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Best states for an assistant designer
Quoted expert
Barbara Anderson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for assistant designers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for assistant designer jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for assistant designers. We found that Washington is the best state in the nation for assistant designers, and people in Olympia earn the most in the field.
The median salary for assistant designers in Washington is $73,879. Compare that to the median salary in Indiana of $38,233, which ranked worst for assistant designers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as an assistant designer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for assistant designers in 2026
1. Washington
Total assistant designer jobs: 942 Average annual salary: $73,879 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
2. California
Total assistant designer jobs: 3,446 Average annual salary: $66,968 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.59
3. Massachusetts
Total assistant designer jobs: 796 Average annual salary: $58,700 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
4. Rhode Island
Total assistant designer jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $57,821 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
5. New York
Total assistant designer jobs: 1,426 Average annual salary: $58,083 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
6. Oregon
Total assistant designer jobs: 493 Average annual salary: $54,551 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
7. Texas
Total assistant designer jobs: 1,442 Average annual salary: $54,796 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
8. District of Columbia
Total assistant designer jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $58,010 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.83
9. Alaska
Total assistant designer jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $64,532 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
10. Connecticut
Total assistant designer jobs: 238 Average annual salary: $54,029 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
Assistant designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an assistant designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an assistant designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $73,879 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 942 |
| 2 | California | $66,968 | $43,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,446 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $58,700 | $40,000 | 6,859,819 | 796 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $57,821 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 102 |
| 5 | New York | $58,083 | $40,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,426 |
| 6 | Oregon | $54,551 | $36,000 | 4,142,776 | 493 |
| 7 | Texas | $54,796 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,442 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $58,010 | $40,000 | 693,972 | 227 |
| 9 | Alaska | $64,532 | $53,000 | 739,795 | 43 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $54,029 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 238 |
| 11 | Virginia | $53,048 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 769 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $51,050 | $35,000 | 579,315 | 39 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $56,147 | $38,000 | 9,005,644 | 429 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $50,453 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 141 |
| 15 | Nevada | $53,888 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 108 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $53,170 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 47 |
| 17 | Utah | $48,585 | $32,000 | 3,101,833 | 281 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $50,751 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 460 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $52,669 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 63 |
| 20 | Michigan | $48,166 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 570 |
| 21 | Arizona | $50,313 | $33,000 | 7,016,270 | 328 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $49,007 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 715 |
| 23 | Maine | $48,523 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 98 |
| 24 | Colorado | $50,932 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 410 |
| 25 | Montana | $49,794 | $33,000 | 1,050,493 | 62 |
| 26 | Maryland | $51,766 | $35,000 | 6,052,177 | 442 |
| 27 | Vermont | $48,330 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 57 |
| 28 | Illinois | $49,583 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 816 |
| 29 | Delaware | $49,378 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 78 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $46,922 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 653 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $54,573 | $40,000 | 1,427,538 | 43 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $44,584 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 412 |
| 33 | Missouri | $47,418 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 303 |
| 34 | Florida | $47,475 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 849 |
| 35 | Idaho | $45,972 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 94 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $44,876 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 123 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $44,602 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 127 |
| 38 | Georgia | $44,012 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 823 |
| 39 | Ohio | $43,847 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 554 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $44,846 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 174 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $44,019 | $31,000 | 6,715,984 | 277 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $44,958 | $31,000 | 5,024,369 | 226 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $43,681 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 106 |
| 44 | Iowa | $42,958 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 193 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $44,136 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 142 |
| 46 | Kansas | $42,124 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 177 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $42,641 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 157 |
| 48 | Alabama | $42,125 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 216 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $36,200 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 56 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $41,556 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 91 |
| 51 | Indiana | $38,233 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 289 |
Highest paying states for assistant designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Assistant Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $73,879 |
| 2 | California | $66,968 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $58,700 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $57,821 |
| 5 | New York | $58,083 |
| 6 | Oregon | $54,551 |
| 7 | Texas | $54,796 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $58,010 |
| 9 | Alaska | $64,532 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $54,029 |
| 11 | Virginia | $53,048 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $51,050 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $56,147 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $50,453 |
| 15 | Nevada | $53,888 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $53,170 |
| 17 | Utah | $48,585 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $50,751 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $52,669 |
| 20 | Michigan | $48,166 |
| 21 | Arizona | $50,313 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $49,007 |
| 23 | Maine | $48,523 |
| 24 | Colorado | $50,932 |
| 25 | Montana | $49,794 |
| 26 | Maryland | $51,766 |
| 27 | Vermont | $48,330 |
| 28 | Illinois | $49,583 |
| 29 | Delaware | $49,378 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $46,922 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $54,573 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $44,584 |
| 33 | Missouri | $47,418 |
| 34 | Florida | $47,475 |
| 35 | Idaho | $45,972 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $44,876 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $44,602 |
| 38 | Georgia | $44,012 |
| 39 | Ohio | $43,847 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $44,846 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $44,019 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $44,958 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $43,681 |
| 44 | Iowa | $42,958 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $44,136 |
| 46 | Kansas | $42,124 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $42,641 |
| 48 | Alabama | $42,125 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $36,200 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $41,556 |
| 51 | Indiana | $38,233 |
Expert opinions on the best states for assistant designers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for assistant designers to find work opportunities?
Barbara Anderson
Professor and Head, Kansas State University
Our graduates gain employment across the United States with ease. I believe some use-type sectors will see a slight decline in demand, including hospitality and retail design. However, there will be plenty of professional opportunities to reimagine the post-pandemic use of existing facilities.
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Updated January 8, 2025