Best states for a level designer

Q: What is the best state for level designers?

The best state to be a level designer is District of Columbia based on level designer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for level designers?

The highest paying state for level designers is South Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for level designers?

The worst state for level designers is South Dakota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a level designer and really want to work at Activision Blizzard? Turns out, your chances to become a level designer are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that District of Columbia is the best state for level designers in America. The best city in America for level designers with the highest pay is Novato, CA.

The median salary for level designers in District of Columbia is $114,601. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $50,514, which ranked worst for level designers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a level designer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for level designers in 2025

1. District of Columbia
Total level designer jobs: 224
Average annual salary: $114,601
Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000
Location Quotient:
1.96
Level designer jobs in District of Columbia
2. Washington
Total level designer jobs: 870
Average annual salary: $102,264
Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000
Location Quotient:
1.75
Level designer jobs in Washington
3. California
Total level designer jobs: 3,320
Average annual salary: $109,594
Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000
Location Quotient:
1.67
Level designer jobs in California
4. Virginia
Total level designer jobs: 694
Average annual salary: $107,118
Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Level designer jobs in Virginia
5. Maryland
Total level designer jobs: 411
Average annual salary: $107,651
Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Level designer jobs in Maryland
6. Massachusetts
Total level designer jobs: 745
Average annual salary: $97,407
Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Level designer jobs in Massachusetts
7. Rhode Island
Total level designer jobs: 86
Average annual salary: $90,123
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Level designer jobs in Rhode Island
8. Arizona
Total level designer jobs: 317
Average annual salary: $92,186
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000
Location Quotient:
0.8
Level designer jobs in Arizona
9. Oregon
Total level designer jobs: 476
Average annual salary: $87,416
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000
Location Quotient:
1.69
Level designer jobs in Oregon
10. Nevada
Total level designer jobs: 97
Average annual salary: $91,729
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000
Location Quotient:
0.68
Level designer jobs in Nevada

Level designer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a level designer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a level designer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	District of Columbia	$114,601	$73,000	693,972	224
2	Washington	$102,264	$68,000	7,405,743	870
3	California	$109,594	$71,000	39,536,653	3,320
4	Virginia	$107,118	$68,000	8,470,020	694
5	Maryland	$107,651	$69,000	6,052,177	411
6	Massachusetts	$97,407	$62,000	6,859,819	745
7	Rhode Island	$90,123	$58,000	1,059,639	86
8	Arizona	$92,186	$60,000	7,016,270	317
9	Oregon	$87,416	$57,000	4,142,776	476
10	Nevada	$91,729	$59,000	2,998,039	97
11	Utah	$85,954	$56,000	3,101,833	255
12	Pennsylvania	$88,390	$56,000	12,805,537	663
13	Illinois	$88,224	$59,000	12,802,023	772
14	New York	$89,609	$57,000	19,849,399	1,337
15	Georgia	$83,718	$52,000	10,429,379	783
16	Texas	$83,632	$53,000	28,304,596	1,301
17	Connecticut	$87,470	$56,000	3,588,184	208
18	West Virginia	$89,328	$57,000	1,815,857	46
19	New Hampshire	$80,036	$51,000	1,342,795	124
20	New Mexico	$82,877	$54,000	2,088,070	91
21	Colorado	$82,612	$55,000	5,607,154	387
22	Michigan	$76,497	$50,000	9,962,311	504
23	Ohio	$75,963	$49,000	11,658,609	525
24	Wisconsin	$76,304	$51,000	5,795,483	333
25	North Carolina	$77,259	$48,000	10,273,419	600
26	Idaho	$80,470	$53,000	1,716,943	70
27	New Jersey	$81,839	$52,000	9,005,644	402
28	Delaware	$79,742	$51,000	961,939	56
29	Missouri	$77,403	$52,000	6,113,532	262
30	Indiana	$76,248	$50,000	6,666,818	265
31	Arkansas	$76,016	$50,000	3,004,279	103
32	Tennessee	$74,706	$48,000	6,715,984	244
33	South Carolina	$74,773	$46,000	5,024,369	208
34	Wyoming	$75,595	$51,000	579,315	24
35	Iowa	$72,709	$49,000	3,145,711	170
36	Minnesota	$69,056	$48,000	5,576,606	434
37	Kansas	$70,677	$47,000	2,913,123	154
38	Vermont	$72,658	$46,000	623,657	39
39	Maine	$67,577	$43,000	1,335,907	73
40	Oklahoma	$69,407	$46,000	3,930,864	139
41	Kentucky	$70,869	$46,000	4,454,189	146
42	Florida	$67,849	$40,000	20,984,400	802
43	Nebraska	$68,181	$47,000	1,920,076	100
44	Louisiana	$70,832	$44,000	4,684,333	126
45	Alaska	$67,958	$54,000	739,795	28
46	Mississippi	$69,299	$44,000	2,984,100	71
47	Montana	$66,566	$46,000	1,050,493	47
48	Alabama	$62,935	$39,000	4,874,747	192
49	North Dakota	$58,927	$42,000	755,393	34
50	Hawaii	$54,847	$41,000	1,427,538	31
51	South Dakota	$50,514	$35,000	869,666	41

Highest paying states for level designers

Rank	State	Avg. Level Designer Salary
1	District of Columbia	$114,601
2	Washington	$102,264
3	California	$109,594
4	Virginia	$107,118
5	Maryland	$107,651
6	Massachusetts	$97,407
7	Rhode Island	$90,123
8	Arizona	$92,186
9	Oregon	$87,416
10	Nevada	$91,729
11	Utah	$85,954
12	Pennsylvania	$88,390
13	Illinois	$88,224
14	New York	$89,609
15	Georgia	$83,718
16	Texas	$83,632
17	Connecticut	$87,470
18	West Virginia	$89,328
19	New Hampshire	$80,036
20	New Mexico	$82,877
21	Colorado	$82,612
22	Michigan	$76,497
23	Ohio	$75,963
24	Wisconsin	$76,304
25	North Carolina	$77,259
26	Idaho	$80,470
27	New Jersey	$81,839
28	Delaware	$79,742
29	Missouri	$77,403
30	Indiana	$76,248
31	Arkansas	$76,016
32	Tennessee	$74,706
33	South Carolina	$74,773
34	Wyoming	$75,595
35	Iowa	$72,709
36	Minnesota	$69,056
37	Kansas	$70,677
38	Vermont	$72,658
39	Maine	$67,577
40	Oklahoma	$69,407
41	Kentucky	$70,869
42	Florida	$67,849
43	Nebraska	$68,181
44	Louisiana	$70,832
45	Alaska	$67,958
46	Mississippi	$69,299
47	Montana	$66,566
48	Alabama	$62,935
49	North Dakota	$58,927
50	Hawaii	$54,847
51	South Dakota	$50,514

Level designer best states FAQs

What is the best state for level designers?

What is the highest paying state for level designers?

What is the worst state for level designers?

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Level Designer
Best states for Level Designers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total level designer jobs:	224
Average annual salary:	$114,601
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$73,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$177,000
Location Quotient:	1.96

Best states for a level designer

10 best states for level designers in 2025

1. District of Columbia

2. Washington

3. California

4. Virginia

5. Maryland

6. Massachusetts

7. Rhode Island

8. Arizona

9. Oregon

10. Nevada