Best States For a Designer

  • 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 America, a large number of them are in the South. Washington is the best state in the country for designer jobs, and Hawaii has the second-highest median salary in the country.
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. Washington is the best state, and Vancouver is the city with the highest pay for designers.

Here Are the Best States for Designers In 2023:

  1. 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
    Designer Jobs in Washington

  2. 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
    Designer Jobs in Oregon

  3. 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
    Designer Jobs in Michigan

  4. 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
    Designer Jobs in California

  5. 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
    Designer Jobs in Massachusetts

  6. Are There Any Particularly Good Places In The United States For Designers To Find Work Opportunities?

    Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Job opportunities are everywhere in this industry. Keep an eye on your favorite brands and the location of their corporate offices. In particular, the Midwest is home to many corporate offices. There have been shifts for other offices to move to the Midwest to take advantage of its centralized location in the United States. Thus, the industry is all around us! Show more

    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
    Designer Jobs in Hawaii

  7. 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
    Designer Jobs in New York

  8. 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
    Designer Jobs in District of Columbia

  9. 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
    Designer Jobs in Pennsylvania

  10. 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 Jobs in New Jersey

  11. Designer JobsNear Ashburn, VA

    11. Rhode Island

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		107
    Average Annual Salary:$65,749
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$45,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.06
    Designer Jobs in Rhode Island

  12. 12. New Hampshire

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		155
    Average Annual Salary:$65,770
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$45,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.06
    Designer Jobs in New Hampshire

  13. 13. Virginia

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		840
    Average Annual Salary:$68,696
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$45,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$102,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.07
    Designer Jobs in Virginia

  14. 14. Illinois

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		959
    Average Annual Salary:$67,158
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$100,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.96
    Designer Jobs in Illinois

  15. 15. Wisconsin

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		429
    Average Annual Salary:$64,756
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$96,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.93
    Designer Jobs in Wisconsin

  16. 16. Ohio

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		641
    Average Annual Salary:$66,438
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$99,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.75
    Designer Jobs in Ohio

  17. 17. West Virginia

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		58
    Average Annual Salary:$69,982
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$46,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$104,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.46
    Designer Jobs in West Virginia

  18. 18. Colorado

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		483
    Average Annual Salary:$66,047
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$98,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.97
    Designer Jobs in Colorado

  19. 19. Iowa

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		228
    Average Annual Salary:$63,136
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$94,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.75
    Designer Jobs in Iowa

  20. 20. North Carolina

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		711
    Average Annual Salary:$62,679
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$94,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.89
    Designer Jobs in North Carolina

  21. Designer Jobs In The Top 10 States

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    21. Connecticut

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		289
    Average Annual Salary:$64,816
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$94,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.04
    Designer Jobs in Connecticut

  22. 22. Georgia

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		1,006
    Average Annual Salary:$61,142
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$92,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.17
    Designer Jobs in Georgia

  23. 23. Indiana

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		324
    Average Annual Salary:$63,474
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.59
    Designer Jobs in Indiana

  24. 24. Utah

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		309
    Average Annual Salary:$60,426
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$92,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.16
    Designer Jobs in Utah

  25. 25. Maryland

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		502
    Average Annual Salary:$65,838
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$97,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.95
    Designer Jobs in Maryland

  26. 26. Delaware

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		91
    Average Annual Salary:$64,250
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.87
    Designer Jobs in Delaware

  27. 27. Texas

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		1,583
    Average Annual Salary:$61,594
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$93,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.94
    Designer Jobs in Texas

  28. 28. Minnesota

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		542
    Average Annual Salary:$62,553
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$93,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.98
    Designer Jobs in Minnesota

  29. 29. Alaska

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		54
    Average Annual Salary:$65,827
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$47,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$91,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.78
    Designer Jobs in Alaska

  30. 30. Idaho

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		114
    Average Annual Salary:$61,600
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$96,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.83
    Designer Jobs in Idaho

  31. 31. Wyoming

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		50
    Average Annual Salary:$58,326
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$87,000
    Location Quotient:
    1
    Designer Jobs in Wyoming

  32. 32. Tennessee

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		323
    Average Annual Salary:$59,511
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$89,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.66
    Designer Jobs in Tennessee

  33. 33. Arizona

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		416
    Average Annual Salary:$60,131
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$92,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.85
    Designer Jobs in Arizona

  34. 34. Kentucky

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		172
    Average Annual Salary:$60,447
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$90,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.56
    Designer Jobs in Kentucky

  35. 35. Nevada

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		128
    Average Annual Salary:$60,410
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$94,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.73
    Designer Jobs in Nevada

  36. 36. Vermont

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		64
    Average Annual Salary:$58,861
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$84,000
    Location Quotient:
    1
    Designer Jobs in Vermont

  37. 37. Arkansas

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		126
    Average Annual Salary:$59,520
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$89,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.58
    Designer Jobs in Arkansas

  38. 38. Alabama

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		201
    Average Annual Salary:$58,516
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$88,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.55
    Designer Jobs in Alabama

  39. 39. Maine

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		116
    Average Annual Salary:$55,050
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$79,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.05
    Designer Jobs in Maine

  40. 40. South Carolina

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		218
    Average Annual Salary:$58,652
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$88,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.58
    Designer Jobs in South Carolina

  41. 41. Missouri

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		342
    Average Annual Salary:$56,905
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$85,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.7
    Designer Jobs in Missouri

