Find a Job You Really Want In
As a designer, knowing which cities offer the best opportunities for your career can significantly influence your professional journey. Whether you’re embarking on your career or contemplating a relocation, understanding regional disparities in salary and job availability is essential. The right location can enhance your earning potential and open doors for career advancement.
At Zippia, we analyzed data to identify the top cities for designers in the United States. Our goal was to pinpoint locations where designers not only earn competitive salaries relative to the cost of living but also enjoy a high availability of job opportunities.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we compiled this list of the best cities for designers based on salary, job availability, and cost of living:
- Portsmouth, NH
- Portland, ME
- Boston, MA
- New York, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Boulder, CO
- Philadelphia, PA
- St. Louis, MO
- Oxnard, CA
In summary, Portsmouth stands out as the leading city for designers in terms of career prospects and overall livability.
Conversely, if you’re a designer considering where to avoid, Urban Honolulu ranks as the least favorable option.
Continue reading to gain insights into our research methodology and to explore the top ten cities for designers in greater detail.
How We Determined the Best Cities for Designers
At Zippia, we connect with diverse job seekers and have found that two key factors drive their job search:
- Job availability
- Compensation
To identify the best cities for designers in America, we focused on job availability and salary levels. Our analysis was based on criteria gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding designer employment:
- Location quotient: A measure of how prevalent the design profession is in specific cities.
- Average annual salary.
- Average entry-level salary.
To create a fair comparison of salaries across cities, we adjusted the data relative to each state’s cost of living.
We gathered data from 31 metropolitan areas, using the primary city within each metro area for our analysis. For example, “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” was simplified to Boston.
Each city was ranked across the criteria from 1 to 31, with 1 representing the best performance. We then averaged these rankings to create a Job Score, with the lowest score indicating the top city for designers.
Now, let’s delve into what makes each of these cities an excellent choice for designers.
1. Portsmouth, NH
Total Jobs: 60
Average Annual Salary: $77,830
Average Entry Level Salary: $43,340
Location Quotient: 4.87
2. Portland, ME
Total Jobs: 70
Average Annual Salary: $71,070
Average Entry Level Salary: $40,390
Location Quotient: 2.43
3. Boston, MA
Total Jobs: 240
Average Annual Salary: $90,080
Average Entry Level Salary: $45,640
Location Quotient: 1.0
4. New York, NY
Total Jobs: 7,150
Average Annual Salary: $79,370
Average Entry Level Salary: $38,650
Location Quotient: 8.0
5. Oakland, CA
Total Jobs: 230
Average Annual Salary: $79,060
Average Entry Level Salary: $39,880
Location Quotient: 1.56
6. Milwaukee, WI
Total Jobs: 90
Average Annual Salary: $76,270
Average Entry Level Salary: $36,250
Location Quotient: 0.81
7. Boulder, CO
Total Jobs: 60
Average Annual Salary: $61,410
Average Entry Level Salary: $41,000
Location Quotient: 2.65
8. Philadelphia, PA
Total Jobs: 150
Average Annual Salary: $59,500
Average Entry Level Salary: $38,100
Location Quotient: 1.27
9. St. Louis, MO
Total Jobs: 70
Average Annual Salary: $96,250
Average Entry Level Salary: $33,940
Location Quotient: 0.39
10. Oxnard, CA
Total Jobs: 50
Average Annual Salary: $79,480
Average Entry Level Salary: $36,460
Location Quotient: 1.26
And That’s Our List of the Best Cities for Designers
For aspiring designers, these cities should definitely be on your radar. Each location boasts high salaries, ample job opportunities, and pathways for professional growth.
If you’re curious about cities that may not be as ideal for designers, here’s a list of the least favorable locations:
Detailed List of the Best Cities for Designers
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portsmouth, NH | $77,830 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $71,070 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $90,080 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $79,370 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $79,060 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $76,270 |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | $61,410 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,500 |
| 9 | St. Louis, MO | $96,250 |
| 10 | Oxnard, CA | $79,480 |
| 11 | Cincinnati, OH | $61,770 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $76,200 |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | $66,060 |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | $58,340 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $65,930 |
| 16 | West Palm Beach, FL | $79,800 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $70,190 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $56,270 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $60,110 |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $58,450 |
| 21 | Allentown, PA | $48,910 |
| 22 | Nassau County, NY | $65,470 |
| 23 | Orlando, FL | $53,960 |
| 24 | Tampa, FL | $53,450 |
| 25 | Newark, NJ | $78,770 |
| 26 | Charlotte, NC | $53,610 |
| 27 | Denver, CO | $56,820 |
| 28 | Riverside, CA | $48,550 |
| 29 | Austin, TX | $55,190 |
| 30 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,300 |
| 31 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,560 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
