Best cities for a lead designer
The best cities for lead designers are San Francisco, CA, Henderson, NV, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead designer. While the absolute best city for lead designers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lead designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead designers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total lead designer jobs: 123 Average annual salary: $153,913 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 3.98 2. Henderson, NV
Total lead designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $128,071 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 2.33 3. Oakland, CA
Total lead designer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $153,701 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 2.37 4. Glendale, AZ
Total lead designer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $124,588 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 7.04 5. San Jose, CA
Total lead designer jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $153,328 Lowest 10 percent warn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location quotient: 1.46 6. Los Angeles, CA
Total lead designer jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $143,949 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 1.70 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total lead designer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $128,614 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 0.96 8. Chandler, AZ
Total lead designer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $123,682 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 1.30 9. Seattle, WA
Total lead designer jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $126,688 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 1.65 10. Irvine, CA
Total lead designer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $141,411 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 1.30
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Best cities for lead designers
- San Francisco, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Oakland, CA
- Glendale, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Chandler, AZ
- Seattle, WA
- Irvine, CA
- (123 lead designer jobs)
- (2 lead designer jobs)
- (7 lead designer jobs)
- (6 lead designer jobs)
- (32 lead designer jobs)
- (45 lead designer jobs)
- (7 lead designer jobs)
- (4 lead designer jobs)
- (43 lead designer jobs)
- (11 lead designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $153,913 | $106,000 | 870,887 | 123 |
| 2 | Henderson, NV | $128,071 | $87,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $153,701 | $106,000 | 420,005 | 7 |
| 4 | Glendale, AZ | $124,588 | $85,000 | 245,895 | 6 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $153,328 | $105,000 | 1,025,350 | 32 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $143,949 | $99,000 | 3,976,322 | 45 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $128,614 | $87,000 | 632,912 | 7 |
| 8 | Chandler, AZ | $123,682 | $84,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $126,688 | $86,000 | 704,352 | 43 |
| 10 | Irvine, CA | $141,411 | $97,000 | 266,122 | 11 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $124,599 | $85,000 | 1,615,017 | 16 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,568 | $71,000 | 1,567,872 | 17 |
| 13 | Lincoln, NE | $96,768 | $66,000 | 280,364 | 5 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $116,872 | $79,000 | 639,863 | 11 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $100,767 | $69,000 | 947,890 | 24 |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $132,226 | $90,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,057 | $70,000 | 303,625 | 9 |
| 18 | Fresno, CA | $150,848 | $103,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 19 | Winston-Salem, NC | $95,896 | $67,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $98,069 | $67,000 | 311,404 | 13 |
| 21 | Boston, MA | $106,040 | $75,000 | 673,184 | 39 |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $96,165 | $67,000 | 458,880 | 9 |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $97,668 | $68,000 | 2,704,958 | 46 |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | $128,419 | $87,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $136,043 | $93,000 | 1,406,630 | 11 |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $153,515 | $106,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 27 | New York, NY | $103,164 | $73,000 | 8,537,673 | 186 |
| 28 | Greensboro, NC | $95,994 | $67,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $152,584 | $105,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | Sacramento, CA | $152,037 | $104,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 31 | Denver, CO | $107,290 | $72,000 | 693,060 | 28 |
| 32 | El Paso, TX | $104,219 | $71,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 33 | Milwaukee, WI | $91,085 | $63,000 | 595,047 | 8 |
| 34 | Scottsdale, AZ | $124,728 | $85,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $95,539 | $66,000 | 842,051 | 17 |
| 36 | Colorado Springs, CO | $108,539 | $73,000 | 465,101 | 5 |
| 37 | Houston, TX | $99,903 | $68,000 | 2,303,482 | 21 |
| 38 | Mesa, AZ | $123,801 | $84,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 39 | Tucson, AZ | $121,604 | $83,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 40 | Gilbert, AZ | $123,619 | $84,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 41 | San Antonio, TX | $100,870 | $69,000 | 1,492,510 | 5 |
| 42 | Irving, TX | $100,807 | $68,000 | 238,289 | 5 |
| 43 | Saint Paul, MN | $95,023 | $66,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
| 44 | Virginia Beach, VA | $105,997 | $74,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 45 | Anchorage, AK | $107,335 | $81,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 46 | Bakersfield, CA | $148,118 | $102,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 47 | Detroit, MI | $100,730 | $70,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 48 | Dallas, TX | $100,747 | $68,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 49 | Long Beach, CA | $142,457 | $98,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 50 | New Orleans, LA | $93,395 | $64,000 | 391,495 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for lead designers
| Rank | City | Avg. lead designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $153,913 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $126,688 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $124,599 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $116,872 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $110,273 |
| 6 | Trenton, NJ | $108,029 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $107,490 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $107,290 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $106,145 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $106,040 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $103,164 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $100,767 |
| 13 | Warren, MI | $100,713 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,568 |
| 15 | Hartford, CT | $98,582 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $98,069 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $97,668 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $96,768 |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $95,539 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $95,023 |
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Updated January 8, 2025