Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a designer
Quoted expert
Carmita Sanchez-Fong
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for designers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for designer jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant designer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Washington is the best state in the country for designer jobs.
The median salary for designers in Washington is $99,369. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $43,912, which ranked worst for designers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for designers, and the Northeast is the worst. Seattle, WA is the best city in the country for designer jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for designers in 2026
1. Washington
Total designer jobs: 998 Average annual salary: $99,369 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
2. Oregon
Total designer jobs: 583 Average annual salary: $78,743 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
3. Michigan
Total designer jobs: 692 Average annual salary: $72,577 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
4. California
Total designer jobs: 3,807 Average annual salary: $78,588 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
5. Massachusetts
Total designer jobs: 838 Average annual salary: $72,503 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
6. Hawaii
Total designer jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $91,918 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
7. New York
Total designer jobs: 1,634 Average annual salary: $71,938 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
8. District of Columbia
Total designer jobs: 252 Average annual salary: $76,268 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
9. Pennsylvania
Total designer jobs: 853 Average annual salary: $69,048 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. New Jersey
Total designer jobs: 550 Average annual salary: $73,316 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
Designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $99,369 | $62,000 | 7,405,743 | 998 |
| 2 | Oregon | $78,743 | $49,000 | 4,142,776 | 583 |
| 3 | Michigan | $72,577 | $48,000 | 9,962,311 | 692 |
| 4 | California | $78,588 | $49,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,807 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $72,503 | $49,000 | 6,859,819 | 838 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $91,918 | $68,000 | 1,427,538 | 55 |
| 7 | New York | $71,938 | $48,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,634 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $76,268 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 252 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $69,048 | $46,000 | 12,805,537 | 853 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $73,316 | $49,000 | 9,005,644 | 550 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $65,749 | $45,000 | 1,059,639 | 107 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $65,770 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 155 |
| 13 | Virginia | $68,696 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 840 |
| 14 | Illinois | $67,158 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 959 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $64,756 | $43,000 | 5,795,483 | 429 |
| 16 | Ohio | $66,438 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 641 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $69,982 | $46,000 | 1,815,857 | 58 |
| 18 | Colorado | $66,047 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 483 |
| 19 | Iowa | $63,136 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 228 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $62,679 | $41,000 | 10,273,419 | 711 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $64,816 | $44,000 | 3,588,184 | 289 |
| 22 | Georgia | $61,142 | $40,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,006 |
| 23 | Indiana | $63,474 | $42,000 | 6,666,818 | 324 |
| 24 | Utah | $60,426 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 309 |
| 25 | Maryland | $65,838 | $44,000 | 6,052,177 | 502 |
| 26 | Delaware | $64,250 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 91 |
| 27 | Texas | $61,594 | $40,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,583 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $62,553 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 542 |
| 29 | Alaska | $65,827 | $47,000 | 739,795 | 54 |
| 30 | Idaho | $61,600 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 114 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $58,326 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $59,511 | $39,000 | 6,715,984 | 323 |
| 33 | Arizona | $60,131 | $39,000 | 7,016,270 | 416 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $60,447 | $40,000 | 4,454,189 | 172 |
| 35 | Nevada | $60,410 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 128 |
| 36 | Vermont | $58,861 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 64 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $59,520 | $39,000 | 3,004,279 | 126 |
| 38 | Alabama | $58,516 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 201 |
| 39 | Maine | $55,050 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 116 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $58,652 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 218 |
| 41 | Missouri | $56,905 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 342 |
| 42 | Kansas | $55,979 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 172 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $56,062 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 122 |
| 44 | Florida | $53,951 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,062 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $54,839 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 46 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $56,175 | $36,000 | 4,684,333 | 122 |
| 47 | Montana | $47,772 | $31,000 | 1,050,493 | 79 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $54,564 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 83 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $50,993 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 103 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $48,017 | $32,000 | 3,930,864 | 146 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $43,912 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 54 |
Highest paying states for designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $99,369 |
| 2 | Oregon | $78,743 |
| 3 | Michigan | $72,577 |
| 4 | California | $78,588 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $72,503 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $91,918 |
| 7 | New York | $71,938 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $76,268 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $69,048 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $73,316 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $65,749 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $65,770 |
| 13 | Virginia | $68,696 |
| 14 | Illinois | $67,158 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $64,756 |
| 16 | Ohio | $66,438 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $69,982 |
| 18 | Colorado | $66,047 |
| 19 | Iowa | $63,136 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $62,679 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $64,816 |
| 22 | Georgia | $61,142 |
| 23 | Indiana | $63,474 |
| 24 | Utah | $60,426 |
| 25 | Maryland | $65,838 |
| 26 | Delaware | $64,250 |
| 27 | Texas | $61,594 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $62,553 |
| 29 | Alaska | $65,827 |
| 30 | Idaho | $61,600 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $58,326 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $59,511 |
| 33 | Arizona | $60,131 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $60,447 |
| 35 | Nevada | $60,410 |
| 36 | Vermont | $58,861 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $59,520 |
| 38 | Alabama | $58,516 |
| 39 | Maine | $55,050 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $58,652 |
| 41 | Missouri | $56,905 |
| 42 | Kansas | $55,979 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $56,062 |
| 44 | Florida | $53,951 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $54,839 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $56,175 |
| 47 | Montana | $47,772 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $54,564 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $50,993 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $48,017 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $43,912 |
Expert opinions on the best states for designers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for designers 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.
Designer best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for designer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025