Best cities for a principal designer
The best cities for principal designers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal designer. While the absolute best city for principal designers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal designers in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total principal designer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $167,652 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $268,000 Location quotient: 7.85 2. Seattle, WA
Total principal designer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $195,553 Lowest 10 percent warn: $125,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $305,000 Location quotient: 5.35 3. Sacramento, CA
Total principal designer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $166,996 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $266,000 Location quotient: 4.56 4. San Jose, CA
Total principal designer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $166,707 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $267,000 Location quotient: 5.37 5. Irvine, CA
Total principal designer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $148,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $245,000 Location quotient: 7.84 6. Oakland, CA
Total principal designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $167,441 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $267,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Reno, NV
Total principal designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $137,223 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Dallas, TX
Total principal designer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $124,313 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location quotient: 3.11 9. Fremont, CA
Total principal designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $167,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $267,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Stockton, CA
Total principal designer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $166,644 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $266,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for principal designers
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Reno, NV
- Dallas, TX
- Fremont, CA
- Stockton, CA
- (33 principal designer jobs)
- (19 principal designer jobs)
- (4 principal designer jobs)
- (16 principal designer jobs)
- (9 principal designer jobs)
- (0 principal designer jobs)
- (0 principal designer jobs)
- (8 principal designer jobs)
- (0 principal designer jobs)
- (0 principal designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $167,652 | $104,000 | 870,887 | 33 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $195,553 | $125,000 | 704,352 | 19 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $166,996 | $104,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $166,707 | $103,000 | 1,025,350 | 16 |
| 5 | Irvine, CA | $148,664 | $90,000 | 266,122 | 9 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $167,441 | $104,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $137,223 | $85,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $124,313 | $76,000 | 1,317,929 | 8 |
| 9 | Fremont, CA | $167,027 | $104,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 10 | Stockton, CA | $166,644 | $104,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $131,948 | $79,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $131,709 | $88,000 | 673,184 | 17 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $129,902 | $79,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 14 | North Las Vegas, NV | $129,844 | $79,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 15 | Plano, TX | $124,187 | $76,000 | 286,057 | 3 |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $119,721 | $72,000 | 247,477 | 9 |
| 17 | Lubbock, TX | $129,934 | $79,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $128,979 | $79,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $120,312 | $72,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 20 | Fresno, CA | $163,924 | $101,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $150,766 | $91,000 | 3,976,322 | 9 |
| 22 | Fort Worth, TX | $124,926 | $76,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 23 | Arlington, TX | $124,646 | $76,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $124,512 | $76,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 25 | Chicago, IL | $127,372 | $85,000 | 2,704,958 | 12 |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | $158,107 | $96,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 27 | Garland, TX | $124,109 | $76,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 28 | Houston, TX | $116,372 | $70,000 | 2,303,482 | 25 |
| 29 | San Diego, CA | $145,161 | $87,000 | 1,406,630 | 10 |
| 30 | Long Beach, CA | $149,520 | $90,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $149,432 | $90,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $149,203 | $90,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 33 | Santa Ana, CA | $149,029 | $90,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 34 | Portland, OR | $128,956 | $82,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 35 | Anchorage, AK | $127,974 | $85,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 36 | Denver, CO | $127,890 | $81,000 | 693,060 | 13 |
| 37 | San Antonio, TX | $118,073 | $70,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 38 | Glendale, AZ | $120,342 | $73,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 39 | Phoenix, AZ | $120,297 | $73,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 40 | Durham, NC | $95,737 | $62,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 41 | Scottsdale, AZ | $120,237 | $73,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 42 | Mesa, AZ | $119,725 | $72,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 43 | Chula Vista, CA | $144,705 | $87,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 44 | Gilbert, AZ | $119,643 | $72,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 45 | New York, NY | $113,103 | $75,000 | 8,537,673 | 55 |
| 46 | Colorado Springs, CO | $128,458 | $81,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 47 | Jersey City, NJ | $119,743 | $79,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $117,525 | $70,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 49 | Memphis, TN | $92,732 | $59,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 50 | Aurora, CO | $127,641 | $80,000 | 361,710 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal designers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympia, WA | $197,057 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $167,652 |
| 3 | Carson City, NV | $137,355 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $131,709 |
| 5 | Salem, OR | $129,395 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $127,890 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $127,372 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $124,313 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $122,821 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $120,297 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $118,764 |
| 12 | Providence, RI | $115,420 |
| 13 | Albany, NY | $114,789 |
| 14 | Springfield, VA | $108,853 |
| 15 | Charleston, WV | $108,007 |
| 16 | Concord, NH | $106,230 |
| 17 | Racine, WI | $105,484 |
| 18 | Annapolis, MD | $103,205 |
| 19 | Burlington, VT | $101,100 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $98,218 |
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Updated January 8, 2025