Graphic Designers salary in Kansas City, MO
Median pay for graphic designers in Kansas City, MO: $53,960/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $36,600 – $86,820 · about 1,700 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($50,005) by +$3,955 (+8%).
What it's really worth in Kansas City
With Kansas City's cost of living at 93 (US=100), that $53,960 has the buying power of about $57,895 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $78,827 · median home $329,641 · median rent $1,548/mo.
How Kansas City ranks for this job
On raw pay, Kansas City, MO is 63rd of the 186 metros we hold graphic designers wages for. Once Kansas City's cost of living is applied, it ranks 39th.
Pay here goes further than the headline number suggests — Kansas City is one of the places where graphic designers gain ground in real terms, because local costs are low relative to what the job pays.
What that salary buys in Kansas City
A median home in Kansas City, MO costs $329,641 — about 6.1× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,548/mo works out at 34% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where graphic designers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Kansas City.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Kansas City | Rent vs Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $96,260 | +78% | 2.3× |
| San Francisco, CA | $92,380 | +71% | 2.1× |
| Washington, DC | $80,100 | +48% | 1.6× |
| New York, NY | $75,900 | +41% | 2.3× |
Same job elsewhere in MO
| Metro | Median pay | vs Kansas City | Rent vs Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | $50,970 | −6% | 0.9× |
| Springfield, MO | $41,280 | −23% | 0.8× |
Staying in MO keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires graphic designers around Kansas City
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Cerner Corporation · Tech
- Hallmark Cards · Retail
Other jobs in Kansas City
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.