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Best states for a design specialist
Quoted expert
Carmita Sanchez-Fong
- 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 design specialists in the United States. Design specialist 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 design specialists.In fact, our research shows that New York is the best state for design specialists in America. The best city in America for design specialists with the highest pay is Menlo Park, CA.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for design specialists. New York is the best state for design specialists, where the median salary is $67,705.New York is the best state, and Long Beach is the city with the highest pay for design specialists.
10 best states for design specialists in 2026
1. New York
Total design specialist jobs: 1,748 Average annual salary: $67,705 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
2. California
Total design specialist jobs: 4,470 Average annual salary: $67,602 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
3. Rhode Island
Total design specialist jobs: 137 Average annual salary: $61,406 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. District of Columbia
Total design specialist jobs: 217 Average annual salary: $65,947 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
5. Connecticut
Total design specialist jobs: 373 Average annual salary: $64,423 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
6. Delaware
Total design specialist jobs: 147 Average annual salary: $60,838 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
7. Texas
Total design specialist jobs: 2,371 Average annual salary: $59,181 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
8. Pennsylvania
Total design specialist jobs: 1,113 Average annual salary: $64,307 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
9. North Dakota
Total design specialist jobs: 96 Average annual salary: $57,390 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. North Carolina
Total design specialist jobs: 1,050 Average annual salary: $56,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1
Design specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a design specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a design specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $67,705 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,748 |
| 2 | California | $67,602 | $40,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,470 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $61,406 | $38,000 | 1,059,639 | 137 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $65,947 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 217 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $64,423 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 373 |
| 6 | Delaware | $60,838 | $36,000 | 961,939 | 147 |
| 7 | Texas | $59,181 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,371 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $64,307 | $38,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,113 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $57,390 | $41,000 | 755,393 | 96 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $56,309 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,050 |
| 11 | Michigan | $51,949 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 922 |
| 12 | Iowa | $51,694 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 441 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $52,850 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 199 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $59,463 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 156 |
| 15 | Oregon | $50,838 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 734 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $53,754 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 534 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $52,053 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,132 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $55,687 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 107 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $58,780 | $35,000 | 9,005,644 | 666 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $53,752 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 207 |
| 21 | Kansas | $50,729 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 284 |
| 22 | Arizona | $47,241 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 686 |
| 23 | Washington | $46,055 | $30,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,020 |
| 24 | Maine | $51,099 | $34,000 | 1,335,907 | 125 |
| 25 | Maryland | $52,396 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 629 |
| 26 | Ohio | $49,726 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 931 |
| 27 | Virginia | $47,891 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,020 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $46,138 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 692 |
| 29 | Georgia | $46,485 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,050 |
| 30 | Illinois | $48,631 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,108 |
| 31 | Idaho | $45,372 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 158 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $41,734 | $31,000 | 1,427,538 | 108 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $48,306 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 266 |
| 34 | Colorado | $43,557 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 614 |
| 35 | Vermont | $34,931 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 97 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $44,070 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 235 |
| 37 | Nevada | $41,253 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 192 |
| 38 | Alaska | $34,826 | $30,000 | 739,795 | 90 |
| 39 | Florida | $39,068 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,605 |
| 40 | Alabama | $39,264 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 383 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $36,979 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 219 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $29,966 | $20,000 | 579,315 | 81 |
| 43 | Missouri | $39,269 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 494 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $40,151 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 355 |
| 45 | Montana | $35,399 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 114 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $36,445 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 98 |
| 47 | Utah | $31,407 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 369 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $37,824 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 445 |
| 49 | Indiana | $37,859 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 504 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $35,697 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 250 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $31,979 | $19,000 | 2,984,100 | 127 |
Highest paying states for design specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Design Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $67,705 |
| 2 | California | $67,602 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $61,406 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $65,947 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $64,423 |
| 6 | Delaware | $60,838 |
| 7 | Texas | $59,181 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $64,307 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $57,390 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $56,309 |
| 11 | Michigan | $51,949 |
| 12 | Iowa | $51,694 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $52,850 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $59,463 |
| 15 | Oregon | $50,838 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $53,754 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $52,053 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $55,687 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $58,780 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $53,752 |
| 21 | Kansas | $50,729 |
| 22 | Arizona | $47,241 |
| 23 | Washington | $46,055 |
| 24 | Maine | $51,099 |
| 25 | Maryland | $52,396 |
| 26 | Ohio | $49,726 |
| 27 | Virginia | $47,891 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $46,138 |
| 29 | Georgia | $46,485 |
| 30 | Illinois | $48,631 |
| 31 | Idaho | $45,372 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $41,734 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $48,306 |
| 34 | Colorado | $43,557 |
| 35 | Vermont | $34,931 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $44,070 |
| 37 | Nevada | $41,253 |
| 38 | Alaska | $34,826 |
| 39 | Florida | $39,068 |
| 40 | Alabama | $39,264 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $36,979 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $29,966 |
| 43 | Missouri | $39,269 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $40,151 |
| 45 | Montana | $35,399 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $36,445 |
| 47 | Utah | $31,407 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $37,824 |
| 49 | Indiana | $37,859 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $35,697 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $31,979 |
Expert opinions on the best states for design specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for design specialists to find work opportunities?
Carmita Sanchez-Fong
Professor and Chairperson, Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY
Wherever there are people, there is a need for interior design innovation. Our students are all over the United States and abroad. Keep in mind that each state and city has a vastly different population size, infrastructure, income levels, behaviors, trends, and even level of sophistication. Do your research. Do not pick the place that pays you the most. Pick a location outside of your comfort zone that will challenge your skills and support your growth as a person and designer.
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Updated January 8, 2025