Best cities for a design manager
The best cities for design managers are Tucson, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for design managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for design managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a design manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for design managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for design managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a design manager. While the absolute best city for design managers is Tucson, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for design managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a design manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for design managers in 2025
1. Tucson, AZ
Total design manager jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $116,705 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 5.19 2. Gilbert, AZ
Total design manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $118,075 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 2.43 3. San Francisco, CA
Total design manager jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $138,165 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location quotient: 3.05 4. Reno, NV
Total design manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $109,079 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 3.12 5. Phoenix, AZ
Total design manager jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $118,552 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 1.65 6. San Jose, CA
Total design manager jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $137,562 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 1.99 7. Fremont, CA
Total design manager jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $137,623 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 1.90 8. Las Vegas, NV
Total design manager jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $106,513 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 2.12 9. Dallas, TX
Total design manager jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $105,501 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 2.49 10. Scottsdale, AZ
Total design manager jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $118,443 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 1.13
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Best cities for design managers
- Tucson, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- Reno, NV
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Dallas, TX
- Scottsdale, AZ
- (20 design manager jobs)
- (2 design manager jobs)
- (104 design manager jobs)
- (8 design manager jobs)
- (35 design manager jobs)
- (48 design manager jobs)
- (13 design manager jobs)
- (17 design manager jobs)
- (52 design manager jobs)
- (4 design manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a design manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucson, AZ | $116,705 | $72,000 | 530,706 | 20 |
| 2 | Gilbert, AZ | $118,075 | $73,000 | 237,133 | 2 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $138,165 | $85,000 | 870,887 | 104 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $109,079 | $67,000 | 245,255 | 8 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $118,552 | $73,000 | 1,615,017 | 35 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $137,562 | $84,000 | 1,025,350 | 48 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $137,623 | $84,000 | 233,136 | 13 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $106,513 | $65,000 | 632,912 | 17 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $105,501 | $67,000 | 1,317,929 | 52 |
| 10 | Scottsdale, AZ | $118,443 | $73,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $107,420 | $67,000 | 947,890 | 40 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $128,360 | $79,000 | 3,976,322 | 86 |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $93,923 | $64,000 | 278,508 | 5 |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $135,487 | $83,000 | 495,234 | 11 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $117,742 | $73,000 | 704,352 | 48 |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $137,866 | $84,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 17 | Fort Worth, TX | $105,914 | $68,000 | 854,113 | 9 |
| 18 | Long Beach, CA | $127,128 | $78,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 19 | Lubbock, TX | $107,917 | $68,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $106,004 | $65,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 21 | Glendale, AZ | $118,609 | $73,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 22 | Chandler, AZ | $118,144 | $73,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 23 | Mesa, AZ | $118,115 | $73,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 24 | Madison, WI | $95,875 | $65,000 | 252,551 | 10 |
| 25 | Nashville, TN | $85,865 | $58,000 | 660,388 | 18 |
| 26 | New Orleans, LA | $107,159 | $68,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 27 | Norfolk, VA | $93,467 | $64,000 | 245,115 | 10 |
| 28 | Raleigh, NC | $93,239 | $64,000 | 458,880 | 13 |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $84,604 | $57,000 | 280,364 | 9 |
| 30 | Irvine, CA | $126,146 | $77,000 | 266,122 | 11 |
| 31 | New York, NY | $98,789 | $68,000 | 8,537,673 | 240 |
| 32 | Columbus, OH | $94,034 | $64,000 | 860,090 | 16 |
| 33 | San Diego, CA | $123,035 | $75,000 | 1,406,630 | 25 |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $106,422 | $66,000 | 2,303,482 | 20 |
| 35 | Philadelphia, PA | $101,726 | $70,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 36 | Detroit, MI | $101,082 | $69,000 | 672,795 | 6 |
| 37 | Stockton, CA | $136,241 | $83,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 38 | El Paso, TX | $111,106 | $69,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 39 | San Antonio, TX | $106,726 | $66,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 40 | Boston, MA | $104,718 | $72,000 | 673,184 | 36 |
| 41 | Portland, OR | $106,734 | $66,000 | 639,863 | 13 |
| 42 | Plano, TX | $104,913 | $67,000 | 286,057 | 8 |
| 43 | Fresno, CA | $134,738 | $83,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 44 | Oklahoma City, OK | $82,488 | $54,000 | 638,367 | 14 |
| 45 | Indianapolis, IN | $86,280 | $59,000 | 855,164 | 22 |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $89,831 | $61,000 | 302,398 | 11 |
| 47 | North Las Vegas, NV | $106,238 | $65,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 48 | Bakersfield, CA | $132,905 | $82,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 49 | Arlington, TX | $105,832 | $68,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 50 | Milwaukee, WI | $96,871 | $66,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for design managers
| Rank | City | Avg. design manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $138,165 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $118,552 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $117,742 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $107,420 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $106,734 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $105,986 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $104,718 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $104,271 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $101,726 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $98,789 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $95,903 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $95,875 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $95,435 |
| 14 | McLean, VA | $94,463 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $94,034 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $93,239 |
| 17 | Columbia, SC | $92,055 |
| 18 | Montgomery, AL | $91,519 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $89,901 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $89,831 |
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Updated January 8, 2025