The Graphic Designer's Guide to Wichita Falls, TX

So, you're a graphic designer thinking about Wichita Falls. You're not looking for the flash of Austin or the corporate sprawl of Dallas. You're looking for a place where your paycheck stretches, your commute is measured in minutes, not hours, and you might actually get a shot at buying a house. You're in the right place. I’ve lived here long enough to know which coffee shops have the best Wi-Fi for a freelance sprint and which local agencies are quietly building impressive portfolios. Let’s break down what your life as a designer would actually look like here, from the paycheck to the neighborhoods.

The Salary Picture: Where Wichita Falls Stands

Let’s get straight to the numbers, because that’s what matters when you’re budgeting for a move. In Wichita Falls, the median salary for a graphic designer is $59,297 per year, which breaks down to about $28.51 per hour. Right off the bat, we need to be honest: this is below the national average of $61,340/year. It’s not a huge gap, but it’s there. In the wider Texas market, you’ll find higher pay in the major metros, but you’ll also face a much higher cost of living.

Here’s a realistic breakdown of what you can expect based on experience:

Experience Level	Estimated Annual Salary	What the Role Typically Entails
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)	$42,000 - $50,000	Junior designer, production artist, in-house marketing assistant. Heavy on execution, light on strategy.
Mid-Level (3-7 yrs)	$59,297 (Median)	Lead designer on projects, client-facing presentations, managing junior staff. Solid portfolio, independent.
Senior-Level (8-12 yrs)	$70,000 - $85,000	Art director, creative lead. You’re making strategic decisions, mentoring, and often specializing in a niche (e.g., branding, UX/UI).
Expert/Principal (15+ yrs)	$90,000+	Creative director, partner at a small firm. You’re selling the vision and managing the big-picture client relationships.

Insider Tip: The $59,297 median is a solid benchmark. If you’re coming from a major coastal city, you’ll feel the salary difference. But if you’re coming from a smaller town or are early in your career, this is a competitive starting point. The key is that the mid-level and senior salaries can climb, especially if you develop a specialty.

Comparison to Other Texas Cities:

• Dallas-Fort Worth: Median is closer to $68,000, but a 1BR apartment averages $1,400. The math isn't always better.
• Austin: Median pay is higher, but rent is often double or triple what you'll pay here. Competition is fierce.
• San Antonio: Slightly lower median pay than DFW/Austin, but still more expensive than Wichita Falls.
• Lubbock/Other "Mid-Size" TX Cities: Pay is similar to Wichita Falls, but the job market (205 jobs here) is robust for its size.

The bottom line? You trade some top-end salary potential for a dramatically lower cost of living. That Cost of Living Index of 88.9 (US avg = 100) is your biggest ally.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s make this tangible. You’ve landed a mid-level job at the median salary of $59,297. Here’s what your monthly budget might realistically look like in Wichita Falls.

Monthly Budget Breakdown for a Graphic Designer ($59,297/year)

Item	Estimated Monthly Cost	Notes
Gross Pay	$4,941	$59,297 / 12 months
Taxes (Fed, FICA, State)	~$1,050	Texas has no state income tax. This is an estimate for a single filer with standard deduction.
Net Take-Home	~$3,891	Your actual paycheck number.
Rent (1BR Apartment)	$843	City average. You can find nicer for $950 or older for $700.
Utilities (Elec, Water, Internet)	$180	Varies by season (AC in summer is a must).
Groceries	$350	For one person, shopping at H-E-B or Market Street.
Car Payment/Insurance	$450	Essential. Wichita Falls is not a walkable city.
Gas	$100	Commute is short, but you might drive to Dallas occasionally.
Health Insurance (if not covered)	$200	Varies widely.
Misc. (Phone, Fun, Savings)	$768	This is your flex money. It’s a healthy amount.

