Graphic Designer in Sioux Falls, SD

The Salary Picture: Where Sioux Falls Stands

As a local who's seen the Sioux Falls design scene evolve over the last decade, I can tell you the numbers tell a fascinating story. Graphic design here isn't the high-flying, high-cost career you might find in Minneapolis or Denver, but it offers a unique blend of stability and purchasing power that's increasingly rare in this field.

The median salary for a Graphic Designer in Sioux Falls is $59,555/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.63/hour. This sits slightly below the national average of $61,340/year, but don't let that fool you—the cost of living here tells the real story. With a cost of living index of 90.3 (US average = 100), your dollar stretches significantly further than it would in most major design hubs.

The job market is modest but stable. There are approximately 412 graphic design jobs in the metro area, and the 10-year job growth is projected at 3%. This isn't explosive growth, but it's consistent, reflecting Sioux Falls' steady economic expansion without the boom-and-bust cycles of larger cities.

Here's how experience typically breaks down locally:

Experience Level	Annual Salary Range	Key Responsibilities
Entry-Level (0-2 years)	$42,000 - $52,000	Basic layout, social media graphics, assisting senior designers
Mid-Level (3-5 years)	$55,000 - $68,000	Brand development, print/digital campaigns, client management
Senior-Level (6-10 years)	$65,000 - $80,000	Creative direction, team leadership, complex brand systems
Expert/Principal (10+ years)	$75,000 - $95,000+	Department head, strategic planning, high-level client relations

Compared to other South Dakota cities, Sioux Falls is the clear leader. Here's how the major markets stack up:

City	Median Salary	Cost of Living Index	Job Market Size
Sioux Falls	$59,555	90.3	412 jobs
Rapid City	$52,800	88.1	~180 jobs
Aberdeen	$48,200	85.7	~60 jobs
Brookings	$51,500	87.2	~75 jobs

The Sioux Falls advantage isn't just in salary—it's in the combination of competitive pay and lower expenses. A designer making $59,555 here has the same purchasing power as someone earning about $71,000 in a city with a 100 cost of living index.

Insider Tip: The salary bands here are less compressed than in larger markets. The gap between entry-level and senior roles is narrower, meaning you might hit the $65,000 mark faster than you would elsewhere. However, the ceiling is also lower—you're unlikely to see graphic design salaries exceeding $100,000 unless you're in a principal role at one of the major healthcare or financial institutions.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let's get practical. Using the median salary of $59,555, here's what your monthly budget looks like after the essentials:

Monthly Breakdown for a Single Graphic Designer:

• Gross Monthly Income: $4,963
• Estimated Taxes (Federal + State + FICA): ~$1,050 (21% effective rate)
• Net Monthly Income: $3,913
• Average 1BR Rent (Sioux Falls): $884/month
• Utilities (Electric, Gas, Internet): $180
• Groceries: $350
• Car Payment/Insurance (Average): $400
• Health Insurance (Employer Plan): $250 (varies)
• Miscellaneous: $300
• Remaining for Savings/Loans/Discretionary: $1,549

The key insight here? After all essentials, you still have a healthy $1,549 left over each month. That's more than double what you'd retain in cities like Minneapolis or Chicago after similar expenses.

Can they afford to buy a home? Absolutely. With a median home price in Sioux Falls around $285,000 and your financial cushion, homeownership is very attainable. A 20% down payment would be $57,000—challenging but possible with disciplined saving. FHA loans with 3.5% down ($9,975) are common. At current interest rates, a $275,000 home would have a monthly mortgage payment (including taxes/insurance) of roughly $2,100, which would be about 42% of your gross income—tight but manageable, especially if you have a dual income.

Insider Tip: Many local employers offer down payment assistance programs. Sanford Health and Avera Health both have employee home-buying programs that can provide $5,000-$10,000 in assistance. It's worth asking about during interviews.

Where the Jobs Are: Sioux Falls's Major Employers

Sioux Falls' design job market is dominated by healthcare, banking, and agriculture sectors—industries that need constant visual communication but aren't as volatile as tech or advertising.

1. Sanford Health

• Location: Sanford USD Medical Center campus (800+ beds, 11,000+ employees)
• Design Team: 12-15 in-house designers, plus marketing/communications
• What They Do: Patient education materials, internal communications, brand development for one of the nation's largest rural health systems
• Hiring Trend: Steady expansion. They're building a new $350 million specialty hospital, creating ongoing design needs
• Salary Range: $55,000 - $85,000 based on experience
• Insider Tip: They're particularly strong on digital illustration for patient education. If you have medical illustration skills, you're gold.

