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Best states for a project designer
Quoted expert
Linda Manikowske Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for project designers in the United States. Project designer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for project designers.Our research shows that New Mexico is the best state in the country for project designers.
In order to get you the best states for project designers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a project designer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for project designers in 2025
1. New Mexico
Total project designer jobs: 321 Average annual salary: $74,159 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
2. North Dakota
Total project designer jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $72,265 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
3. Arkansas
Total project designer jobs: 352 Average annual salary: $71,066 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
4. Kansas
Total project designer jobs: 478 Average annual salary: $67,555 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
5. Wisconsin
Total project designer jobs: 1,052 Average annual salary: $64,578 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
6. Maine
Total project designer jobs: 226 Average annual salary: $65,763 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
7. Idaho
Total project designer jobs: 279 Average annual salary: $66,796 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
8. Oregon
Total project designer jobs: 447 Average annual salary: $71,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
9. Iowa
Total project designer jobs: 533 Average annual salary: $65,592 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
10. California
Total project designer jobs: 3,317 Average annual salary: $72,743 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
Project designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a project designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a project designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $74,159 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 321 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $72,265 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 152 |
| 3 | Arkansas | $71,066 | $51,000 | 3,004,279 | 352 |
| 4 | Kansas | $67,555 | $49,000 | 2,913,123 | 478 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $64,578 | $47,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,052 |
| 6 | Maine | $65,763 | $47,000 | 1,335,907 | 226 |
| 7 | Idaho | $66,796 | $45,000 | 1,716,943 | 279 |
| 8 | Oregon | $71,563 | $48,000 | 4,142,776 | 447 |
| 9 | Iowa | $65,592 | $48,000 | 3,145,711 | 533 |
| 10 | California | $72,743 | $49,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,317 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $63,952 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 312 |
| 12 | Washington | $70,480 | $47,000 | 7,405,743 | 821 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $71,387 | $50,000 | 693,972 | 225 |
| 14 | New York | $70,760 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,269 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $69,766 | $49,000 | 1,059,639 | 71 |
| 16 | Texas | $61,008 | $43,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,915 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $66,481 | $47,000 | 12,805,537 | 737 |
| 18 | Missouri | $61,753 | $45,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,003 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $63,360 | $45,000 | 1,815,857 | 159 |
| 20 | Ohio | $60,868 | $43,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,687 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $60,765 | $44,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,396 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $61,300 | $44,000 | 4,454,189 | 453 |
| 23 | Colorado | $65,598 | $47,000 | 5,607,154 | 495 |
| 24 | Michigan | $58,375 | $42,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,523 |
| 25 | Indiana | $59,598 | $43,000 | 6,666,818 | 949 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $64,249 | $45,000 | 6,859,819 | 772 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $66,159 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 473 |
| 28 | Nevada | $57,641 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 341 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $63,877 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 264 |
| 30 | Arizona | $62,377 | $43,000 | 7,016,270 | 383 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $60,686 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 653 |
| 32 | Georgia | $59,525 | $42,000 | 10,429,379 | 940 |
| 33 | Delaware | $61,709 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 64 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $49,655 | $35,000 | 6,715,984 | 882 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $53,878 | $37,000 | 4,684,333 | 362 |
| 36 | Alabama | $51,188 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 527 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $48,762 | $35,000 | 1,920,076 | 353 |
| 38 | Maryland | $58,856 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 476 |
| 39 | Virginia | $56,482 | $40,000 | 8,470,020 | 812 |
| 40 | Illinois | $56,493 | $41,000 | 12,802,023 | 867 |
| 41 | Vermont | $44,084 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 136 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $41,164 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 113 |
| 43 | Florida | $55,744 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 956 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $47,503 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 537 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $47,446 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 347 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $47,056 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 117 |
| 47 | Montana | $49,088 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 71 |
| 48 | Utah | $44,863 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 255 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $41,049 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 209 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $47,157 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 52 |
| 51 | Alaska | $43,237 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 39 |
Highest paying states for project designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Project Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $74,159 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $72,265 |
| 3 | Arkansas | $71,066 |
| 4 | Kansas | $67,555 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $64,578 |
| 6 | Maine | $65,763 |
| 7 | Idaho | $66,796 |
| 8 | Oregon | $71,563 |
| 9 | Iowa | $65,592 |
| 10 | California | $72,743 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $63,952 |
| 12 | Washington | $70,480 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $71,387 |
| 14 | New York | $70,760 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $69,766 |
| 16 | Texas | $61,008 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $66,481 |
| 18 | Missouri | $61,753 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $63,360 |
| 20 | Ohio | $60,868 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $60,765 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $61,300 |
| 23 | Colorado | $65,598 |
| 24 | Michigan | $58,375 |
| 25 | Indiana | $59,598 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $64,249 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $66,159 |
| 28 | Nevada | $57,641 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $63,877 |
| 30 | Arizona | $62,377 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $60,686 |
| 32 | Georgia | $59,525 |
| 33 | Delaware | $61,709 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $49,655 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $53,878 |
| 36 | Alabama | $51,188 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $48,762 |
| 38 | Maryland | $58,856 |
| 39 | Virginia | $56,482 |
| 40 | Illinois | $56,493 |
| 41 | Vermont | $44,084 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $41,164 |
| 43 | Florida | $55,744 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $47,503 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $47,446 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $47,056 |
| 47 | Montana | $49,088 |
| 48 | Utah | $44,863 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $41,049 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $47,157 |
| 51 | Alaska | $43,237 |
Expert opinions on the best states for project designers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for project designers to find work opportunities?
Linda Manikowske Ph.D.
Professor, North Dakota State University
Graduates with a degree in Apparel, Retail Merchandising, and Design find work in all locations. Some find jobs in major cities working for large retail corporations while others start their own business in a small community or rural area. There are many opportunities in this diverse industry.
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Updated January 8, 2025