salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,038
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,729
- Medicare (1.45%)$872
- Virginia income tax$2,645
- Take-home pay$47,866
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Graphic Designer pay by experience in Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,940 | $17.76 | $30,551 | $2,546 |
| 25th percentile | $45,720 | $21.98 | $37,101 | $3,092 |
| Median (50th) | $60,150 | $28.92 | $47,866 | $3,989 |
| 75th percentile | $79,110 | $38.03 | $60,749 | $5,062 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,230 | $48.19 | $74,393 | $6,199 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,150 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median graphic designer's $47,866 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,872 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 Virginia Beach, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.59), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for graphic designers, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #55 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 |
| 55 | Virginia Beach, VA | $60,150 | $47,866 | $48,872 |
*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 Virginia
- Richmond, VA — $66,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a graphic designer make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median graphic designer salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $60,150 a year, or about $28.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,720 and $79,110.
What is a graphic designer’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $60,150 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $47,866 a year ($3,989 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,645 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a graphic designer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $62,960. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,872 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #55 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a graphic designer afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median graphic designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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