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Best states for a creative director & designer
Quoted expert
Brian Pirman
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for creative directors & designer in the United States. Creative director & designer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for creative directors & designer.In fact, our research shows that Washington is the best state for creative directors & designer in America. The best city in America for creative directors & designer with the highest pay is Menlo Park, CA.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for creative directors & designer.Washington is the best state, and Santa Cruz is the city with the highest pay for creative directors & designer.
10 best states for creative directors & designer in 2025
1. Washington
Total creative director & designer jobs: 784 Average annual salary: $132,251 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
2. California
Total creative director & designer jobs: 2,969 Average annual salary: $147,096 Lowest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
3. New York
Total creative director & designer jobs: 1,467 Average annual salary: $116,356 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
4. Massachusetts
Total creative director & designer jobs: 670 Average annual salary: $109,575 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1
5. Rhode Island
Total creative director & designer jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $104,478 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
6. District of Columbia
Total creative director & designer jobs: 203 Average annual salary: $110,513 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
7. Illinois
Total creative director & designer jobs: 760 Average annual salary: $104,165 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
8. Arizona
Total creative director & designer jobs: 276 Average annual salary: $107,526 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
9. Texas
Total creative director & designer jobs: 1,159 Average annual salary: $103,013 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
10. Oregon
Total creative director & designer jobs: 440 Average annual salary: $100,814 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
Creative director & designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a creative director & designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a creative director & designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $132,251 | $84,000 | 7,405,743 | 784 |
| 2 | California | $147,096 | $97,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,969 |
| 3 | New York | $116,356 | $77,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,467 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $109,575 | $73,000 | 6,859,819 | 670 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $104,478 | $69,000 | 1,059,639 | 71 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $110,513 | $73,000 | 693,972 | 203 |
| 7 | Illinois | $104,165 | $67,000 | 12,802,023 | 760 |
| 8 | Arizona | $107,526 | $67,000 | 7,016,270 | 276 |
| 9 | Texas | $103,013 | $65,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,159 |
| 10 | Oregon | $100,814 | $62,000 | 4,142,776 | 440 |
| 11 | Nevada | $115,149 | $72,000 | 2,998,039 | 81 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $108,061 | $71,000 | 9,005,644 | 378 |
| 13 | Utah | $97,418 | $59,000 | 3,101,833 | 224 |
| 14 | Virginia | $101,019 | $66,000 | 8,470,020 | 686 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $95,754 | $63,000 | 12,805,537 | 618 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $99,920 | $61,000 | 2,088,070 | 79 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $101,748 | $66,000 | 1,815,857 | 43 |
| 18 | Michigan | $89,548 | $58,000 | 9,962,311 | 454 |
| 19 | Colorado | $95,823 | $59,000 | 5,607,154 | 342 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $96,230 | $64,000 | 3,588,184 | 174 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $90,115 | $59,000 | 10,273,419 | 537 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $83,538 | $53,000 | 3,004,279 | 578 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $90,715 | $60,000 | 1,342,795 | 91 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $85,464 | $54,000 | 4,684,333 | 585 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $84,146 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 561 |
| 26 | Maryland | $95,754 | $63,000 | 6,052,177 | 360 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $88,409 | $58,000 | 5,576,606 | 406 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $92,641 | $57,000 | 579,315 | 20 |
| 29 | Georgia | $85,936 | $56,000 | 10,429,379 | 717 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $85,143 | $55,000 | 5,795,483 | 320 |
| 31 | Ohio | $85,497 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 480 |
| 32 | Iowa | $81,358 | $52,000 | 3,145,711 | 676 |
| 33 | Alaska | $92,893 | $59,000 | 739,795 | 24 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $80,506 | $51,000 | 2,984,100 | 360 |
| 35 | Delaware | $89,398 | $59,000 | 961,939 | 45 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $84,526 | $56,000 | 755,393 | 35 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $83,087 | $53,000 | 6,715,984 | 226 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $98,748 | $75,000 | 1,427,538 | 22 |
| 39 | Montana | $85,293 | $53,000 | 1,050,493 | 45 |
| 40 | Missouri | $82,880 | $53,000 | 6,113,532 | 294 |
| 41 | Vermont | $84,879 | $56,000 | 623,657 | 36 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $64,999 | $42,000 | 869,666 | 232 |
| 43 | Florida | $83,200 | $54,000 | 20,984,400 | 682 |
| 44 | Alabama | $71,356 | $46,000 | 4,874,747 | 663 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $81,723 | $54,000 | 5,024,369 | 177 |
| 46 | Indiana | $79,975 | $52,000 | 6,666,818 | 234 |
| 47 | Kansas | $78,995 | $50,000 | 2,913,123 | 137 |
| 48 | Maine | $78,230 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 61 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $79,976 | $51,000 | 1,920,076 | 86 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $78,810 | $51,000 | 4,454,189 | 126 |
| 51 | Idaho | $77,026 | $47,000 | 1,716,943 | 64 |
Highest paying states for creative directors & designer
| Rank | State | Avg. Creative Director & Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $132,251 |
| 2 | California | $147,096 |
| 3 | New York | $116,356 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $109,575 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $104,478 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $110,513 |
| 7 | Illinois | $104,165 |
| 8 | Arizona | $107,526 |
| 9 | Texas | $103,013 |
| 10 | Oregon | $100,814 |
| 11 | Nevada | $115,149 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $108,061 |
| 13 | Utah | $97,418 |
| 14 | Virginia | $101,019 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $95,754 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $99,920 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $101,748 |
| 18 | Michigan | $89,548 |
| 19 | Colorado | $95,823 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $96,230 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $90,115 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $83,538 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $90,715 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $85,464 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $84,146 |
| 26 | Maryland | $95,754 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $88,409 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $92,641 |
| 29 | Georgia | $85,936 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $85,143 |
| 31 | Ohio | $85,497 |
| 32 | Iowa | $81,358 |
| 33 | Alaska | $92,893 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $80,506 |
| 35 | Delaware | $89,398 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $84,526 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $83,087 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $98,748 |
| 39 | Montana | $85,293 |
| 40 | Missouri | $82,880 |
| 41 | Vermont | $84,879 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $64,999 |
| 43 | Florida | $83,200 |
| 44 | Alabama | $71,356 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $81,723 |
| 46 | Indiana | $79,975 |
| 47 | Kansas | $78,995 |
| 48 | Maine | $78,230 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $79,976 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $78,810 |
| 51 | Idaho | $77,026 |
Expert opinions on the best states for creative directors & designer
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for creative director & designers to find work opportunities?
Brian Pirman
Associate Professor, St. Norbert College
Traditionally, the best job markets have been larger metropolitan areas. That's mainly because there are more agencies and design firms in larger cities than there are in smaller cities. With that said, because of the internet and online communication, this is starting to change where one can pretty much do work for anybody, anywhere. Therefore, the opportunities are pretty much all-over, geographically speaking.
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Updated January 8, 2025