Quick answer: Graphic designers in North Carolina earn a median of $58,450 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This page lists accredited graphic designer schools near Cary, North Carolina with local wage data and median graduate earnings for each school.
If you want to train as a graphic designer in Cary, North Carolina, start by weighing program length, schedule, and cost at nearby schools. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $58,450 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Cary Quick Facts
Metric
Value
Source
State median annual wage
$58,450
BLS OEWS, May 2025
North Carolina pay range (10th to 90th percentile)
The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Cary. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the Wake County and North Carolina figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.
Graphic Design Schools near Cary
How We Rank Schools
Local school lists are ordered by location first, using the distance from the city or state page you are viewing.
Each eligible school also shows a BOC Score, computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Primary local sort
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How long does graphic designer training take near Cary?
Graphic designer certificate programs near Cary typically take 6 to 12 months of full-time study, while associate degree programs generally run about 2 years. Actual completion time depends on schedule (full-time vs. part-time) and any prerequisite coursework.
How much do graphic designers earn in North Carolina?
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), graphic designers in North Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,450. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $37,680 to $95,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many graphic designer schools are near Cary?
Wake County reports approximately 140 graphic designer related establishments employing about 350 workers (BLS QCEW, 2024). Compare the schools listed above for tuition, duration, and credential alignment with the local employer base.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