  42. 42. Kansas

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		172
    Average Annual Salary:$55,979
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$83,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.68
    Designer Jobs in Kansas

  43. 43. Nebraska

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		122
    Average Annual Salary:$56,062
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$83,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.66
    Designer Jobs in Nebraska

  44. 44. Florida

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		1,062
    Average Annual Salary:$53,951
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$82,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.82
    Designer Jobs in Florida

  45. 45. North Dakota

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		46
    Average Annual Salary:$54,839
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$82,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.59
    Designer Jobs in North Dakota

  46. 46. Louisiana

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		122
    Average Annual Salary:$56,175
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$85,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.46
    Designer Jobs in Louisiana

  47. 47. Montana

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		79
    Average Annual Salary:$47,772
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$31,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$73,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.82
    Designer Jobs in Montana

  48. 48. Mississippi

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		83
    Average Annual Salary:$54,564
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$82,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.47
    Designer Jobs in Mississippi

  49. 49. New Mexico

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		103
    Average Annual Salary:$50,993
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$33,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$77,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.63
    Designer Jobs in New Mexico

  50. 50. Oklahoma

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		146
    Average Annual Salary:$48,017
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$32,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$71,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.57
    Designer Jobs in Oklahoma

  51. 51. South Dakota

    Total Designer Jobs:
    		54
    Average Annual Salary:$43,912
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$29,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$65,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.6
    Designer Jobs in South Dakota

How We Determined 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

RankStateAverage SalaryLowest 10% EarnPopulationJob Count
1Washington$99,369$62,0007,405,743998
2Oregon$78,743$49,0004,142,776583
3Michigan$72,577$48,0009,962,311692
4California$78,588$49,00039,536,6533,807
5Massachusetts$72,503$49,0006,859,819838
6Hawaii$91,918$68,0001,427,53855
7New York$71,938$48,00019,849,3991,634
8District of Columbia$76,268$51,000693,972252
9Pennsylvania$69,048$46,00012,805,537853
10New Jersey$73,316$49,0009,005,644550
11Rhode Island$65,749$45,0001,059,639107
12New Hampshire$65,770$45,0001,342,795155
13Virginia$68,696$45,0008,470,020840
14Illinois$67,158$44,00012,802,023959
15Wisconsin$64,756$43,0005,795,483429
16Ohio$66,438$44,00011,658,609641
17West Virginia$69,982$46,0001,815,85758
18Colorado$66,047$44,0005,607,154483
19Iowa$63,136$42,0003,145,711228
20North Carolina$62,679$41,00010,273,419711
21Connecticut$64,816$44,0003,588,184289
22Georgia$61,142$40,00010,429,3791,006
23Indiana$63,474$42,0006,666,818324
24Utah$60,426$39,0003,101,833309
25Maryland$65,838$44,0006,052,177502
26Delaware$64,250$43,000961,93991
27Texas$61,594$40,00028,304,5961,583
28Minnesota$62,553$41,0005,576,606542
29Alaska$65,827$47,000739,79554
30Idaho$61,600$39,0001,716,943114
31Wyoming$58,326$38,000579,31550
32Tennessee$59,511$39,0006,715,984323
33Arizona$60,131$39,0007,016,270416
34Kentucky$60,447$40,0004,454,189172
35Nevada$60,410$38,0002,998,039128
36Vermont$58,861$40,000623,65764
37Arkansas$59,520$39,0003,004,279126
38Alabama$58,516$38,0004,874,747201
39Maine$55,050$38,0001,335,907116
40South Carolina$58,652$38,0005,024,369218
41Missouri$56,905$38,0006,113,532342
42Kansas$55,979$37,0002,913,123172
43Nebraska$56,062$37,0001,920,076122
44Florida$53,951$35,00020,984,4001,062
45North Dakota$54,839$36,000755,39346
46Louisiana$56,175$36,0004,684,333122
47Montana$47,772$31,0001,050,49379
48Mississippi$54,564$36,0002,984,10083
49New Mexico$50,993$33,0002,088,070103
50Oklahoma$48,017$32,0003,930,864146
51South Dakota$43,912$29,000869,66654

Highest paying states for Designers

RankStateAvg. Designer Salary
1Washington$99,369
2Oregon$78,743
3Michigan$72,577
4California$78,588
5Massachusetts$72,503
6Hawaii$91,918
7New York$71,938
8District of Columbia$76,268
9Pennsylvania$69,048
10New Jersey$73,316
11Rhode Island$65,749
12New Hampshire$65,770
13Virginia$68,696
14Illinois$67,158
15Wisconsin$64,756
16Ohio$66,438
17West Virginia$69,982
18Colorado$66,047
19Iowa$63,136
20North Carolina$62,679
21Connecticut$64,816
22Georgia$61,142
23Indiana$63,474
24Utah$60,426
25Maryland$65,838
26Delaware$64,250
27Texas$61,594
28Minnesota$62,553
29Alaska$65,827
30Idaho$61,600
31Wyoming$58,326
32Tennessee$59,511
33Arizona$60,131
34Kentucky$60,447
35Nevada$60,410
36Vermont$58,861
37Arkansas$59,520
38Alabama$58,516
39Maine$55,050
40South Carolina$58,652
41Missouri$56,905
42Kansas$55,979
43Nebraska$56,062
44Florida$53,951
45North Dakota$54,839
46Louisiana$56,175
47Montana$47,772
48Mississippi$54,564
49New Mexico$50,993
50Oklahoma$48,017
51South Dakota$43,912
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Updated April 6, 2021