Can You Afford to Buy a Home?
Yes, and this is a major draw. With a take-home of ~$3,891, you have room for a mortgage. The average home price in Wichita Falls is around $180,000 - $220,000. A 20% down payment is tough, but FHA loans (3.5% down) are common. A $190,000 home with a 30-year mortgage at current rates could have a monthly payment (including taxes & insurance) of $1,400 - $1,600. That’s about 36-41% of your net income, which is on the high side but doable if you don’t have other major debts. Many locals buy homes here for this exact reason—it's one of the last affordable markets in the state.

Where the Jobs Are: Wichita Falls's Major Employers

The job market here isn't about Fortune 500 tech giants; it's about stability, local industry, and serving the military. The metro has 205 jobs for graphic designers, which is a healthy number for a city of 102,683 people. Here are the key players:

1. Sheppard Air Force Base (SAFB): This is the economic engine. The base and its contractors (like FlightSafety International) constantly need designers for training materials, safety posters, internal communications, and branding for military-affiliated programs. It’s steady, government-adjacent work.
2. Midwestern State University (MSU): A major employer. The university’s marketing and communications department hires in-house designers for everything from course catalogs to alumni magazines and digital campaigns. They also use freelancers for special projects.
3. Local Marketing Agencies: Firms like Wright Creative and The Richards Group (a national agency with a local footprint) provide agency work. This is where you’ll find fast-paced, varied projects. It’s a great place to build a portfolio quickly.
4. Healthcare Systems: United Regional Health Care System is the largest hospital. Their marketing department needs designers for patient education materials, community health posters, and digital content. Clinics of North Texas is another large medical group with design needs.
5. Manufacturing & Industry: Companies like Parker Hannifin (aerospace components) and PepsiCo (bottling plant) have in-house marketing teams that require a graphic designer for product packaging, safety graphics, and internal communications.
6. Local Media & Print Shops: The Wichita Falls Times Record News and local print shops (like MaxxSouth Digital Media) are always looking for layout designers and pre-press technicians. This is solid, foundational work.

Hiring Trends: The trend is toward hybrid roles. Employers want a designer who can also manage basic web updates (WordPress), handle some social media content creation, and understand print production. Being a "unicorn" (designer + web + basic video) makes you highly competitive here.

Getting Licensed in TX

For the vast majority of graphic design jobs, you do not need a state license. Graphic design is not a licensed profession like architecture or engineering. Your "license" is your portfolio.

However, there are a few scenarios where certification can help:

• If you want to run your own freelance business officially: You'll need to register with the Texas Secretary of State. The cost is minimal (around $30 for a DBA - "Doing Business As"). You may also need an EIN from the IRS (free).
• If you move into a teaching role: To teach at a college like MSU, you’ll typically need a Master of Fine Arts (MFA). That’s a graduate degree, not a license.
• If you specialize in UX/UI and want to pivot to product design: Some employers may value certifications from groups like the Nielsen Norman Group, but a strong portfolio is far more important.

Timeline to Get Started: You can start applying for jobs the day you arrive. If you're freelancing, you can be legally operating within a week by filing a DBA. The focus should be on updating your resume and portfolio for the local market, not on paperwork.

Best Neighborhoods for Graphic Designers

Your commute will be short, but choosing the right area affects your lifestyle and rent. Here’s the lay of the land:

1. Downtown / The Falls: The revitalizing heart of the city. You’ll find loft apartments in old buildings (like the Parker Square area), a growing number of coffee shops (The Coffee Ranch is a local favorite), and a few local agencies. It’s walkable for the few blocks it covers, but you’ll still need a car. Rent: $850 - $1,200 for a 1BR.
2. Southside / Airport Drive: Closer to MSU and the airport. More modern apartment complexes and single-family homes. It’s quiet, safe, and has good access to the main retail corridors. A 10-minute drive to downtown. Rent: $750 - $950 for a 1BR.
3. Kell Parkway / Northside: A mix of older, established neighborhoods and newer developments. Close to Sheppard AFB, which is a huge plus if you're working on base or with contractors. More affordable housing options. Rent: $700 - $900 for a 1BR.
4. Burkburnett (15 min north): If you want a small-town feel with a quick commute, look here. It’s a separate city but part of the metro. You’ll get more house for your money, but fewer local coffee shops for work sessions. Rent: $650 - $850 for a 1BR.

