Graphic Designer.
Jackson.
$47,000
median salary, 23% below the national average
$36,000 to $61,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Graphic Designer in Jackson earns a median of $47,000 in 2026. That is 23% below the national average. The range runs from $36,000 to $61,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Industry (tech and advertising pay the most), specialization (brand identity, motion graphics, or 3D), and portfolio quality are the primary drivers. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Graphic Designer in Jackson, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $47,310 for Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024) in the Jackson, MS metropolitan area, based on 270 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$35,510
25th percentile
$39,990
Median
$47,310
75th percentile
$62,820
90th percentile
$78,740
Workers surveyed
270
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024) rather than Graphic Designer specifically. The Jacksonrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 27-1024Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $42,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$31,000
to $38,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$40,000
to $49,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$52,000
to $61,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$59,000
to $73,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $12,000 to the total package.
Base
$47,000
Equity
$7,000
Bonus
$4,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $59,000
How Jackson compares.
Jackson, MS
$47,000
Cost of living: 21% below average
National Average
$61,000
Jackson is $14,000 below
Graphic Designer salary by city.
Salary by role in Jackson.
What you should know.
Here is what the Graphic Designer market actually looks like in Jackson. Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city, with an economy driven by government, healthcare, and energy. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is a major employer. Jackson offers some of the lowest living costs in the country, making even moderate salaries deliver substantial purchasing power. Industry (tech and advertising pay the most), specialization (brand identity, motion graphics, or 3D), and portfolio quality are the primary drivers. Designers who can demonstrate measurable business impact through their work (conversion rates, engagement metrics) earn significantly more. Proficiency in emerging tools like Figma and After Effects also adds value.
Junior graphic designers start at $40,000 to $52,000, reaching mid level at $55,000 to $72,000 in two to three years. Senior designers earn $72,000 to $95,000. Art directors reach $95,000 to $130,000, and creative directors at agencies or large companies can earn $140,000 to $200,000+. In Jackson, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 21% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 5 to 10% are common in corporate and agency roles. Freelance graphic designers can earn 30 to 50% more per hour but sacrifice benefits and income stability. Benefits at design firms often include creative software subscriptions, portfolio development time, and conference budgets. And on the tax side: mississippi's top income tax rate is 5%. Jackson has no city income tax. The very low cost of living means take home pay goes further here than almost any other metro. When someone quotes you $47,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against regional healthcare and government pay scales. Jackson employers offer competitive benefits packages to compensate for lower base salaries. The range for Graphic Designers in Jackson runs from $36,000 to $61,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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