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Design chief salary
Average design chief salary
$103,343
Understanding the Design Chief Salary
The average salary for a Design Chief in October 2025 is approximately $103,343 annually, translating to about $50 per hour. This salary can vary based on factors such as location, years of experience, and industry sector. For instance, design chiefs in major cities often earn higher wages compared to those in smaller markets.
Salary by State
In terms of geographic distribution, states with the highest salaries for Design Chiefs include California, New York, and Texas, where the demand for top design talent is particularly strong. Urban areas in these states tend to offer the most competitive salaries, reflecting the high cost of living and the concentration of design firms.
Career Opportunities
As the design landscape evolves, opportunities for Design Chiefs are expanding. Professionals seeking to enhance their careers can explore roles in various sectors, including tech, fashion, and automotive industries. The role not only demands creativity but also strong leadership skills, making it ideal for those looking to make a significant impact within an organization.
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Where can a Design Chief earn more?
Average design chief salary by state
The highest-paying states for design chiefs are California, Washington, and New York. The lowest average design chief salary states are Mississippi, Nebraska, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for design chiefs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $138,046 | $66.37 |
| 2 | Washington | $130,865 | $62.92 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $126,446 | $60.79 |
| 4 | New York | $130,048 | $62.52 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $128,052 | $61.56 |
| 6 | Oregon | $109,834 | $52.80 |
| 7 | Alaska | $112,557 | $54.11 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $111,948 | $53.82 |
| 9 | Virginia | $118,087 | $56.77 |
| 10 | Maryland | $122,665 | $58.97 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $117,414 | $56.45 |
| 12 | Arizona | $99,154 | $47.67 |
| 13 | Vermont | $98,212 | $47.22 |
| 14 | Delaware | $96,675 | $46.48 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $107,539 | $51.70 |
| 16 | Nevada | $103,937 | $49.97 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $106,883 | $51.39 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $113,913 | $54.77 |
| 19 | Idaho | $96,287 | $46.29 |
| 20 | Maine | $94,160 | $45.27 |
| 21 | Michigan | $84,104 | $40.43 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $101,434 | $48.77 |
| 23 | Utah | $91,428 | $43.96 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $93,965 | $45.18 |
| 25 | Montana | $80,780 | $38.84 |
| 26 | Illinois | $87,379 | $42.01 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $74,000 | $35.58 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $79,466 | $38.20 |
| 29 | Colorado | $78,838 | $37.90 |
| 30 | Georgia | $79,542 | $38.24 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $78,661 | $37.82 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $81,547 | $39.21 |
| 33 | Texas | $74,548 | $35.84 |
| 34 | Ohio | $80,467 | $38.69 |
| 35 | Florida | $75,029 | $36.07 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $70,962 | $34.12 |
| 37 | Iowa | $67,214 | $32.31 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $74,388 | $35.76 |
| 39 | Indiana | $74,636 | $35.88 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $64,398 | $30.96 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $70,920 | $34.10 |
| 42 | Alabama | $58,535 | $28.14 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $67,328 | $32.37 |
| 44 | Missouri | $67,808 | $32.60 |
| 45 | Kansas | $60,735 | $29.20 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $66,849 | $32.14 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $65,023 | $31.26 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $60,960 | $29.31 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $64,156 | $30.84 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $48,803 | $23.46 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $58,206 | $27.98 |
Highest paying cities for design chiefs
The highest-paying cities for design chiefs are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Towson, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $163,689 | $78.70 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $135,698 | $65.24 |
| 3 | Towson, MD | $128,629 | $61.84 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $110,926 | $53.33 |
| 5 | Southfield, MI | $85,147 | $40.94 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $85,061 | $40.89 |
| 7 | Longmont, CO | $78,393 | $37.69 |
| 8 | Laredo, TX | $75,913 | $36.50 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $74,064 | $35.61 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $73,600 | $35.38 |
Design chief salary details
A design chief's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $233,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a design chief's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $233,000 | $19,417 | $112 |
| 75th Percentile | $158,000 | $13,167 | $76 |
| Average | $103,343 | $8,612 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying design chief jobs
The highest paying types of design chiefs are design director, lead designer, and design manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Artist | $54,900 | $4,575 | $26.39 | 8,752 |
| Production Artist | $61,870 | $5,156 | $29.75 | 59,103 |
| Web Graphic Designer | $52,574 | $4,381 | $25.28 | 51,462 |
| Graphic Designer Internship | $35,800 | $2,983 | $17.21 | 93,292 |
| Freelance Designer | $57,260 | $4,772 | $27.53 | 45,914 |
| Graphic Design Manager | $66,975 | $5,581 | $32.20 | 48,269 |
Top companies hiring design chiefs now:
Which companies pay design chiefs the most?
Design chief salaries at Advance Tooling Concepts and Rolls-Royce are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average design chief salary at companies like Cleveland Clinic and Kairos Prison Ministry are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advance Tooling Concepts | $137,239 | $65.98 |
| 2 | Rolls-Royce | $108,873 | $52.34 |
| 3 | Cleveland Clinic | $88,360 | $42.48 |
| 4 | Kairos Prison Ministry | $87,575 | $42.10 |
| 5 | Steve Madden | $80,724 | $38.81 |
| 6 | Denso International America, Inc. | $78,094 | $37.55 |
| 7 | Plume Design | $78,054 | $37.53 |
| 8 | Baltimore County Golf | $63,405 | $30.48 |
| 9 | Hanover Direct | $32,427 | $15.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Design chief salary trends
The average design chief salary has risen by $18,140 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average design chief earned $85,203 annually, but today, they earn $103,343 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for design chiefs over the last decade.
Compare design chief salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average design chief salary over time
Compare design chief salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Design chief salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $103,000 | $49.68 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $101,000 | $48.50 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $97,500 | $46.88 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $94,300 | $45.33 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $92,200 | $44.34 | +1.6% |
Recently added design chief salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zuckerberg San Francisco General | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 06/10/2025 | $148,070 |
| Zuckerberg San Francisco General | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 05/04/2025 | $148,070 |
| Zuckerberg San Francisco General | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 04/28/2025 | $148,070 |
| Zuckerberg San Francisco General | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 03/27/2025 | $148,070 |
| City & County of San Francisco (Ca | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 03/22/2025 | $148,070 |
| HNTB Corporation | Chief Design Officer-Architecture | Los Angeles, CA | 02/17/2025 | $168,722 |
| City and County of San Francisco | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 07/28/2024 | $143,728 |
| City and County of San Francisco | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 07/28/2024 | $143,728 |
| City and County of San Francisco | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 05/17/2024 | $143,728 |
| City and County of San Francisco | Chief Surveyor-Design & Construction-SFO | San Francisco, CA | 05/17/2024 | $143,728 |
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