Insider Tip: Avoid the immediate areas east of the highway (US 287) if you want the quietest living. The north and south sides are generally considered the most stable for renters.

The Long Game: Career Growth

Wichita Falls is not a place for rapid, explosive career growth in the traditional sense. It’s a place for building a solid, stable career with room for specialization.

• Specialty Premiums: You can earn more by specializing. A generalist earns the median. A designer who masters web design (especially for local businesses) or motion graphics can command rates 15-25% higher. UX/UI is a growing field, but the local market is small; you’d likely need to work remotely for a DFW company.
• Advancement Paths: The typical path is: Junior Designer at an agency → Senior Designer (in-house at a hospital or university) → Creative Director (at a local firm) or Freelance Studio Owner. The ceiling is lower than in a major metro, but the path is clearer and less crowded.
• 10-Year Outlook (3% Growth): The 10-year job growth is 3%. This is slow but steady. It means the market isn't going to boom, but it's also unlikely to crash. Your best bet for growth is to become indispensable at a local employer or build a strong remote client base to supplement local income. The low cost of living gives you the financial freedom to take creative risks, like starting a niche design shop.

The Verdict: Is Wichita Falls Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Extremely Low Cost of Living (Index: 88.9). Your salary goes far.	Below-National-Average Salary ($59,297 vs. $61,340).
Short Commutes. You can get across town in 15-20 minutes.	Limited Networking Pool. Fewer designers, fewer big creative events.
Affordable Home Ownership. A realistic goal for many.	Niche Job Market. Fewer "cutting-edge" design roles.
Stable Employers. Base, university, hospital offer steady work.	Cultural Amenities are fewer than in major cities (museums, concerts).
Friendly, Collaborative Community. Easier to stand out.	Car-Dependent. You must drive everywhere.

Final Recommendation:
Wichita Falls is an excellent choice for a graphic designer in the mid-career stage who values stability and affordability over the hustle and bustle of a major creative hub. It’s perfect if you want to buy a home, have a family, or build a business without the crushing overhead of a bigger city. If you’re a young, ambitious designer who craves the energy of a large creative community and top-tier salary potential, you might find it limiting. For the right person, it’s a hidden gem where a good design career and a comfortable life can coexist.

FAQs

1. Is there a strong freelance scene in Wichita Falls?
Yes, but it's different. You won't find the same density of clients as in Austin. Freelancers here often serve local small businesses, non-profits, and some remote clients from Dallas or beyond. It's a viable path, but building a local network through the chamber of commerce or groups like the Texas Creative Alliance is key.

2. What software skills are most in demand locally?
The standard Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) is non-negotiable. Adobe XD or Figma is increasingly important for UI/UX work. Knowledge of WordPress (for website updates) is a huge plus for in-house roles. After Effects is valuable for motion graphics, especially for agencies.

3. How do I network with other designers here?
It's not as formal as in big cities. Follow local agencies and design studios on LinkedIn and Instagram. Attend events at MSU’s art department or the Wichita Falls Alliance for Culture and Commerce. The best networking often happens over coffee at places like The Coffee Ranch or Burrito Street—you’ll start recognizing faces.

4. Is Sheppard Air Force Base a good place to work as a civilian designer?
It can be. The work is stable and the benefits are good. However, it often requires a security clearance, which can be a lengthy process. The work can be more technical and less "creative" than agency work, but it’s a respected employer on a resume.

5. What’s the biggest surprise about being a designer in Wichita Falls?
The sense of community. In a small market, your reputation travels fast. Delivering great work for one client often leads to referrals from their entire network. It’s easier to build a name for yourself here than in a city with 10,000 other designers. The trade-off is that you have to be more self-directed in your professional development.