Best cities for a design consultant
The best cities for design consultants are Albuquerque, NM, Greensboro, NC, and Columbus, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for design consultants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for design consultants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a design consultant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for design consultants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for design consultants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a design consultant. While the absolute best city for design consultants is Albuquerque, NM, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for design consultants in 2024.
If you're looking for a design consultant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for design consultants in 2026
1. Albuquerque, NM
Total design consultant jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $86,296 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 4.62 2. Greensboro, NC
Total design consultant jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $83,840 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 6.75 3. Columbus, OH
Total design consultant jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $85,216 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 1.73 4. Wichita, KS
Total design consultant jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $75,372 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 11.50 5. Durham, NC
Total design consultant jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $84,612 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 1.90 6. Detroit, MI
Total design consultant jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $85,152 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 1.46 7. Milwaukee, WI
Total design consultant jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $84,383 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 1.56 8. Raleigh, NC
Total design consultant jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $84,448 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 1.58 9. Charlotte, NC
Total design consultant jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $80,711 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 2.17 10. Fresno, CA
Total design consultant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $97,679 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 2.76
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Best cities for design consultants
- Albuquerque, NM
- Greensboro, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Wichita, KS
- Durham, NC
- Detroit, MI
- Milwaukee, WI
- Raleigh, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Fresno, CA
- (12 design consultant jobs)
- (10 design consultant jobs)
- (15 design consultant jobs)
- (19 design consultant jobs)
- (6 design consultant jobs)
- (6 design consultant jobs)
- (6 design consultant jobs)
- (8 design consultant jobs)
- (25 design consultant jobs)
- (3 design consultant jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a design consultant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $86,296 | $49,000 | 559,277 | 12 |
| 2 | Greensboro, NC | $83,840 | $50,000 | 287,027 | 10 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $85,216 | $53,000 | 860,090 | 15 |
| 4 | Wichita, KS | $75,372 | $44,000 | 389,902 | 19 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $84,612 | $51,000 | 263,016 | 6 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $85,152 | $53,000 | 672,795 | 6 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $84,383 | $52,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $84,448 | $51,000 | 458,880 | 8 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $80,711 | $48,000 | 842,051 | 25 |
| 10 | Fresno, CA | $97,679 | $55,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 11 | Louisville, KY | $75,518 | $46,000 | 597,337 | 8 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $86,269 | $50,000 | 472,522 | 28 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $101,887 | $58,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $77,101 | $44,000 | 2,303,482 | 48 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $94,880 | $56,000 | 704,352 | 18 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $77,682 | $44,000 | 947,890 | 24 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $97,281 | $61,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $75,420 | $43,000 | 1,317,929 | 24 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,575 | $64,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 20 | Boston, MA | $90,480 | $59,000 | 673,184 | 16 |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $84,927 | $47,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $101,852 | $58,000 | 1,025,350 | 13 |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $83,193 | $51,000 | 2,704,958 | 27 |
| 24 | New York, NY | $84,761 | $54,000 | 8,537,673 | 158 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $86,137 | $48,000 | 3,976,322 | 56 |
| 26 | Toledo, OH | $86,845 | $54,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 27 | Cincinnati, OH | $82,482 | $50,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $88,045 | $55,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 29 | Glendale, AZ | $64,705 | $36,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 30 | San Francisco, CA | $103,293 | $59,000 | 870,887 | 12 |
| 31 | Lexington, KY | $76,559 | $46,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 32 | Scottsdale, AZ | $64,628 | $36,000 | 246,645 | 6 |
| 33 | Madison, WI | $83,391 | $52,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 34 | San Antonio, TX | $77,623 | $44,000 | 1,492,510 | 5 |
| 35 | Chandler, AZ | $64,434 | $36,000 | 247,477 | 5 |
| 36 | Minneapolis, MN | $84,657 | $53,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 37 | Winston-Salem, NC | $83,355 | $50,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 38 | Fort Worth, TX | $75,712 | $43,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 39 | Plano, TX | $75,047 | $43,000 | 286,057 | 7 |
| 40 | Oakland, CA | $102,973 | $59,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 41 | Fremont, CA | $102,329 | $58,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 42 | Jersey City, NJ | $89,047 | $57,000 | 264,152 | 5 |
| 43 | Gilbert, AZ | $64,396 | $36,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 44 | Stockton, CA | $101,666 | $58,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 45 | Bakersfield, CA | $92,235 | $52,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $84,711 | $53,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 47 | Virginia Beach, VA | $65,527 | $40,000 | 452,602 | 6 |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $88,052 | $51,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 49 | Nashville, TN | $69,057 | $41,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 50 | Washington, DC | $96,636 | $61,000 | 681,170 | 9 |
Highest paying cities for design consultants
| Rank | City | Avg. design consultant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $103,293 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,575 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $96,636 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $94,880 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $90,480 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $89,203 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $89,032 |
| 8 | Kennesaw, GA | $86,572 |
| 9 | Dublin, OH | $85,285 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $84,761 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $83,193 |
| 12 | Newark, DE | $80,759 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $80,711 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $77,682 |
| 15 | Wichita, KS | $75,372 |
| 16 | Hartford, CT | $70,069 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $66,929 |
| 18 | Richmond, VA | $65,590 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,677 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $61,868 |
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Updated January 8, 2025