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Best states for a senior designer
Quoted expert
Barbara Miner
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like senior designers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for senior designers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Washington is the best state for senior designers, while Washington and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $144,764 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for senior designers.
Washington is the best state for jobs for senior designers, and South Dakota is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $144,764, while the median pay in South Dakota is $62,049.We found that Washington is the best state for senior designer jobs, whereas South Dakota is the worst.
10 best states for senior designers in 2026
1. Washington
Total senior designer jobs: 893 Average annual salary: $144,764 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location Quotient: 1.83
2. California
Total senior designer jobs: 3,311 Average annual salary: $121,270 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
3. Oregon
Total senior designer jobs: 498 Average annual salary: $105,316 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
4. Massachusetts
Total senior designer jobs: 710 Average annual salary: $105,120 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
5. Texas
Total senior designer jobs: 1,245 Average annual salary: $97,997 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
6. Nevada
Total senior designer jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $116,081 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
7. Virginia
Total senior designer jobs: 683 Average annual salary: $100,774 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
8. District of Columbia
Total senior designer jobs: 239 Average annual salary: $104,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 2.13
9. New York
Total senior designer jobs: 1,470 Average annual salary: $98,767 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.72
10. Arizona
Total senior designer jobs: 296 Average annual salary: $98,444 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
Senior designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $144,764 | $98,000 | 7,405,743 | 893 |
| 2 | California | $121,270 | $80,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,311 |
| 3 | Oregon | $105,316 | $70,000 | 4,142,776 | 498 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $105,120 | $75,000 | 6,859,819 | 710 |
| 5 | Texas | $97,997 | $67,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,245 |
| 6 | Nevada | $116,081 | $77,000 | 2,998,039 | 94 |
| 7 | Virginia | $100,774 | $72,000 | 8,470,020 | 683 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $104,188 | $75,000 | 693,972 | 239 |
| 9 | New York | $98,767 | $71,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,470 |
| 10 | Arizona | $98,444 | $66,000 | 7,016,270 | 296 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $101,935 | $73,000 | 9,005,644 | 393 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $91,810 | $65,000 | 5,795,483 | 325 |
| 13 | Utah | $91,204 | $60,000 | 3,101,833 | 226 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $91,271 | $66,000 | 10,273,419 | 575 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $91,226 | $65,000 | 12,805,537 | 668 |
| 16 | Michigan | $88,006 | $63,000 | 9,962,311 | 502 |
| 17 | Colorado | $93,847 | $63,000 | 5,607,154 | 361 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $89,277 | $64,000 | 1,059,639 | 77 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $95,393 | $69,000 | 1,815,857 | 48 |
| 20 | Alaska | $96,490 | $68,000 | 739,795 | 33 |
| 21 | Maryland | $93,674 | $67,000 | 6,052,177 | 375 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $89,637 | $64,000 | 6,715,984 | 239 |
| 23 | Illinois | $87,391 | $62,000 | 12,802,023 | 777 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $87,216 | $59,000 | 579,315 | 27 |
| 25 | Ohio | $85,888 | $61,000 | 11,658,609 | 502 |
| 26 | Delaware | $87,891 | $63,000 | 961,939 | 59 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $86,082 | $60,000 | 1,920,076 | 94 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $86,360 | $60,000 | 4,684,333 | 102 |
| 29 | Kansas | $81,602 | $57,000 | 2,913,123 | 148 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $81,605 | $58,000 | 1,342,795 | 102 |
| 31 | Missouri | $82,466 | $58,000 | 6,113,532 | 270 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $83,959 | $56,000 | 2,088,070 | 82 |
| 33 | Florida | $83,895 | $58,000 | 20,984,400 | 719 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $80,763 | $57,000 | 5,576,606 | 429 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $82,314 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 191 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $91,896 | $69,000 | 1,427,538 | 31 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $83,757 | $58,000 | 2,984,100 | 64 |
| 38 | Vermont | $80,646 | $58,000 | 623,657 | 43 |
| 39 | Georgia | $76,493 | $55,000 | 10,429,379 | 772 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $80,388 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 187 |
| 41 | Idaho | $77,826 | $52,000 | 1,716,943 | 74 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $76,689 | $54,000 | 755,393 | 38 |
| 43 | Indiana | $77,696 | $56,000 | 6,666,818 | 252 |
| 44 | Alabama | $77,282 | $54,000 | 4,874,747 | 172 |
| 45 | Maine | $72,007 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 75 |
| 46 | Iowa | $76,572 | $54,000 | 3,145,711 | 148 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $75,614 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 127 |
| 48 | Montana | $74,050 | $49,000 | 1,050,493 | 51 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $74,797 | $52,000 | 3,004,279 | 103 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $67,290 | $48,000 | 4,454,189 | 137 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $62,049 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 41 |
Highest paying states for senior designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $144,764 |
| 2 | California | $121,270 |
| 3 | Oregon | $105,316 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $105,120 |
| 5 | Texas | $97,997 |
| 6 | Nevada | $116,081 |
| 7 | Virginia | $100,774 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $104,188 |
| 9 | New York | $98,767 |
| 10 | Arizona | $98,444 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $101,935 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $91,810 |
| 13 | Utah | $91,204 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $91,271 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $91,226 |
| 16 | Michigan | $88,006 |
| 17 | Colorado | $93,847 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $89,277 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $95,393 |
| 20 | Alaska | $96,490 |
| 21 | Maryland | $93,674 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $89,637 |
| 23 | Illinois | $87,391 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $87,216 |
| 25 | Ohio | $85,888 |
| 26 | Delaware | $87,891 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $86,082 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $86,360 |
| 29 | Kansas | $81,602 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $81,605 |
| 31 | Missouri | $82,466 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $83,959 |
| 33 | Florida | $83,895 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $80,763 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $82,314 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $91,896 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $83,757 |
| 38 | Vermont | $80,646 |
| 39 | Georgia | $76,493 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $80,388 |
| 41 | Idaho | $77,826 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $76,689 |
| 43 | Indiana | $77,696 |
| 44 | Alabama | $77,282 |
| 45 | Maine | $72,007 |
| 46 | Iowa | $76,572 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $75,614 |
| 48 | Montana | $74,050 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $74,797 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $67,290 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $62,049 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior designers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior designers to find work opportunities?
Barbara Miner
Chair, Professor of Art and design, University of Toledo
While many people imagine that students with degrees in the Arts must move to either coast to be successful, it's just not the case. Arts students are, by nature and by training, curious, flexible thinkers, and self-starters. We hear from Arts grads that they find employment in all manner of jobs and communities. Those who want to stay local have often developed networks during school, and the ties that they have established with their faculty members keep them informed about the local job markets. When faculty are national and international scholars, broader opportunities are sometimes available through their connections.
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Updated January 8, 2025