2. Avera Health

• Location: Avera McKennan Hospital campus (multiple locations)
• Design Team: 8-10 designers across marketing and digital teams
• What They Do: Community health campaigns, provider marketing, digital health platforms
• Hiring Trend: Expanding telehealth services means more digital design work
• Salary Range: $52,000 - $80,000
• Insider Tip: Avera has a strong focus on rural health messaging. Experience designing for diverse, non-urban audiences is valued.

3. Citi

• Location: Citi's Sioux Falls campus (4,000+ employees, one of their largest locations)
• Design Team: 6-8 designers in marketing and digital banking
• What They Do: Financial product marketing, user interface design for banking apps, internal training materials
• Hiring Trend: Consistent. Citi continues to expand its Sioux Falls operations
• Salary Range: $60,000 - $90,000
• Insider Tip: This is your best bet for higher-end salaries. Financial sector design pays well but requires precision and regulatory compliance knowledge.

4. Raven Industries

• Location: Raven's campus in the northeast industrial area
• Design Team: 4-5 designers in marketing and product development
• What They Do: Agricultural technology branding, trade show materials, product packaging for precision farming equipment
• Hiring Trend: Growing with precision agriculture expansion
• Salary Range: $50,000 - $75,000
• Insider Tip: If you have any interest in ag-tech or rural markets, this is a unique niche. Sioux Falls is the hub for this sector.

5. Meta Financial Group / MetaBank

• Location: Downtown Sioux Falls
• Design Team: 3-4 designers
• What They Do: Fintech branding, digital banking interfaces, compliance materials
• Hiring Trend: Steady with fintech growth
• Salary Range: $53,000 - $78,000
• Insider Tip: They've been expanding their digital banking services rapidly. UI/UX skills are increasingly valuable here.

6. Local Design Agencies (Collectively)

• Key Players: Lawrence & Schiller, Push, Click Rain, Dovetail
• What They Do: Full-service advertising and branding for local, regional, and national clients
• Hiring Trend: Project-based, but consistent. Agencies often hire freelancers first, then convert to full-time
• Salary Range: $45,000 - $70,000 (often with bonus potential)
• Insider Tip: Agency work here is more collaborative and less cutthroat than in larger markets. The "agency lifestyle" is more sustainable.

7. Sioux Falls School District

• Location: District offices and schools across the city
• Design Team: 2-3 designers in communications
• What They Do: Educational materials, community outreach, ballot measure campaigns
• Hiring Trend: Stable, with occasional openings due to retirements
• Salary Range: $48,000 - $65,000 (public sector pay scales)
• Insider Tip: Benefits are excellent (including pensions), but salary is lower. Great for work-life balance.

Getting Licensed in SD

Here's the good news: There are no state-specific licensing requirements for graphic designers in South Dakota. Unlike architects or engineers, graphic designers can practice without any state certification. This dramatically lowers the barrier to entry.

What You Actually Need:

• Portfolio: This is your "license." A strong, relevant portfolio is non-negotiable
• Education: No degree requirement, but 78% of employed designers here have a bachelor's degree (fine arts, graphic design, communications)
• Software Proficiency: Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) is mandatory
• Business License: If you're freelancing, you'll need a Sioux Falls business license ($50 annually)

Timeline to Get Started:

• Week 1-2: Update portfolio with Sioux Falls-relevant work (healthcare, finance, agriculture themes)
• Week 3-4: Network with local designers via AIGA South Dakota chapter (they meet monthly at the Washington Pavilion)
• Month 2: Start applying. The average hiring cycle here is 3-4 weeks
• Month 3: Begin work. Licensing isn't a factor—your first day can be day one if you land a job

If You're Freelancing:

• Business Registration: File with the SD Secretary of State ($150 for LLC)
• Sales Tax: Sioux Falls sales tax is 8.5% (state 4% + city 2% + county 1.5% + special districts)
• Insurance: General liability ($500-$1,000 annually) is recommended but not required
• Timeline: You can be operational in 2-3 weeks

Insider Tip: While not required, certification from the Graphic Artists Guild or Adobe Certified Professional can help you stand out. Consider it if you're transitioning from a different field.

Best Neighborhoods for Graphic Designers

Sioux Falls is remarkably accessible—most commutes are under 20 minutes. Here's where you should consider living:

1. Downtown / Historic District

• Vibe: Urban, walkable, arts-focused
• Commute: 0-5 minutes to most agencies and downtown offices
• 1BR Rent: $950 - $1,200/month
• Best For: Young professionals who want nightlife, galleries, and the farmer's market at their doorstep
• Design Scene: Walking distance to AIGA events, coffee shops where designers work, and the Washington Pavilion (art museum)
• Insider Tip: Parking can be challenging. Look for buildings with included parking. The area around 8th & Railroad is particularly designer-friendly.

