Best cities for an apparel designer
The best cities for apparel designers are Portland, OR, Las Vegas, NV, and Arlington, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for apparel designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for apparel designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an apparel designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for apparel designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for apparel designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an apparel designer. While the absolute best city for apparel designers is Portland, OR, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for apparel designers in 2024.
If you're looking for an apparel designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for apparel designers in 2025
1. Portland, OR
Total apparel designer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $83,088 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 3.82 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total apparel designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $89,046 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 1.23 3. Arlington, TX
Total apparel designer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $56,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 3.01 4. Columbus, OH
Total apparel designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $55,472 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 0.97 5. Fort Worth, TX
Total apparel designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $56,450 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 1.75 6. Seattle, WA
Total apparel designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $79,528 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 0.34 7. Los Angeles, CA
Total apparel designer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $71,823 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 2.02 8. Reno, NV
Total apparel designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $97,795 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. North Las Vegas, NV
Total apparel designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $89,026 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Boston, MA
Total apparel designer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $65,673 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 1.41
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Best cities for apparel designers
- Portland, OR
- Las Vegas, NV
- Arlington, TX
- Columbus, OH
- Fort Worth, TX
- Seattle, WA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Reno, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Boston, MA
- (9 apparel designer jobs)
- (2 apparel designer jobs)
- (1 apparel designer jobs)
- (3 apparel designer jobs)
- (2 apparel designer jobs)
- (2 apparel designer jobs)
- (12 apparel designer jobs)
- (0 apparel designer jobs)
- (0 apparel designer jobs)
- (7 apparel designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an apparel designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $83,088 | $49,000 | 639,863 | 9 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $89,046 | $53,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 3 | Arlington, TX | $56,297 | $34,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $55,472 | $34,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 5 | Fort Worth, TX | $56,450 | $34,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $79,528 | $47,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $71,823 | $43,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $97,795 | $57,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 9 | North Las Vegas, NV | $89,026 | $53,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $65,673 | $40,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $61,393 | $39,000 | 311,404 | 1 |
| 12 | Henderson, NV | $88,006 | $52,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 13 | Oakland, CA | $83,300 | $48,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $83,262 | $48,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 15 | San Francisco, CA | $83,407 | $49,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $82,972 | $48,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $82,964 | $48,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | San Jose, CA | $82,653 | $48,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $62,365 | $41,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 20 | Fresno, CA | $80,394 | $47,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 21 | Omaha, NE | $62,108 | $41,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 22 | Irving, TX | $56,242 | $34,000 | 238,289 | 1 |
| 23 | Bakersfield, CA | $75,697 | $44,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 24 | Chandler, AZ | $56,652 | $34,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 25 | Cleveland, OH | $56,457 | $35,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 26 | Albuquerque, NM | $55,684 | $34,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 27 | Kansas City, MO | $62,065 | $40,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 28 | El Paso, TX | $60,324 | $36,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 29 | Oklahoma City, OK | $54,528 | $34,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $59,796 | $36,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 31 | Toledo, OH | $55,943 | $35,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 32 | Anchorage, AK | $64,827 | $45,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $56,132 | $34,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 34 | New York, NY | $64,888 | $39,000 | 8,537,673 | 31 |
| 35 | Plano, TX | $56,106 | $34,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $71,223 | $42,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 37 | Garland, TX | $56,051 | $34,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 38 | Anaheim, CA | $71,185 | $42,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 39 | Fort Wayne, IN | $51,245 | $32,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 40 | Riverside, CA | $71,083 | $42,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 41 | Cincinnati, OH | $53,924 | $33,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 42 | Lexington, KY | $51,444 | $31,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 43 | Santa Ana, CA | $70,993 | $42,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $57,168 | $34,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $70,823 | $42,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 46 | Scottsdale, AZ | $57,163 | $34,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 47 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,154 | $34,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 48 | Brookhaven, NY | $65,074 | $39,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 49 | Tulsa, OK | $53,731 | $34,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 50 | Washington, DC | $72,497 | $44,000 | 681,170 | - |
Highest paying cities for apparel designers
| Rank | City | Avg. apparel designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $83,473 |
| 2 | Beaverton, OR | $83,306 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $79,528 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $65,673 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $64,888 |
| 6 | Fort Lee, NJ | $58,363 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $57,410 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $56,353 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,177 |
| 10 | Tampa, FL | $47,166 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $46,287 |
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Updated January 8, 2025