Best cities for a junior designer
The best cities for junior designers are Cleveland, OH, San Francisco, CA, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for junior designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for junior designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a junior designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for junior designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for junior designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a junior designer. While the absolute best city for junior designers is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for junior designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a junior designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for junior designers in 2026
1. Cleveland, OH
Total junior designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $51,932 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 6.74 2. San Francisco, CA
Total junior designer jobs: 116 Average annual salary: $63,837 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 41.39 3. Boston, MA
Total junior designer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $59,289 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 6.48 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total junior designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $54,366 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 1.48 5. Oakland, CA
Total junior designer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $63,789 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 29.86 6. Seattle, WA
Total junior designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $61,987 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 0.85 7. Detroit, MI
Total junior designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $54,668 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fort Wayne, IN
Total junior designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,259 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Anchorage, AK
Total junior designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $65,375 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Toledo, OH
Total junior designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,658 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for junior designers
- Cleveland, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Anchorage, AK
- Toledo, OH
- (3 junior designer jobs)
- (116 junior designer jobs)
- (13 junior designer jobs)
- (2 junior designer jobs)
- (8 junior designer jobs)
- (2 junior designer jobs)
- (0 junior designer jobs)
- (0 junior designer jobs)
- (0 junior designer jobs)
- (0 junior designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a junior designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $51,932 | $41,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $63,837 | $50,000 | 870,887 | 116 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $59,289 | $47,000 | 673,184 | 13 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,366 | $43,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $63,789 | $50,000 | 420,005 | 8 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $61,987 | $50,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $54,668 | $43,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 8 | Fort Wayne, IN | $53,259 | $42,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $65,375 | $57,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 10 | Toledo, OH | $51,658 | $41,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 11 | Jersey City, NJ | $62,746 | $50,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $52,408 | $41,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 13 | Newark, NJ | $62,736 | $50,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,546 | $42,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $50,764 | $40,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,237 | $42,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 17 | Durham, NC | $51,704 | $40,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $51,684 | $40,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | $51,542 | $40,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $63,632 | $50,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 21 | Winston-Salem, NC | $51,460 | $40,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $50,097 | $39,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 23 | San Jose, CA | $63,629 | $50,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 24 | Glendale, AZ | $53,255 | $42,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 25 | Chandler, AZ | $53,072 | $41,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 26 | Chicago, IL | $54,208 | $43,000 | 2,704,958 | 15 |
| 27 | Mesa, AZ | $53,066 | $41,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 28 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,471 | $48,000 | 3,976,322 | 81 |
| 29 | Scottsdale, AZ | $53,202 | $42,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 30 | Gilbert, AZ | $53,045 | $41,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 31 | Charlotte, NC | $51,068 | $40,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 32 | New York, NY | $57,903 | $46,000 | 8,537,673 | 180 |
| 33 | Long Beach, CA | $61,257 | $48,000 | 470,130 | 17 |
| 34 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,107 | $40,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 35 | Fremont, CA | $63,693 | $50,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $63,585 | $50,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Aurora, CO | $55,091 | $44,000 | 361,710 | 5 |
| 38 | Madison, WI | $49,838 | $40,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 39 | Tucson, AZ | $52,465 | $41,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 40 | Reno, NV | $50,490 | $40,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 41 | Irvine, CA | $61,070 | $48,000 | 266,122 | 17 |
| 42 | Virginia Beach, VA | $56,497 | $44,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 43 | Norfolk, VA | $56,454 | $44,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 44 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,989 | $38,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 45 | Fresno, CA | $62,987 | $49,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | $56,373 | $44,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 47 | Denver, CO | $55,124 | $44,000 | 693,060 | 6 |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $54,276 | $44,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $62,316 | $49,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 50 | Brookhaven, NY | $58,036 | $46,000 | 486,040 | - |
Highest paying cities for junior designers
| Rank | City | Avg. junior designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $63,922 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $61,987 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $61,522 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $59,289 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $57,903 |
| 6 | McLean, VA | $57,363 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $55,124 |
| 8 | Southfield, MI | $54,684 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,366 |
| 10 | Beaverton, OR | $54,298 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $54,208 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,237 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $51,932 |
| 14 | Windsor, CT | $50,997 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,989 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $48,275 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,343 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $46,914 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $44,473 |
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Updated January 8, 2025