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Best states for a graphic art designer
Quoted expert
Kristy Pennino
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like graphic art designers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for graphic art designers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for graphic art designer jobs.
We figured that the best places for graphic art designer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.California is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for graphic art designers.
10 best states for graphic art designers in 2025
1. California
Total graphic art designer jobs: 3,299 Average annual salary: $63,530 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
2. New York
Total graphic art designer jobs: 1,397 Average annual salary: $57,835 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
3. District of Columbia
Total graphic art designer jobs: 225 Average annual salary: $59,321 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 2
4. Virginia
Total graphic art designer jobs: 681 Average annual salary: $54,722 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
5. Washington
Total graphic art designer jobs: 829 Average annual salary: $52,322 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
6. Maryland
Total graphic art designer jobs: 415 Average annual salary: $55,746 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
7. Oregon
Total graphic art designer jobs: 457 Average annual salary: $43,443 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
8. Pennsylvania
Total graphic art designer jobs: 609 Average annual salary: $45,523 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
9. Arizona
Total graphic art designer jobs: 313 Average annual salary: $47,575 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
10. Nevada
Total graphic art designer jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $46,993 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
Graphic art designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a graphic art designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a graphic art designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $63,530 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,299 |
| 2 | New York | $57,835 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,397 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $59,321 | $34,000 | 693,972 | 225 |
| 4 | Virginia | $54,722 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 681 |
| 5 | Washington | $52,322 | $30,000 | 7,405,743 | 829 |
| 6 | Maryland | $55,746 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 415 |
| 7 | Oregon | $43,443 | $24,000 | 4,142,776 | 457 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $45,523 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 609 |
| 9 | Arizona | $47,575 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 313 |
| 10 | Nevada | $46,993 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 104 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $46,842 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 402 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $41,581 | $25,000 | 6,859,819 | 722 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $40,395 | $24,000 | 1,059,639 | 72 |
| 14 | Utah | $38,983 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 240 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $41,708 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 213 |
| 16 | Texas | $41,887 | $22,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,202 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $36,942 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 373 |
| 18 | Georgia | $38,416 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 780 |
| 19 | Michigan | $36,618 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 509 |
| 20 | Colorado | $38,895 | $24,000 | 5,607,154 | 384 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $42,577 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 46 |
| 22 | Delaware | $42,029 | $23,000 | 961,939 | 54 |
| 23 | Illinois | $36,984 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 791 |
| 24 | Idaho | $38,829 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 70 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $37,986 | $21,000 | 2,088,070 | 93 |
| 26 | Ohio | $35,991 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 483 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $35,455 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 591 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $35,058 | $24,000 | 5,576,606 | 428 |
| 29 | Iowa | $34,698 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 167 |
| 30 | Missouri | $35,399 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 262 |
| 31 | Indiana | $35,198 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 257 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $35,297 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 21 |
| 33 | Florida | $35,024 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 787 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $32,937 | $21,000 | 1,342,795 | 126 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $33,757 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 233 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $32,262 | $24,000 | 755,393 | 38 |
| 37 | Alaska | $37,065 | $31,000 | 739,795 | 26 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $41,982 | $18,000 | 1,427,538 | 33 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $34,196 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 102 |
| 40 | Montana | $34,299 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 45 |
| 41 | Kansas | $32,170 | $20,000 | 2,913,123 | 158 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $33,631 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 121 |
| 43 | Vermont | $30,264 | $21,000 | 623,657 | 45 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $32,159 | $21,000 | 1,920,076 | 108 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $33,903 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 156 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $32,127 | $19,000 | 4,454,189 | 148 |
| 47 | Maine | $27,529 | $20,000 | 1,335,907 | 73 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $31,998 | $18,000 | 2,984,100 | 72 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $30,995 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 120 |
| 50 | Alabama | $29,027 | $16,000 | 4,874,747 | 188 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $25,211 | $17,000 | 869,666 | 40 |
Highest paying states for graphic art designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Graphic Art Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $63,530 |
| 2 | New York | $57,835 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $59,321 |
| 4 | Virginia | $54,722 |
| 5 | Washington | $52,322 |
| 6 | Maryland | $55,746 |
| 7 | Oregon | $43,443 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $45,523 |
| 9 | Arizona | $47,575 |
| 10 | Nevada | $46,993 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $46,842 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $41,581 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $40,395 |
| 14 | Utah | $38,983 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $41,708 |
| 16 | Texas | $41,887 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $36,942 |
| 18 | Georgia | $38,416 |
| 19 | Michigan | $36,618 |
| 20 | Colorado | $38,895 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $42,577 |
| 22 | Delaware | $42,029 |
| 23 | Illinois | $36,984 |
| 24 | Idaho | $38,829 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $37,986 |
| 26 | Ohio | $35,991 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $35,455 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $35,058 |
| 29 | Iowa | $34,698 |
| 30 | Missouri | $35,399 |
| 31 | Indiana | $35,198 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $35,297 |
| 33 | Florida | $35,024 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $32,937 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $33,757 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $32,262 |
| 37 | Alaska | $37,065 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $41,982 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $34,196 |
| 40 | Montana | $34,299 |
| 41 | Kansas | $32,170 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $33,631 |
| 43 | Vermont | $30,264 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $32,159 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $33,903 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $32,127 |
| 47 | Maine | $27,529 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $31,998 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $30,995 |
| 50 | Alabama | $29,027 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $25,211 |
Expert opinions on the best states for graphic art designers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graphic art designers 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.
Graphic art designer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025