Best cities for a graphic designer
The best cities for graphic designers are New York, NY, Virginia Beach, VA, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for graphic designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for graphic designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a graphic designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for graphic designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for graphic designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a graphic designer. While the absolute best city for graphic designers is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for graphic designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a graphic designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for graphic designers in 2025
1. New York, NY
Graphic designer jobs in New YorkTotal graphic designer jobs: 128 Average annual salary: $57,449 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 15.65 2. Virginia Beach, VA
Graphic designer jobs in Virginia BeachTotal graphic designer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $56,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 2.89 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Total graphic designer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $44,771 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 8.84 4. Boston, MA
Graphic designer jobs in BostonTotal graphic designer jobs: 136 Average annual salary: $58,402 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 2.62 5. Philadelphia, PA
Graphic designer jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal graphic designer jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $51,554 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 2.17 6. Washington, DC
Graphic designer jobs in WashingtonTotal graphic designer jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $63,052 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 4.17 7. San Francisco, CA
Graphic designer jobs in San FranciscoTotal graphic designer jobs: 85 Average annual salary: $55,717 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 8.24 8. Oakland, CA
Graphic designer jobs in OaklandTotal graphic designer jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $55,591 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 6.50 9. Reno, NV
Graphic designer jobs in RenoTotal graphic designer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $47,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 2.57 10. Seattle, WA
Graphic designer jobs in SeattleTotal graphic designer jobs: 124 Average annual salary: $57,758 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 2.03
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Best cities for graphic designers
- New York, NY
- Virginia Beach, VA
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Boston, MA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Washington, DC
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Reno, NV
- Seattle, WA
Detailed list of the best cities for a graphic designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $57,449 | $41,000 | 8,537,673 | 128 |
| 2 | Virginia Beach, VA | $56,297 | $39,000 | 452,602 | 14 |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $44,771 | $30,000 | 238,702 | 7 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $58,402 | $42,000 | 673,184 | 136 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,554 | $36,000 | 1,567,872 | 76 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $63,052 | $44,000 | 681,170 | 174 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $55,717 | $36,000 | 870,887 | 85 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $55,591 | $36,000 | 420,005 | 45 |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $47,699 | $31,000 | 245,255 | 14 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $57,758 | $38,000 | 704,352 | 124 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $44,824 | $30,000 | 632,912 | 60 |
| 12 | Greensboro, NC | $48,743 | $34,000 | 287,027 | 10 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $49,202 | $34,000 | 458,880 | 32 |
| 14 | Chesapeake, VA | $55,951 | $39,000 | 237,940 | 4 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $45,147 | $31,000 | 860,090 | 68 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $48,012 | $33,000 | 2,704,958 | 11 |
| 17 | Fremont, CA | $55,294 | $36,000 | 233,136 | 58 |
| 18 | Anchorage, AK | $52,671 | $42,000 | 298,192 | 8 |
| 19 | Scottsdale, AZ | $44,683 | $31,000 | 246,645 | 27 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $50,894 | $34,000 | 3,976,322 | 99 |
| 21 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,469 | $34,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 22 | Gilbert, AZ | $44,657 | $31,000 | 237,133 | 5 |
| 23 | Newark, NJ | $54,195 | $38,000 | 281,764 | 16 |
| 24 | Henderson, NV | $44,600 | $30,000 | 292,969 | 4 |
| 25 | Norfolk, VA | $56,194 | $39,000 | 245,115 | 6 |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $53,649 | $35,000 | 522,053 | 16 |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $50,639 | $34,000 | 351,043 | 31 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $46,649 | $32,000 | 385,809 | 13 |
| 29 | Baltimore, MD | $54,624 | $38,000 | 614,664 | 44 |
| 30 | San Jose, CA | $55,079 | $36,000 | 1,025,350 | 112 |
| 31 | Santa Ana, CA | $50,588 | $34,000 | 334,217 | 25 |
| 32 | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,137 | $35,000 | 303,625 | 23 |
| 33 | Durham, NC | $49,258 | $34,000 | 263,016 | 10 |
| 34 | Cincinnati, OH | $43,088 | $30,000 | 298,800 | 21 |
| 35 | Toledo, OH | $45,934 | $32,000 | 278,508 | 4 |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $50,687 | $34,000 | 470,130 | 24 |
| 37 | Charlotte, NC | $47,336 | $34,000 | 842,051 | 47 |
| 38 | Irvine, CA | $50,535 | $34,000 | 266,122 | 108 |
| 39 | Houston, TX | $42,556 | $30,000 | 2,303,482 | 231 |
| 40 | Garland, TX | $41,168 | $29,000 | 234,943 | 7 |
| 41 | Portland, OR | $49,285 | $32,000 | 639,863 | 41 |
| 42 | Denver, CO | $47,544 | $34,000 | 693,060 | 146 |
| 43 | Chula Vista, CA | $50,073 | $34,000 | 267,172 | 6 |
| 44 | Fort Wayne, IN | $44,533 | $31,000 | 264,488 | 5 |
| 45 | Mesa, AZ | $44,656 | $31,000 | 484,587 | 7 |
| 46 | Tucson, AZ | $44,555 | $31,000 | 530,706 | 17 |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $40,453 | $29,000 | 660,388 | 34 |
| 48 | Dallas, TX | $41,260 | $29,000 | 1,317,929 | 154 |
| 49 | Detroit, MI | $50,340 | $35,000 | 672,795 | 10 |
| 50 | San Diego, CA | $50,125 | $34,000 | 1,406,630 | 165 |
Highest paying cities for graphic designers
| Rank | City | Avg. graphic designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $63,052 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $58,402 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $57,758 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $57,449 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $55,717 |
| 6 | Fort Lee, NJ | $54,141 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,554 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $48,012 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $47,544 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $47,530 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $47,336 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $45,147 |
| 13 | Duluth, MN | $44,841 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $44,824 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $42,702 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $42,259 |
| 17 | Orlando, FL | $40,715 |
| 18 | Duluth, GA | $38,805 |
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Updated January 8, 2025