Find a Job You Really Want In
As a graphic designer, choosing the right city can significantly influence your career trajectory and earning potential. In 2026, understanding regional variations becomes even more crucial, given the evolving landscape of remote work, technology, and design trends. Whether you are launching your career or contemplating a job change, knowing where graphic designers thrive can help you make informed decisions for your professional future.
At Zippia, we analyzed various metrics to identify the top cities in the U.S. for graphic designers. Our focus was on locations where salaries are competitive, job availability is high, and the cost of living is reasonable.
Leveraging data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and our extensive research, we compiled this list of the best cities for graphic designers in 2026:
- San Francisco, CA
- Boulder, CO
- Seattle, WA
- Kansas City, MO
- San Jose, CA
- Framingham, MA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Columbus, OH
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Silver Spring, MD
Leading the pack is San Francisco, renowned for its vibrant tech scene and creative opportunities for graphic designers.
Conversely, if you’re looking to avoid locations with limited prospects, Laredo, TX, is one city you may want to steer clear of.
Continue reading to learn more about our research methodology and discover further insights about the top cities for graphic designers.
How We Identified the Best Cities for Graphic Designers
At Zippia, we engage with a diverse range of job seekers to understand what they value most in their careers. Our findings consistently highlight two primary desires:
- Job availability
- Competitive pay
To pinpoint the best cities for graphic designers, we evaluated job availability and compensation using data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics. Our criteria included:
- Location quotient: a measure of how prevalent graphic design jobs are in a given area.
- Average annual salary.
- Average annual salary for entry-level positions.
To ensure an equitable comparison across cities, we adjusted salary figures relative to the cost of living in each state.
This analysis encompassed 359 metropolitan areas nationwide. We categorized these areas by their primary city— for example, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” was simplified to Boston.
For our overall rankings, we assigned each city a score based on its performance across the various criteria, with the city achieving the lowest score being deemed the best for graphic designers.
Now, let’s dive into the unique attributes that make each city an excellent choice for graphic designers.
1. San Francisco, CA
Total Jobs: 3,270
Average Annual Salary: $76,980
Average Entry Level Salary: $45,990
Location Quotient: 2.16
2. Boulder, CO
Total Jobs: 660
Average Annual Salary: $58,940
Average Entry Level Salary: $35,470
Location Quotient: 2.61
3. Seattle, WA
Total Jobs: 3,140
Average Annual Salary: $60,580
Average Entry Level Salary: $33,590
Location Quotient: 1.38
4. Kansas City, MO
Total Jobs: 1,950
Average Annual Salary: $51,910
Average Entry Level Salary: $31,770
Location Quotient: 1.28
5. San Jose, CA
Total Jobs: 1,850
Average Annual Salary: $75,780
Average Entry Level Salary: $39,670
Location Quotient: 1.23
6. Framingham, MA
Total Jobs: 410
Average Annual Salary: $62,760
Average Entry Level Salary: $38,380
Location Quotient: 1.58
7. Minneapolis, MN
Total Jobs: 4,360
Average Annual Salary: $56,010
Average Entry Level Salary: $32,820
Location Quotient: 1.56
8. Columbus, OH
Total Jobs: 1,710
Average Annual Salary: $53,220
Average Entry Level Salary: $32,470
Location Quotient: 1.15
9. Santa Rosa, CA
Total Jobs: 340
Average Annual Salary: $60,680
Average Entry Level Salary: $39,870
Location Quotient: 1.23
10. Silver Spring, MD
Total Jobs: 970
Average Annual Salary: $67,530
Average Entry Level Salary: $40,970
Location Quotient: 1.13
And That’s Our List of the Best Cities for Graphic Designers
If you’re starting your career as a graphic designer, focus on these cities for optimal job opportunities, competitive salaries, and potential for advancement.
