Best cities for a creative designer
The best cities for creative designers are San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for creative designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for creative designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a creative designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for creative designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for creative designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a creative designer. While the absolute best city for creative designers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for creative designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a creative designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for creative designers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total creative designer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $94,561 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 2.41 2. Los Angeles, CA
Total creative designer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $85,396 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 3.05 3. Fresno, CA
Total creative designer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $91,252 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 1.87 4. Bakersfield, CA
Total creative designer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $88,462 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 2.32 5. Santa Ana, CA
Total creative designer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $84,341 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 2.10 6. Virginia Beach, VA
Total creative designer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $74,882 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 1.57 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total creative designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $71,444 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.89 8. Seattle, WA
Total creative designer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $85,052 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 0.87 9. Chicago, IL
Total creative designer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $76,754 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 1.17 10. Boston, MA
Total creative designer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $74,584 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 1.46
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Best cities for creative designers
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
- (23 creative designer jobs)
- (25 creative designer jobs)
- (1 creative designer jobs)
- (1 creative designer jobs)
- (1 creative designer jobs)
- (1 creative designer jobs)
- (2 creative designer jobs)
- (7 creative designer jobs)
- (11 creative designer jobs)
- (10 creative designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a creative designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $94,561 | $62,000 | 870,887 | 23 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $85,396 | $57,000 | 3,976,322 | 25 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $91,252 | $60,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $88,462 | $58,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 5 | Santa Ana, CA | $84,341 | $56,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 6 | Virginia Beach, VA | $74,882 | $47,000 | 452,602 | 1 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $71,444 | $47,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $85,052 | $54,000 | 704,352 | 7 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $76,754 | $48,000 | 2,704,958 | 11 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $74,584 | $48,000 | 673,184 | 10 |
| 11 | Irvine, CA | $84,135 | $56,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $74,230 | $47,000 | 8,537,673 | 94 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $74,634 | $46,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,192 | $44,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $93,711 | $61,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $63,916 | $41,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 17 | Oakland, CA | $94,408 | $61,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 18 | Sacramento, CA | $94,341 | $61,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $77,148 | $50,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 20 | Fremont, CA | $94,030 | $61,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $93,889 | $61,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $72,706 | $46,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 23 | North Las Vegas, NV | $71,351 | $47,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 24 | El Paso, TX | $65,791 | $43,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 25 | Henderson, NV | $71,003 | $47,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 26 | Phoenix, AZ | $68,254 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 27 | Charlotte, NC | $63,280 | $39,000 | 842,051 | 11 |
| 28 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,929 | $39,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 29 | Raleigh, NC | $65,828 | $41,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 30 | Tucson, AZ | $67,318 | $44,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 31 | Austin, TX | $63,865 | $41,000 | 947,890 | 9 |
| 32 | Long Beach, CA | $84,646 | $56,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 33 | Anaheim, CA | $84,565 | $56,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 34 | Riverside, CA | $84,367 | $56,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 35 | Norfolk, VA | $74,790 | $47,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 36 | Durham, NC | $65,874 | $41,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 37 | Chesapeake, VA | $74,543 | $47,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 38 | Glendale, AZ | $68,267 | $45,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 39 | Portland, OR | $71,167 | $46,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 40 | Toledo, OH | $58,025 | $36,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 41 | Scottsdale, AZ | $68,240 | $45,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 42 | Indianapolis, IN | $57,994 | $36,000 | 855,164 | 9 |
| 43 | Mesa, AZ | $68,051 | $45,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 44 | Chandler, AZ | $68,039 | $45,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 45 | San Diego, CA | $82,303 | $55,000 | 1,406,630 | 1 |
| 46 | Gilbert, AZ | $68,015 | $45,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 47 | Madison, WI | $62,391 | $39,000 | 252,551 | 1 |
| 48 | Greensboro, NC | $65,335 | $41,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 49 | Winston-Salem, NC | $64,977 | $41,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 50 | Chula Vista, CA | $82,053 | $55,000 | 267,172 | - |
Highest paying cities for creative designers
| Rank | City | Avg. creative designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $94,561 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $85,052 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $76,754 |
| 4 | McLean, VA | $76,571 |
| 5 | Warren, MI | $74,683 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $74,584 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $74,230 |
| 8 | Harrisburg, PA | $72,368 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $71,444 |
| 10 | Bridgewater, NJ | $69,474 |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $68,267 |
| 12 | Aurora, CO | $66,563 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $63,916 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $63,280 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,929 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $59,805 |
| 17 | Kent, OH | $58,965 |
| 18 | Murfreesboro, TN | $58,218 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $57,994 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $56,092 |
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Updated January 8, 2025