Best cities for a lighting designer
The best cities for lighting designers are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lighting designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lighting designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lighting designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lighting designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lighting designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lighting designer. While the absolute best city for lighting designers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lighting designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a lighting designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lighting designers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total lighting designer jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $70,671 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 10.49 2. Oakland, CA
Total lighting designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $70,506 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 6.46 3. Seattle, WA
Total lighting designer jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $64,241 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 8.77 4. Boston, MA
Total lighting designer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $68,571 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 2.59 5. Albuquerque, NM
Total lighting designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,357 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Scottsdale, AZ
Total lighting designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,518 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Sacramento, CA
Total lighting designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $70,943 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 2.96 8. Phoenix, AZ
Total lighting designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,470 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Glendale, AZ
Total lighting designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,463 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Mesa, AZ
Total lighting designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,191 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for lighting designers
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Boston, MA
- Albuquerque, NM
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Sacramento, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Glendale, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- (34 lighting designer jobs)
- (2 lighting designer jobs)
- (24 lighting designer jobs)
- (6 lighting designer jobs)
- (0 lighting designer jobs)
- (0 lighting designer jobs)
- (2 lighting designer jobs)
- (0 lighting designer jobs)
- (0 lighting designer jobs)
- (0 lighting designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lighting designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $70,671 | $43,000 | 870,887 | 34 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $70,506 | $43,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $64,241 | $42,000 | 704,352 | 24 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $68,571 | $42,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $63,357 | $41,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $63,518 | $41,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $70,943 | $43,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,470 | $41,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 9 | Glendale, AZ | $63,463 | $41,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 10 | Mesa, AZ | $63,191 | $41,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 11 | Chandler, AZ | $63,126 | $41,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 12 | Gilbert, AZ | $63,105 | $41,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,346 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $56,205 | $38,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 15 | New York, NY | $60,506 | $37,000 | 8,537,673 | 75 |
| 16 | Tucson, AZ | $61,624 | $40,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $58,763 | $36,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Wichita, KS | $56,633 | $39,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $55,747 | $34,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $55,641 | $34,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $70,127 | $43,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 22 | Portland, OR | $61,915 | $39,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 23 | Fremont, CA | $69,969 | $43,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 24 | Greensboro, NC | $55,464 | $34,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $54,339 | $35,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 26 | San Jose, CA | $69,538 | $43,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 27 | Winston-Salem, NC | $55,316 | $35,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 28 | Nashville, TN | $51,090 | $34,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 29 | Charlotte, NC | $54,363 | $34,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 30 | Memphis, TN | $50,898 | $34,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 31 | Brookhaven, NY | $61,549 | $37,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 32 | Islip, NY | $61,269 | $37,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $67,071 | $41,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 34 | Fort Wayne, IN | $52,773 | $36,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 35 | Indianapolis, IN | $51,518 | $35,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 36 | Oyster Bay, NY | $61,047 | $37,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 37 | Jersey City, NJ | $56,852 | $35,000 | 264,152 | 6 |
| 38 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,336 | $33,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 39 | Omaha, NE | $51,234 | $37,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 40 | Long Beach, CA | $60,060 | $38,000 | 470,130 | 18 |
| 41 | Kansas City, MO | $52,304 | $37,000 | 481,420 | 1 |
| 42 | Lincoln, NE | $51,186 | $37,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 43 | Hempstead, NY | $60,802 | $37,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $60,656 | $39,000 | 3,976,322 | 26 |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $52,271 | $33,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Cleveland, OH | $48,848 | $32,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 47 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,269 | $39,000 | 413,651 | 2 |
| 48 | Henderson, NV | $52,002 | $33,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 49 | Toledo, OH | $48,214 | $32,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 50 | Saint Louis, MO | $51,881 | $36,000 | 311,404 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for lighting designers
| Rank | City | Avg. lighting designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $70,671 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $68,571 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $64,241 |
| 4 | Bend, OR | $62,594 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $60,506 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $60,359 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $57,586 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $56,852 |
| 9 | Goshen, IN | $52,838 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,336 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $51,449 |
| 12 | Kearney, NE | $51,350 |
| 13 | Broomfield, CO | $48,455 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $47,937 |
| 15 | Kissimmee, FL | $46,254 |
| 16 | Provo, UT | $44,967 |
| 17 | Roswell, GA | $39,954 |
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Updated January 8, 2025