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Best states for a graphic design specialist
Quoted expert
Kristy Pennino
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and arts, entertainment, sports, and media careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to graphic design specialist jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for graphic design specialists.We wanted to look at the best states for graphic design specialists -- where there are plenty of graphic design specialist jobs to go around and graphic design specialists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
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 graphic design specialists.Washington is the best state, and Bellingham is the city with the highest pay for graphic design specialists.
10 best states for graphic design specialists in 2025
1. Washington
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 1,251 Average annual salary: $77,067 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.492. Massachusetts
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 1,291 Average annual salary: $69,326 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.223. New York
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 2,107 Average annual salary: $66,660 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.434. California
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 5,290 Average annual salary: $67,451 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.575. District of Columbia
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 246 Average annual salary: $70,392 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.276. Rhode Island
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $60,048 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.157. North Dakota
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $60,968 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.028. North Carolina
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 1,198 Average annual salary: $57,120 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.089. Connecticut
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 402 Average annual salary: $59,625 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.0510. Utah
Total graphic design specialist jobs: 442 Average annual salary: $56,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
Graphic design specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a graphic design specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a graphic design specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $77,067 | $57,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,251 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $69,326 | $49,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,291 |
| 3 | New York | $66,660 | $46,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,107 |
| 4 | California | $67,451 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,290 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $70,392 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 246 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $60,048 | $42,000 | 1,059,639 | 161 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $60,968 | $45,000 | 755,393 | 109 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $57,120 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,198 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $59,625 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 402 |
| 10 | Utah | $56,205 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 442 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $65,902 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 747 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $56,119 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 231 |
| 13 | Texas | $55,432 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,677 |
| 14 | Colorado | $58,379 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 678 |
| 15 | Delaware | $56,356 | $39,000 | 961,939 | 163 |
| 16 | Maryland | $58,788 | $40,000 | 6,052,177 | 731 |
| 17 | Montana | $55,818 | $40,000 | 1,050,493 | 128 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $55,484 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 775 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $55,507 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 65 |
| 20 | Alaska | $63,184 | $56,000 | 739,795 | 77 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $57,065 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 117 |
| 22 | Arizona | $54,504 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 758 |
| 23 | Maine | $53,737 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 145 |
| 24 | Oregon | $52,856 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 829 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $54,739 | $39,000 | 5,795,483 | 0 |
| 26 | Vermont | $53,793 | $39,000 | 623,657 | 79 |
| 27 | Michigan | $48,013 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,042 |
| 28 | Virginia | $56,219 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 0 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $49,246 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,257 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $54,349 | $41,000 | 1,427,538 | 91 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $48,923 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 245 |
| 32 | Illinois | $51,666 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,300 |
| 33 | Iowa | $47,022 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 437 |
| 34 | Nevada | $47,793 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 216 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $47,456 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 490 |
| 36 | Indiana | $48,238 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 0 |
| 37 | Idaho | $45,716 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 179 |
| 38 | Missouri | $46,900 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 545 |
| 39 | Georgia | $45,118 | $31,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,177 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $45,981 | $32,000 | 3,004,279 | 231 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $46,662 | $32,000 | 4,454,189 | 298 |
| 42 | Ohio | $43,831 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,055 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $45,562 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 168 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $44,312 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 269 |
| 45 | Kansas | $42,485 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 319 |
| 46 | Florida | $38,564 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,797 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $44,693 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 0 |
| 48 | Alabama | $42,484 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 415 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $40,309 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 109 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $39,604 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 388 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $40,359 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 140 |
Highest paying states for graphic design specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Graphic Design Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $77,067 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $69,326 |
| 3 | New York | $66,660 |
| 4 | California | $67,451 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $70,392 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $60,048 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $60,968 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $57,120 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $59,625 |
| 10 | Utah | $56,205 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $65,902 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $56,119 |
| 13 | Texas | $55,432 |
| 14 | Colorado | $58,379 |
| 15 | Delaware | $56,356 |
| 16 | Maryland | $58,788 |
| 17 | Montana | $55,818 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $55,484 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $55,507 |
| 20 | Alaska | $63,184 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $57,065 |
| 22 | Arizona | $54,504 |
| 23 | Maine | $53,737 |
| 24 | Oregon | $52,856 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $54,739 |
| 26 | Vermont | $53,793 |
| 27 | Michigan | $48,013 |
| 28 | Virginia | $56,219 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $49,246 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $54,349 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $48,923 |
| 32 | Illinois | $51,666 |
| 33 | Iowa | $47,022 |
| 34 | Nevada | $47,793 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $47,456 |
| 36 | Indiana | $48,238 |
| 37 | Idaho | $45,716 |
| 38 | Missouri | $46,900 |
| 39 | Georgia | $45,118 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $45,981 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $46,662 |
| 42 | Ohio | $43,831 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $45,562 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $44,312 |
| 45 | Kansas | $42,485 |
| 46 | Florida | $38,564 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $44,693 |
| 48 | Alabama | $42,484 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $40,309 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $39,604 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $40,359 |
Expert opinions on the best states for graphic design specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graphic design specialists 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025