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Best states for a designer/artist
Quoted expert
Kristy Pennino
- 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 designer/artists in the United States. Designer/artist 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 designer/artists.In fact, our research shows that New York is the best state for designer/artists in America. The best city in America for designer/artists with the highest pay is New York, NY.
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 designer/artists.New York is the best state, and Babylon is the city with the highest pay for designer/artists.
10 best states for designer/artists in 2025
1. New York
Total designer/artist jobs: 1,281 Average annual salary: $64,608 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
2. California
Total designer/artist jobs: 3,525 Average annual salary: $61,514 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
3. Washington
Total designer/artist jobs: 913 Average annual salary: $58,423 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
4. Michigan
Total designer/artist jobs: 500 Average annual salary: $54,159 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
5. Rhode Island
Total designer/artist jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $53,593 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
6. District of Columbia
Total designer/artist jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $57,111 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.94
7. Colorado
Total designer/artist jobs: 404 Average annual salary: $52,818 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
8. Oregon
Total designer/artist jobs: 463 Average annual salary: $50,126 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
9. Illinois
Total designer/artist jobs: 759 Average annual salary: $52,075 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
10. Virginia
Total designer/artist jobs: 727 Average annual salary: $51,353 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
Designer/artist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a designer/artist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a designer/artist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $64,608 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,281 |
| 2 | California | $61,514 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,525 |
| 3 | Washington | $58,423 | $39,000 | 7,405,743 | 913 |
| 4 | Michigan | $54,159 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 500 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $53,593 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 86 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $57,111 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 227 |
| 7 | Colorado | $52,818 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 404 |
| 8 | Oregon | $50,126 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 463 |
| 9 | Illinois | $52,075 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 759 |
| 10 | Virginia | $51,353 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 727 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $50,991 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 703 |
| 12 | Nevada | $53,159 | $36,000 | 2,998,039 | 97 |
| 13 | Utah | $47,471 | $32,000 | 3,101,833 | 272 |
| 14 | Arizona | $50,193 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 335 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $49,869 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 647 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $50,043 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 234 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $51,226 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 56 |
| 18 | Alaska | $51,803 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 38 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $45,574 | $32,000 | 1,342,795 | 131 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $45,797 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 38 |
| 21 | Maryland | $49,703 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 390 |
| 22 | Delaware | $46,642 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 71 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $44,376 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 570 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $42,354 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 398 |
| 25 | Florida | $45,915 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 851 |
| 26 | Texas | $42,429 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,318 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $53,235 | $40,000 | 1,427,538 | 38 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $45,875 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 89 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $48,249 | $33,000 | 9,005,644 | 372 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $43,468 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 399 |
| 31 | Vermont | $41,969 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 51 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $41,797 | $29,000 | 3,004,279 | 126 |
| 33 | Iowa | $40,819 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 189 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $41,876 | $29,000 | 6,715,984 | 255 |
| 35 | Missouri | $42,489 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 250 |
| 36 | Kansas | $40,561 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 150 |
| 37 | Georgia | $38,743 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 802 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $40,674 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 41 |
| 39 | Indiana | $40,063 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 296 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $40,611 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 109 |
| 41 | Ohio | $39,213 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 485 |
| 42 | Montana | $40,466 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 54 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $40,371 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 205 |
| 44 | Maine | $38,240 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 85 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $40,451 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 125 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $39,462 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 164 |
| 47 | Idaho | $37,411 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 82 |
| 48 | Alabama | $35,143 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 216 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $38,540 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 76 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $38,351 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 125 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $32,116 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 50 |
Highest paying states for designer/artists
| Rank | State | Avg. Designer/Artist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $64,608 |
| 2 | California | $61,514 |
| 3 | Washington | $58,423 |
| 4 | Michigan | $54,159 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $53,593 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $57,111 |
| 7 | Colorado | $52,818 |
| 8 | Oregon | $50,126 |
| 9 | Illinois | $52,075 |
| 10 | Virginia | $51,353 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $50,991 |
| 12 | Nevada | $53,159 |
| 13 | Utah | $47,471 |
| 14 | Arizona | $50,193 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $49,869 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $50,043 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $51,226 |
| 18 | Alaska | $51,803 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $45,574 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $45,797 |
| 21 | Maryland | $49,703 |
| 22 | Delaware | $46,642 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $44,376 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $42,354 |
| 25 | Florida | $45,915 |
| 26 | Texas | $42,429 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $53,235 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $45,875 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $48,249 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $43,468 |
| 31 | Vermont | $41,969 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $41,797 |
| 33 | Iowa | $40,819 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $41,876 |
| 35 | Missouri | $42,489 |
| 36 | Kansas | $40,561 |
| 37 | Georgia | $38,743 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $40,674 |
| 39 | Indiana | $40,063 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $40,611 |
| 41 | Ohio | $39,213 |
| 42 | Montana | $40,466 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $40,371 |
| 44 | Maine | $38,240 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $40,451 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $39,462 |
| 47 | Idaho | $37,411 |
| 48 | Alabama | $35,143 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $38,540 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $38,351 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $32,116 |
Expert opinions on the best states for designer/artists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for designer/artists to find work opportunities?
Kristy Pennino
Professor of Graphic & Interactive Design, Valencia College
All major cities in the U.S. have been known to offer the most employment opportunities for graphic designers, simply because that is where there's a greater concentration of paying clients. I guess the silver lining - as a result of the pandemic - is that people will be less likely to select their employers, clients, or residences based solely on their location. With our program internship requirement, I have already witnessed students being hired to work remotely for employers who are not local and who are not even located in the same state or country. I helped three graduates get employed in the past 48 hours for companies who are not local and eager to hire our graduates to work remotely.
Designer/artist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025