Best cities for a creative director & designer
The best cities for creative directors & designer are San Francisco, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for creative directors & designer vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for creative directors & designer in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a creative director & designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for creative directors & designer to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for creative directors & designer. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a creative director & designer. While the absolute best city for creative directors & designer is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for creative directors & designer in 2024.
If you're looking for a creative director & designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for creative directors & designer in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $157,094 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 12.37 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total creative director & designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $115,649 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 12.12 3. Sacramento, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $154,689 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 9.13 4. Los Angeles, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $148,816 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $237,000 Location quotient: 9.99 5. San Jose, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $157,371 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Fremont, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $157,130 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Oakland, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $156,931 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fresno, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $155,832 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $249,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Stockton, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $155,776 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $249,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Bakersfield, CA
Total creative director & designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $153,627 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $245,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for creative directors & designer
- San Francisco, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- (13 creative director & designer jobs)
- (3 creative director & designer jobs)
- (2 creative director & designer jobs)
- (9 creative director & designer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a creative director & designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $157,094 | $98,000 | 870,887 | 13 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $115,649 | $71,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $154,689 | $96,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $148,816 | $93,000 | 3,976,322 | 9 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $157,371 | $98,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $157,130 | $98,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $156,931 | $98,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $155,832 | $97,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 9 | Stockton, CA | $155,776 | $97,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 10 | Bakersfield, CA | $153,627 | $95,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $134,695 | $82,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | $147,547 | $92,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $108,140 | $67,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | $147,470 | $92,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $147,257 | $91,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $116,118 | $71,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 17 | Santa Ana, CA | $147,030 | $91,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 18 | Irvine, CA | $146,627 | $91,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 19 | North Las Vegas, NV | $115,485 | $71,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $115,267 | $71,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 21 | New York, NY | $116,634 | $76,000 | 8,537,673 | 47 |
| 22 | El Paso, TX | $107,635 | $67,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 23 | San Diego, CA | $141,227 | $88,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 24 | Chula Vista, CA | $140,403 | $88,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 25 | Scottsdale, AZ | $108,194 | $67,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 26 | Lubbock, TX | $106,077 | $65,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $103,419 | $64,000 | 1,317,929 | 3 |
| 28 | Glendale, AZ | $108,150 | $67,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $107,416 | $66,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 30 | Fort Worth, TX | $103,655 | $64,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 31 | Chandler, AZ | $107,319 | $66,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 32 | Arlington, TX | $103,542 | $64,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 33 | Houston, TX | $101,596 | $64,000 | 2,303,482 | 6 |
| 34 | Gilbert, AZ | $107,246 | $66,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 35 | Irving, TX | $103,502 | $64,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 36 | Plano, TX | $103,397 | $64,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 37 | Garland, TX | $103,357 | $64,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 38 | Austin, TX | $102,894 | $64,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 39 | Chicago, IL | $104,635 | $67,000 | 2,704,958 | 7 |
| 40 | Detroit, MI | $89,738 | $58,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 41 | Tucson, AZ | $105,398 | $65,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 42 | Corpus Christi, TX | $100,693 | $64,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 43 | San Antonio, TX | $102,715 | $65,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 44 | Laredo, TX | $101,328 | $65,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 45 | Philadelphia, PA | $96,212 | $63,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 46 | Pittsburgh, PA | $94,170 | $61,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 47 | Albuquerque, NM | $100,881 | $61,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 48 | Islip, NY | $116,863 | $77,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 49 | Boston, MA | $109,540 | $72,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 50 | Nashville, TN | $82,938 | $53,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for creative directors & designer
| Rank | City | Avg. creative director & designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menlo Park, CA | $157,453 |
| 2 | Carson City, NV | $116,774 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $116,634 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $109,540 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $104,635 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $104,451 |
| 7 | Denton, TX | $103,611 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $101,575 |
| 9 | Charleston, WV | $101,272 |
| 10 | Beaverton, OR | $99,853 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $95,983 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $95,373 |
| 13 | Concord, NH | $90,274 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $89,738 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $89,070 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $88,512 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $86,101 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $85,589 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $85,301 |
| 20 | Little Rock, AR | $83,890 |
Creative director & designer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025