On the flip side, here are some of the least favorable cities for graphic designers in the U.S.:
Detailed List of the Best Cities for Graphic Designers
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $76,980 |
| 2 | Boulder, CO | $58,940 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $60,580 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $51,910 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $75,780 |
| 6 | Framingham, MA | $62,760 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,010 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $53,220 |
| 9 | Santa Rosa, CA | $60,680 |
| 10 | Silver Spring, MD | $67,530 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $66,480 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,380 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $53,500 |
| 14 | Bridgeport, CT | $63,310 |
| 15 | St. Louis, MO | $52,630 |
| 16 | Warren, MI | $53,330 |
| 17 | Dayton, OH | $48,270 |
| 18 | Lancaster, PA | $50,710 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $50,840 |
| 20 | Trenton, NJ | $62,240 |
| 21 | Montgomery County, PA | $52,950 |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,400 |
| 23 | Madison, WI | $47,970 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $52,320 |
| 25 | West Palm Beach, FL | $52,970 |
| 26 | Akron, OH | $46,740 |
| 27 | Chicago, IL | $53,820 |
| 28 | Lowell, MA | $73,870 |
| 29 | Oxnard, CA | $60,370 |
| 30 | Dalton, GA | $52,250 |
| 31 | Lake County, IL | $52,680 |
| 32 | Reno, NV | $53,020 |
| 33 | Charlottesville, VA | $49,120 |
| 34 | Omaha, NE | $46,140 |
| 35 | Peabody, MA | $53,910 |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $47,880 |
| 37 | Providence, RI | $55,040 |
| 38 | Oakland, CA | $64,870 |
| 39 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,730 |
| 40 | Greensboro, NC | $49,850 |
| 41 | Denver, CO | $53,350 |
| 42 | Raleigh, NC | $50,900 |
| 43 | Portland, ME | $55,810 |
| 44 | Dallas, TX | $54,840 |
| 45 | Pocatello, ID | $43,430 |
| 46 | Los Angeles, CA | $58,670 |
| 47 | Des Moines, IA | $45,860 |
| 48 | Lansing, MI | $44,570 |
| 49 | Tulsa, OK | $53,810 |
| 50 | Portsmouth, NH | $56,700 |
| 51 | Winston, NC | $51,690 |
| 52 | Boston, MA | $58,100 |
| 53 | Provo, UT | $49,040 |
| 54 | Lincoln, NE | $43,890 |
| 55 | Detroit, MI | $51,530 |
| 56 | Missoula, MT | $41,980 |
| 57 | Elkhart, IN | $45,560 |
| 58 | Waterloo, IA | $43,440 |
| 59 | Huntsville, AL | $52,360 |
| 60 | Anaheim, CA | $55,100 |
| 61 | Kennewick, WA | $52,100 |
| 62 | Durham, NC | $48,500 |
| 63 | Charlotte, NC | $49,520 |
| 64 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $45,920 |
| 65 | South Bend, IN | $42,940 |
| 66 | Morgantown, WV | $44,900 |
| 67 | Appleton, WI | $47,880 |
| 68 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $43,530 |
| 69 | Fayetteville, AR | $46,180 |
| 70 | Springfield, MA | $54,570 |
| 71 | Newark, NJ | $59,150 |
| 72 | Lebanon, PA | $55,260 |
| 73 | Sioux Falls, SD | $37,710 |
| 74 | Racine, WI | $46,470 |
| 75 | Anchorage, AK | $52,430 |
| 76 | Kalamazoo, MI | $44,720 |
| 77 | Fargo, ND | $39,390 |
| 78 | Houston, TX | $46,480 |
| 79 | Cleveland, OH | $43,900 |
| 80 | Richmond, VA | $52,640 |
| 81 | Peoria, IL | $54,780 |
| 82 | Austin, TX | $49,030 |
| 83 | Tacoma, WA | $51,920 |
| 84 | Reading, PA | $42,790 |
| 85 | Knoxville, TN | $46,770 |
| 86 | Elgin, IL | $51,620 |
| 87 | Lawton, OK | $43,250 |
| 88 | Springfield, IL | $50,410 |
| 89 | Ogden, UT | $45,520 |
| 90 | Atlantic City, NJ | $58,700 |
| 91 | Auburn, AL | $46,060 |
| 92 | Indianapolis, IN | $42,340 |
| 93 | Columbus, GA | $47,800 |
| 94 | Muncie, IN | $48,240 |
| 95 | Greenville, NC | $45,860 |
| 96 | Rochester, MN | $53,020 |
| 97 | Napa, CA | $49,460 |
| 98 | Grand Junction, CO | $46,270 |
| 99 | San Rafael, CA | $60,700 |
| 100 | Santa Fe, NM | $39,480 |
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.