2. McKennan Park / Cathedral District

• Vibe: Established, quiet, family-friendly
• Commute: 10 minutes to downtown, 5 minutes to Sanford Health
• 1BR Rent: $850 - $1,100/month
• Best For: Designers working at Sanford or Avera who want a peaceful, established neighborhood
• Design Scene: Less concentrated, but close to the Augustana University campus (good for networking)
• Insider Tip: This area has the best historic homes. Many designers rent upper floors of these houses for character and space.

3. Southeast Sioux Falls (41st Street Corridor)

• Vibe: Suburban, convenient, growing
• Commute: 15-20 minutes to downtown, 10 minutes to most employers
• 1BR Rent: $800 - $1,000/month
• Best For: Designers at Citi, Raven, or Meta who want modern apartments with amenities
• Design Scene: More residential, but you're close to The Empire Mall area where many businesses are located
• Insider Tip: New apartment complexes here often have co-working spaces. Look at The Alexan or The Maynard for designer-friendly amenities.

4. All Saints / Emerson Park

• Vibe: Diverse, affordable, up-and-coming
• Commute: 10-15 minutes anywhere
• 1BR Rent: $700 - $900/month
• Best For: Freelancers or agency designers on a budget who want character and community
• Design Scene: Emerging arts scene with galleries like the All Saints Arts Center
• Insider Tip: This is where you'll find the most creative energy. Many young designers live here and collaborate informally. Great for building your network organically.

5. Harrisburg / Tea (South Suburbs)

• Vibe: Family-oriented, very suburban
• Commute: 20-25 minutes to downtown
• 1BR Rent: $750 - $950/month (mostly 2BR+ available)
• Best For: Designers with families or those who prioritize space over proximity
• Design Scene: Minimal, but you're close to the Empire Mall area for client meetings
• Insider Tip: These areas are growing fast. New businesses opening there may need local design support—good freelance opportunity.

Insider Tip on Commutes: Sioux Falls traffic is minimal. The main congestion points are the I-29/I-229 interchanges and the 41st Street corridor during rush hour (7-8am and 5-6pm). Most designers I know live within 15 minutes of their workplace.

The Long Game: Career Growth

The career trajectory in Sioux Falls is different from major markets. Here's what to expect:

Specialty Premiums (Local Market Value):

• UI/UX Design: +15-20% above base salary (especially at Citi or Meta)
• Medical Illustration: +10-15% (highly valued at Sanford/Avera)
• Ag-Tech Branding: +8-12% (niche at Raven and related companies)
• Print Production Expertise: +5-10% (still valued in healthcare and agriculture)
• Motion Graphics: +10-15% (growing demand for digital content)

Advancement Paths:

1. Agency Track: Junior → Mid → Senior → Art Director → Creative Director (5-8 years)

   • Reality Check: Fewer creative director positions exist here. Many top designers become freelancers or consultants after senior level.

2. In-House Track: Designer → Senior Designer → Design Manager → Marketing Director (6-10 years)

   • Reality Check: This is the most common path to higher salaries. Leadership at Sanford, Avera, or Citi can reach $90,000-$110,000.

3. Freelance/Consulting Track: Build client base → Specialize → Raise rates → Hire help

   • Reality Check: Many designers hit $70,000-$85,000 but struggle to exceed that without scaling. The local market has a ceiling.

10-Year Outlook (2024-2034):

• Job Growth: The projected 3% growth reflects steady but modest expansion. The healthcare sector will drive most new positions as Sioux Falls continues to be a regional medical hub.
• Technology Impact: AI tools are reducing time for basic layout work, increasing demand for strategic and conceptual thinking. Designers who can pair AI efficiency with high-level creative direction will thrive.
• Remote Work: Sioux Falls companies are increasingly open to hybrid models. This means you can live here (low cost) and potentially work for companies elsewhere (higher pay), though local employers still prefer in-office collaboration.
• Specialization Opportunity: As the market matures, specialists (UI/UX, medical illustration, ag-tech) will see more opportunities than generalists.

Insider Tip: The most successful long-term designers here either (1) specialize in a high-demand niche (healthcare or finance), (2) build a strong freelance business serving local clients, or (3) transition into management/marketing roles where they can leverage design thinking at a strategic level.

The Verdict: Is Sioux Falls Right for You?

Here's the honest breakdown:

Pros	Cons
Excellent purchasing power - **$59,5