Best cities for a lead graphic designer
The best cities for lead graphic designers are San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and Urban Honolulu, HI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead graphic designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead graphic designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead graphic designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead graphic designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead graphic designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead graphic designer. While the absolute best city for lead graphic 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 graphic designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead graphic designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead graphic designers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $107,806 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $231,000 Location quotient: 2.59 2. Los Angeles, CA
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $91,989 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 3.52 3. Urban Honolulu, HI
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $92,130 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 5.16 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $73,082 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 1.34 5. San Jose, CA
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $106,131 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 0.91 6. Detroit, MI
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $65,688 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 2.04 7. Sacramento, CA
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $103,134 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 1.03 8. New York, NY
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $85,725 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 1.32 9. Oakland, CA
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $107,100 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Fremont, CA
Total lead graphic designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $106,423 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for lead graphic designers
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Jose, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Sacramento, CA
- New York, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- (12 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (14 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (3 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (3 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (3 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (2 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (1 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (20 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (0 lead graphic designer jobs)
- (0 lead graphic designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead graphic designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $107,806 | $50,000 | 870,887 | 12 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $91,989 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 14 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $92,130 | $37,000 | 351,792 | 3 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $73,082 | $42,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $106,131 | $49,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $65,688 | $39,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $103,134 | $48,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $85,725 | $50,000 | 8,537,673 | 20 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $107,100 | $49,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 10 | Fremont, CA | $106,423 | $49,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 11 | Stockton, CA | $103,706 | $48,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $82,307 | $39,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $63,064 | $29,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $98,983 | $45,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $85,633 | $37,000 | 1,406,630 | 3 |
| 16 | Bakersfield, CA | $95,913 | $43,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $58,218 | $33,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 18 | Hempstead, NY | $85,907 | $50,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 19 | Islip, NY | $85,985 | $51,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $77,834 | $44,000 | 681,170 | 9 |
| 21 | Oyster Bay, NY | $85,751 | $50,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 22 | Long Beach, CA | $90,841 | $40,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 23 | Brookhaven, NY | $85,877 | $51,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 24 | Anaheim, CA | $90,137 | $40,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 25 | Santa Ana, CA | $89,824 | $40,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 26 | Irvine, CA | $89,380 | $39,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 27 | Riverside, CA | $88,642 | $39,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 28 | Jersey City, NJ | $71,159 | $42,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 29 | Boston, MA | $76,250 | $46,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 30 | Milwaukee, WI | $51,559 | $30,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 31 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,160 | $39,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 32 | Reno, NV | $70,918 | $33,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 33 | Chula Vista, CA | $85,066 | $37,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 34 | Baltimore, MD | $69,765 | $40,000 | 614,664 | 2 |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $63,615 | $37,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 36 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,344 | $28,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 37 | Louisville, KY | $45,642 | $25,000 | 597,337 | 2 |
| 38 | Buffalo, NY | $78,827 | $46,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $62,610 | $28,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 40 | Portland, OR | $63,249 | $30,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 41 | Henderson, NV | $62,508 | $28,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 42 | Toledo, OH | $61,040 | $36,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 43 | Fort Wayne, IN | $59,739 | $34,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 44 | Anchorage, AK | $66,797 | $40,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $71,094 | $42,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 46 | Charlotte, NC | $43,798 | $23,000 | 842,051 | 8 |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $62,526 | $28,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 48 | Virginia Beach, VA | $69,278 | $38,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 49 | Norfolk, VA | $68,786 | $38,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 50 | Chesapeake, VA | $67,956 | $37,000 | 237,940 | - |
Highest paying cities for lead graphic designers
| Rank | City | Avg. lead graphic designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $107,806 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $92,130 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $85,725 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $82,307 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $77,834 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $76,250 |
| 7 | McLean, VA | $74,236 |
| 8 | Harrisburg, PA | $71,890 |
| 9 | Jersey City, NJ | $71,159 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $69,765 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $65,688 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $63,615 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $63,064 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,344 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $55,995 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $51,559 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $51,403 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,165 |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | $47,120 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $44,509 |
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Updated January 8, 2025