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Best states for a head designer
Quoted expert
Linda Manikowske Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
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- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for head designers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for head 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.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 head designer jobs.
The median salary for head designers in California is $150,167. Compare that to the median salary in Hawaii of $64,907, which ranked worst for head designers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a head designer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for head designers in 2025
1. California
Total head designer jobs: 3,247 Average annual salary: $150,167 Lowest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $231,000 Location Quotient: 1.642. Washington
Total head designer jobs: 875 Average annual salary: $132,207 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location Quotient: 1.773. Oregon
Total head designer jobs: 457 Average annual salary: $116,939 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location Quotient: 1.634. Colorado
Total head designer jobs: 418 Average annual salary: $123,328 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location Quotient: 1.045. Massachusetts
Total head designer jobs: 773 Average annual salary: $113,425 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 1.256. Rhode Island
Total head designer jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $110,643 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.137. Pennsylvania
Total head designer jobs: 686 Average annual salary: $113,302 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 0.878. New York
Total head designer jobs: 1,402 Average annual salary: $114,610 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location Quotient: 1.629. Arizona
Total head designer jobs: 321 Average annual salary: $116,541 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location Quotient: 0.8110. District of Columbia
Total head designer jobs: 222 Average annual salary: $120,541 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location Quotient: 1.96
Head designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a head designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a head designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $150,167 | $97,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,247 |
| 2 | Washington | $132,207 | $84,000 | 7,405,743 | 875 |
| 3 | Oregon | $116,939 | $73,000 | 4,142,776 | 457 |
| 4 | Colorado | $123,328 | $77,000 | 5,607,154 | 418 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $113,425 | $71,000 | 6,859,819 | 773 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $110,643 | $68,000 | 1,059,639 | 93 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $113,302 | $69,000 | 12,805,537 | 686 |
| 8 | New York | $114,610 | $71,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,402 |
| 9 | Arizona | $116,541 | $70,000 | 7,016,270 | 321 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $120,541 | $74,000 | 693,972 | 222 |
| 11 | Utah | $108,799 | $67,000 | 3,101,833 | 240 |
| 12 | Virginia | $108,842 | $64,000 | 8,470,020 | 687 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $109,189 | $67,000 | 3,588,184 | 238 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $103,892 | $64,000 | 1,342,795 | 119 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $111,394 | $67,000 | 1,815,857 | 42 |
| 16 | Indiana | $107,837 | $65,000 | 6,666,818 | 279 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $109,952 | $68,000 | 579,315 | 22 |
| 18 | Alaska | $112,270 | $71,000 | 739,795 | 34 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $102,796 | $63,000 | 5,795,483 | 319 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $107,206 | $68,000 | 755,393 | 30 |
| 21 | Maine | $100,124 | $62,000 | 1,335,907 | 81 |
| 22 | Maryland | $106,756 | $64,000 | 6,052,177 | 377 |
| 23 | Montana | $103,083 | $64,000 | 1,050,493 | 57 |
| 24 | Delaware | $102,642 | $62,000 | 961,939 | 71 |
| 25 | Illinois | $100,961 | $61,000 | 12,802,023 | 840 |
| 26 | Nevada | $102,047 | $62,000 | 2,998,039 | 79 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $94,240 | $53,000 | 6,715,984 | 304 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $100,197 | $59,000 | 2,088,070 | 82 |
| 29 | Texas | $93,634 | $52,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,273 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $101,939 | $62,000 | 9,005,644 | 386 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $94,069 | $54,000 | 4,454,189 | 160 |
| 32 | Idaho | $97,992 | $60,000 | 1,716,943 | 76 |
| 33 | Vermont | $98,882 | $61,000 | 623,657 | 39 |
| 34 | Iowa | $91,670 | $56,000 | 3,145,711 | 185 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $89,851 | $50,000 | 10,273,419 | 565 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $94,120 | $58,000 | 5,576,606 | 379 |
| 37 | Missouri | $95,321 | $56,000 | 6,113,532 | 261 |
| 38 | Michigan | $89,309 | $54,000 | 9,962,311 | 452 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $91,793 | $52,000 | 3,004,279 | 103 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $95,363 | $58,000 | 1,920,076 | 88 |
| 41 | Georgia | $79,675 | $43,000 | 10,429,379 | 770 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $91,077 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 105 |
| 43 | Kansas | $85,237 | $50,000 | 2,913,123 | 159 |
| 44 | Ohio | $84,901 | $50,000 | 11,658,609 | 494 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $87,607 | $48,000 | 4,684,333 | 120 |
| 46 | Alabama | $81,811 | $44,000 | 4,874,747 | 175 |
| 47 | Florida | $68,452 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 761 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $75,489 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 205 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $80,298 | $43,000 | 2,984,100 | 69 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $75,676 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 38 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $64,907 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 28 |
Highest paying states for head designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Head Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $150,167 |
| 2 | Washington | $132,207 |
| 3 | Oregon | $116,939 |
| 4 | Colorado | $123,328 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $113,425 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $110,643 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $113,302 |
| 8 | New York | $114,610 |
| 9 | Arizona | $116,541 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $120,541 |
| 11 | Utah | $108,799 |
| 12 | Virginia | $108,842 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $109,189 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $103,892 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $111,394 |
| 16 | Indiana | $107,837 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $109,952 |
| 18 | Alaska | $112,270 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $102,796 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $107,206 |
| 21 | Maine | $100,124 |
| 22 | Maryland | $106,756 |
| 23 | Montana | $103,083 |
| 24 | Delaware | $102,642 |
| 25 | Illinois | $100,961 |
| 26 | Nevada | $102,047 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $94,240 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $100,197 |
| 29 | Texas | $93,634 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $101,939 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $94,069 |
| 32 | Idaho | $97,992 |
| 33 | Vermont | $98,882 |
| 34 | Iowa | $91,670 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $89,851 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $94,120 |
| 37 | Missouri | $95,321 |
| 38 | Michigan | $89,309 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $91,793 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $95,363 |
| 41 | Georgia | $79,675 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $91,077 |
| 43 | Kansas | $85,237 |
| 44 | Ohio | $84,901 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $87,607 |
| 46 | Alabama | $81,811 |
| 47 | Florida | $68,452 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $75,489 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $80,298 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $75,676 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $64,907 |
Expert opinions on the best states for head designers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for head designers to find work opportunities?
Linda Manikowske Ph.D.
Professor, North Dakota State University
Graduates with a degree in Apparel, Retail Merchandising, and Design find work in all locations. Some find jobs in major cities working for large retail corporations, while others start their own business in a small community or rural area. There are many opportunities in this diverse industry.
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Updated January 8, 2025