Best cities for a project designer
The best cities for project designers are Lexington, KY, San Francisco, CA, and Pittsburgh, PA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for project designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for project designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a project designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for project designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for project designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a project designer. While the absolute best city for project designers is Lexington, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for project designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a project designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for project designers in 2025
1. Lexington, KY
Total project designer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $61,730 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 8.82 2. San Francisco, CA
Total project designer jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $79,594 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 9.55 3. Pittsburgh, PA
Total project designer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $65,008 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 4.00 4. Oakland, CA
Total project designer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $79,430 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 5.74 5. Lubbock, TX
Total project designer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $61,393 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 7.35 6. Sacramento, CA
Total project designer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $79,531 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 5.27 7. Seattle, WA
Total project designer jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $70,995 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 3.51 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total project designer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $66,899 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 1.14 9. Milwaukee, WI
Total project designer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $64,676 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 2.23 10. Cleveland, OH
Total project designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $61,723 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 2.07
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Best cities for project designers
- Lexington, KY
- San Francisco, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Oakland, CA
- Lubbock, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Cleveland, OH
- (5 project designer jobs)
- (87 project designer jobs)
- (11 project designer jobs)
- (5 project designer jobs)
- (2 project designer jobs)
- (10 project designer jobs)
- (27 project designer jobs)
- (5 project designer jobs)
- (4 project designer jobs)
- (3 project designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a project designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington, KY | $61,730 | $44,000 | 318,449 | 5 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $79,594 | $52,000 | 870,887 | 87 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,008 | $46,000 | 303,625 | 11 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $79,430 | $52,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 5 | Lubbock, TX | $61,393 | $43,000 | 252,506 | 2 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $79,531 | $52,000 | 495,234 | 10 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $70,995 | $47,000 | 704,352 | 27 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,899 | $47,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $64,676 | $46,000 | 595,047 | 4 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $61,723 | $44,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $61,245 | $42,000 | 1,492,510 | 10 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $71,266 | $47,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $61,117 | $43,000 | 458,880 | 7 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $74,327 | $52,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $60,674 | $43,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $59,757 | $42,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $70,875 | $50,000 | 8,537,673 | 37 |
| 18 | Durham, NC | $61,178 | $43,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 19 | Wichita, KS | $67,665 | $49,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $59,525 | $42,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 21 | Madison, WI | $64,086 | $46,000 | 252,551 | 1 |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $61,210 | $42,000 | 947,890 | 13 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $60,663 | $42,000 | 1,317,929 | 33 |
| 24 | Scottsdale, AZ | $62,514 | $43,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 25 | Toledo, OH | $61,120 | $44,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 26 | Chandler, AZ | $62,350 | $43,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 27 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,536 | $43,000 | 1,615,017 | 13 |
| 28 | Louisville, KY | $61,377 | $44,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $60,432 | $43,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 30 | Charlotte, NC | $60,287 | $42,000 | 842,051 | 7 |
| 31 | San Jose, CA | $78,635 | $52,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 32 | El Paso, TX | $62,252 | $43,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 33 | Kansas City, MO | $61,598 | $45,000 | 481,420 | 12 |
| 34 | Fremont, CA | $78,985 | $52,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 35 | Houston, TX | $60,936 | $42,000 | 2,303,482 | 25 |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $78,949 | $52,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Greensboro, NC | $61,006 | $43,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 38 | Detroit, MI | $58,550 | $42,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 39 | Winston-Salem, NC | $60,900 | $43,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 40 | Los Angeles, CA | $70,468 | $48,000 | 3,976,322 | 123 |
| 41 | Reno, NV | $62,378 | $41,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 42 | Chula Vista, CA | $68,692 | $47,000 | 267,172 | 4 |
| 43 | Fresno, CA | $76,386 | $50,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $62,552 | $43,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 45 | Denver, CO | $65,606 | $47,000 | 693,060 | 28 |
| 46 | Brookhaven, NY | $71,279 | $50,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 47 | Laredo, TX | $61,035 | $42,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 48 | Saint Louis, MO | $61,999 | $45,000 | 311,404 | 3 |
| 49 | Mesa, AZ | $62,350 | $43,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 50 | Minneapolis, MN | $60,728 | $44,000 | 413,651 | 13 |
Highest paying cities for project designers
| Rank | City | Avg. project designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $79,594 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $71,372 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $71,266 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $70,995 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $70,875 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,899 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $65,606 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $64,339 |
| 9 | New Haven, CT | $63,981 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,536 |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO | $61,598 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $61,245 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $61,117 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $60,728 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $59,664 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $58,999 |
| 17 | Arlington, VA | $57,473 |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $56,769 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $56,666 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $55,522 |
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Updated January 8, 2025