10 Best States For Designers In 2023

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for designers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for designer jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay. Although there are abundant designer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Washington is the best state in the country for designer jobs.

The median salary for designers in Washington is $99,369. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $43,912, which ranked worst for designers, and you can see how your location is important for your career. We found that the South is best for designers, and the Northeast is the worst. Seattle, WA is the best city in the country for designer jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.

10 best states for designers in 2023

1. Washington

Total Designer Jobs:	998
Average Annual Salary:	$99,369
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$62,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$158,000
Location Quotient:	1.64Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in Washington

2. Oregon

Total Designer Jobs:	583
Average Annual Salary:	$78,743
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$49,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$124,000
Location Quotient:	1.69Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in Oregon

3. Michigan

Total Designer Jobs:	692
Average Annual Salary:	$72,577
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$48,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$108,000
Location Quotient:	1.07Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in Michigan

4. California

Total Designer Jobs:	3,807
Average Annual Salary:	$78,588
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$49,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$124,000
Location Quotient:	1.56Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in California

5. Massachusetts

Total Designer Jobs:	838
Average Annual Salary:	$72,503
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$49,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$105,000
Location Quotient:	1.09Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in Massachusetts

6. Hawaii

Total Designer Jobs:	55
Average Annual Salary:	$91,918
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$68,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$122,000
Location Quotient:	0.79Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

7. New York

Total Designer Jobs:	1,634
Average Annual Salary:	$71,938
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$48,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$105,000
Location Quotient:	1.53Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in New York

8. District of Columbia

Total Designer Jobs:	252
Average Annual Salary:	$76,268
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$51,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$113,000
Location Quotient:	1.8Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in District of Columbia

9. Pennsylvania

Total Designer Jobs:	853
Average Annual Salary:	$69,048
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$46,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$102,000
Location Quotient:	0.88Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in Pennsylvania

10. New Jersey

Total Designer Jobs:	550
Average Annual Salary:	$73,316
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$49,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$108,000
Location Quotient:	0.83Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here

Designer Jobs in New Jersey

Designer JobsNear Ashburn, VA

How Zippia determines the best states to be a designer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated

here.

Detailed list of the best states for a designer

Rank	State	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	Washington	$99,369	$62,000	7,405,743	998
2	Oregon	$78,743	$49,000	4,142,776	583
3	Michigan	$72,577	$48,000	9,962,311	692
4	California	$78,588	$49,000	39,536,653	3,807
5	Massachusetts	$72,503	$49,000	6,859,819	838
6	Hawaii	$91,918	$68,000	1,427,538	55
7	New York	$71,938	$48,000	19,849,399	1,634
8	District of Columbia	$76,268	$51,000	693,972	252
9	Pennsylvania	$69,048	$46,000	12,805,537	853
10	New Jersey	$73,316	$49,000	9,005,644	550
11	Rhode Island	$65,749	$45,000	1,059,639	107
12	New Hampshire	$65,770	$45,000	1,342,795	155
13	Virginia	$68,696	$45,000	8,470,020	840
14	Illinois	$67,158	$44,000	12,802,023	959
15	Wisconsin	$64,756	$43,000	5,795,483	429
16	Ohio	$66,438	$44,000	11,658,609	641
17	West Virginia	$69,982	$46,000	1,815,857	58
18	Colorado	$66,047	$44,000	5,607,154	483
19	Iowa	$63,136	$42,000	3,145,711	228
20	North Carolina	$62,679	$41,000	10,273,419	711
21	Connecticut	$64,816	$44,000	3,588,184	289
22	Georgia	$61,142	$40,000	10,429,379	1,006
23	Indiana	$63,474	$42,000	6,666,818	324
24	Utah	$60,426	$39,000	3,101,833	309
25	Maryland	$65,838	$44,000	6,052,177	502
26	Delaware	$64,250	$43,000	961,939	91
27	Texas	$61,594	$40,000	28,304,596	1,583
28	Minnesota	$62,553	$41,000	5,576,606	542
29	Alaska	$65,827	$47,000	739,795	54
30	Idaho	$61,600	$39,000	1,716,943	114
31	Wyoming	$58,326	$38,000	579,315	50
32	Tennessee	$59,511	$39,000	6,715,984	323
33	Arizona	$60,131	$39,000	7,016,270	416
34	Kentucky	$60,447	$40,000	4,454,189	172
35	Nevada	$60,410	$38,000	2,998,039	128
36	Vermont	$58,861	$40,000	623,657	64
37	Arkansas	$59,520	$39,000	3,004,279	126
38	Alabama	$58,516	$38,000	4,874,747	201
39	Maine	$55,050	$38,000	1,335,907	116
40	South Carolina	$58,652	$38,000	5,024,369	218
41	Missouri	$56,905	$38,000	6,113,532	342
42	Kansas	$55,979	$37,000	2,913,123	172
43	Nebraska	$56,062	$37,000	1,920,076	122
44	Florida	$53,951	$35,000	20,984,400	1,062
45	North Dakota	$54,839	$36,000	755,393	46
46	Louisiana	$56,175	$36,000	4,684,333	122
47	Montana	$47,772	$31,000	1,050,493	79
48	Mississippi	$54,564	$36,000	2,984,100	83
49	New Mexico	$50,993	$33,000	2,088,070	103
50	Oklahoma	$48,017	$32,000	3,930,864	146
51	South Dakota	$43,912	$29,000	869,666	54

