Best cities for a head designer
The best cities for head designers are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for head designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for head designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a head designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for head designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for head designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a head designer. While the absolute best city for head designers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for head designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a head designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for head designers in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total head designer jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $166,493 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $272,000 Location quotient: 21.25 2. Oakland, CA
Total head designer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $166,340 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $272,000 Location quotient: 19.91 3. Los Angeles, CA
Total head designer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $152,151 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 5.92 4. San Jose, CA
Total head designer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $165,545 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $271,000 Location quotient: 3.13 5. Sacramento, CA
Total head designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $165,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $271,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Fremont, CA
Total head designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $165,900 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $272,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total head designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $165,807 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $271,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Irvine, CA
Total head designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $150,501 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 2.32 9. Seattle, WA
Total head designer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $134,090 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 3.00 10. Anaheim, CA
Total head designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $151,064 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for head designers
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Anaheim, CA
- (67 head designer jobs)
- (6 head designer jobs)
- (16 head designer jobs)
- (7 head designer jobs)
- (0 head designer jobs)
- (0 head designer jobs)
- (0 head designer jobs)
- (2 head designer jobs)
- (8 head designer jobs)
- (0 head designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a head designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $166,493 | $101,000 | 870,887 | 67 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $166,340 | $101,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $152,151 | $90,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $165,545 | $100,000 | 1,025,350 | 7 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $165,999 | $101,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $165,900 | $101,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $165,807 | $101,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | Irvine, CA | $150,501 | $89,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $134,090 | $81,000 | 704,352 | 8 |
| 10 | Anaheim, CA | $151,064 | $89,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $163,159 | $98,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | $151,061 | $89,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $158,750 | $95,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 14 | Riverside, CA | $151,034 | $89,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 15 | Santa Ana, CA | $150,752 | $89,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $124,346 | $75,000 | 693,060 | 12 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $113,868 | $68,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $118,242 | $68,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $147,882 | $86,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 20 | Chula Vista, CA | $147,392 | $86,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 21 | Scottsdale, AZ | $118,281 | $69,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 22 | Glendale, AZ | $118,247 | $68,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 23 | Mesa, AZ | $117,704 | $68,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $113,195 | $67,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 25 | Chandler, AZ | $117,614 | $68,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 26 | Fort Wayne, IN | $110,611 | $66,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 27 | Gilbert, AZ | $117,560 | $68,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 28 | Indianapolis, IN | $107,672 | $63,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 29 | Aurora, CO | $124,225 | $74,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 30 | Colorado Springs, CO | $124,182 | $74,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 31 | Portland, OR | $116,126 | $70,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 32 | New York, NY | $115,118 | $69,000 | 8,537,673 | 120 |
| 33 | Tucson, AZ | $114,216 | $65,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 34 | Reno, NV | $106,223 | $64,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $103,109 | $62,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 36 | Irving, TX | $98,993 | $54,000 | 238,289 | 5 |
| 37 | Boston, MA | $113,942 | $69,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 38 | Madison, WI | $102,774 | $62,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 39 | Anchorage, AK | $113,751 | $71,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 40 | Lubbock, TX | $103,732 | $58,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 41 | El Paso, TX | $102,700 | $57,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 42 | Nashville, TN | $94,985 | $52,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 43 | Memphis, TN | $94,388 | $51,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 44 | Las Vegas, NV | $101,588 | $60,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $101,549 | $60,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Louisville, KY | $94,566 | $54,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 47 | Henderson, NV | $100,993 | $60,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM | $101,502 | $59,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 49 | Fort Worth, TX | $99,189 | $54,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 50 | Lexington, KY | $94,639 | $53,000 | 318,449 | - |
Highest paying cities for head designers
| Rank | City | Avg. head designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $166,493 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $134,090 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $124,346 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $121,760 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $118,242 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $115,118 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $113,942 |
| 8 | Charlottesville, VA | $110,416 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $108,829 |
| 10 | Rockville, MD | $106,965 |
| 11 | Fort Lee, NJ | $102,366 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $101,406 |
| 13 | Irving, TX | $98,993 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $94,165 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $91,401 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $84,553 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $80,867 |
| 18 | Boca Raton, FL | $64,358 |
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Updated January 8, 2025