Best cities for a designer/art director
The best cities for designer/art directors are San Francisco, CA, Wichita, KS, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for designer/art directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for designer/art directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a designer/art director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for designer/art directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for designer/art directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a designer/art director. While the absolute best city for designer/art directors is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for designer/art directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a designer/art director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for designer/art directors in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total designer/art director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $131,349 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 4.28 2. Wichita, KS
Total designer/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $105,235 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Fremont, CA
Total designer/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,653 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Oakland, CA
Total designer/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $131,095 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. San Jose, CA
Total designer/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,326 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Sacramento, CA
Total designer/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,316 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total designer/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,080 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. New York, NY
Total designer/art director jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $109,909 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 10.46 9. Fresno, CA
Total designer/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $126,970 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Brookhaven, NY
Total designer/art director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,727 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for designer/art directors
- San Francisco, CA
- Wichita, KS
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Stockton, CA
- New York, NY
- Fresno, CA
- Brookhaven, NY
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Detailed list of the best cities for a designer/art director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $131,349 | $81,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 2 | Wichita, KS | $105,235 | $66,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $130,653 | $80,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $131,095 | $81,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $130,326 | $80,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $130,316 | $80,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $130,080 | $80,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | New York, NY | $109,909 | $69,000 | 8,537,673 | 24 |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $126,970 | $78,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 10 | Brookhaven, NY | $111,727 | $70,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $108,479 | $66,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 12 | Islip, NY | $111,167 | $70,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 13 | Oyster Bay, NY | $110,818 | $69,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 14 | Bakersfield, CA | $122,641 | $75,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 15 | Hempstead, NY | $110,383 | $69,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $116,569 | $72,000 | 3,976,322 | 5 |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $94,844 | $58,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $105,408 | $64,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 19 | Long Beach, CA | $115,440 | $71,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 20 | Buffalo, NY | $106,568 | $68,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $115,325 | $71,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $115,051 | $70,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 23 | Anchorage, AK | $100,458 | $60,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $115,001 | $71,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 25 | Irvine, CA | $114,709 | $70,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 26 | San Diego, CA | $112,457 | $69,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 27 | Chula Vista, CA | $112,210 | $69,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 28 | Las Vegas, NV | $89,285 | $54,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $89,200 | $54,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Henderson, NV | $88,677 | $54,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 31 | Boston, MA | $95,377 | $60,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 32 | Saint Paul, MN | $86,279 | $56,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 33 | Minneapolis, MN | $86,219 | $56,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 34 | New Orleans, LA | $78,547 | $45,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 35 | Detroit, MI | $81,110 | $52,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 36 | Durham, NC | $75,968 | $45,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $87,848 | $56,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 38 | Raleigh, NC | $75,853 | $45,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 39 | Greensboro, NC | $75,429 | $45,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 40 | Jersey City, NJ | $91,808 | $57,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 41 | Winston-Salem, NC | $75,116 | $45,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 42 | Newark, NJ | $91,701 | $57,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 43 | Cleveland, OH | $70,892 | $45,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 44 | El Paso, TX | $75,383 | $45,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $67,997 | $42,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 46 | Toledo, OH | $69,840 | $44,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 47 | Charlotte, NC | $73,410 | $44,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 48 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $93,097 | $69,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 49 | Lubbock, TX | $72,328 | $43,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 50 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,838 | $43,000 | 559,277 | - |
Highest paying cities for designer/art directors
| Rank | City | Avg. designer/art director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $131,349 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $109,909 |
| 3 | Beaverton, OR | $108,759 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $105,408 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $101,405 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $100,324 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $91,701 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $87,848 |
| 9 | Grand Rapids, MI | $80,211 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $72,642 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $70,538 |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $64,972 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,550 |
| 14 | Frederick, MD | $59,334 |
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Updated January 8, 2025