Highest paying states for designers

Rank	State	Avg. Designer Salary
1	Washington	$99,369
2	Oregon	$78,743
3	Michigan	$72,577
4	California	$78,588
5	Massachusetts	$72,503
6	Hawaii	$91,918
7	New York	$71,938
8	District of Columbia	$76,268
9	Pennsylvania	$69,048
10	New Jersey	$73,316
11	Rhode Island	$65,749
12	New Hampshire	$65,770
13	Virginia	$68,696
14	Illinois	$67,158
15	Wisconsin	$64,756
16	Ohio	$66,438
17	West Virginia	$69,982
18	Colorado	$66,047
19	Iowa	$63,136
20	North Carolina	$62,679
21	Connecticut	$64,816
22	Georgia	$61,142
23	Indiana	$63,474
24	Utah	$60,426
25	Maryland	$65,838
26	Delaware	$64,250
27	Texas	$61,594
28	Minnesota	$62,553
29	Alaska	$65,827
30	Idaho	$61,600
31	Wyoming	$58,326
32	Tennessee	$59,511
33	Arizona	$60,131
34	Kentucky	$60,447
35	Nevada	$60,410
36	Vermont	$58,861
37	Arkansas	$59,520
38	Alabama	$58,516
39	Maine	$55,050
40	South Carolina	$58,652
41	Missouri	$56,905
42	Kansas	$55,979
43	Nebraska	$56,062
44	Florida	$53,951
45	North Dakota	$54,839
46	Louisiana	$56,175
47	Montana	$47,772
48	Mississippi	$54,564
49	New Mexico	$50,993
50	Oklahoma	$48,017
51	South Dakota	$43,912

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Expert opinions on the best states for designers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Designers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Job opportunities are everywhere in this industry. Keep an eye on your favorite brands and the location of their corporate offices. In particular, the Midwest is home to many corporate offices. There have been shifts for other offices to move to the Midwest to take advantage of its centralized location in the United States. Thus, the industry is all around us!

Designer best states FAQs

What is the best state for designers?

The best state to be a designer is Washington based on designer salaries and job opportunities.

What is the highest paying state for designers?

The highest paying state for designers is South Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

What is the worst state for designers?

The worst state for designers is South Dakota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Have more questions?

See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.

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Best states for Designers

Updated July 21, 2023

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I'm an expert in the field of job markets, particularly within the creative industry, with a specific focus on designer jobs in the United States. My understanding goes beyond the surface, delving into the intricacies of job opportunities, salaries, and geographical trends. Now, let's break down the information presented in the article.

Key Concepts in the Article:

Best States for Designers:
- Washington: With a total of 998 designer jobs, it stands out as the top state for designers with a median salary of $99,369.
Location Quotient:
- This is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry (in this case, designer jobs) is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole.
Top 10 States for Designers (Based on Average Annual Salary):
- Washington
- Oregon
- Michigan
- California
- Massachusetts
- Hawaii
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
Detailed Information for Each State:
- Number of designer jobs, average annual salary, and salary percentiles for each state.
Highest Paying States for Designers:
- Washington, Oregon, Michigan, California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New York, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
Expert Opinions:
- Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, provides insights. She mentions the prevalence of job opportunities in the Midwest due to corporate offices being located there.
FAQs:
- The best state for designers is Washington, the highest paying state is South Dakota, and the worst state is South Dakota based on a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.
Job Types and Locations:
- Information about the job types available (Full Time, Part Time, Internship, Temporary) and specific locations with job opportunities.
Zippia's Methodology:
- The article refers to Zippia's salary database and methodology for determining the best states for designers.
Designer Related Careers:
- Mention of various related careers in design, and a link to job searches on Zippia.
Updated Information:
- The article is dated July 21, 2023, indicating that the information is current as of that date.

In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the best states for designers in the U.S., backed by specific data, expert opinions, and insights into salary trends and job opportunities in the field of design. If you're a designer considering a move, this information is invaluable for making informed decisions about your career.

10 Best States For Designers In 2023 - Zippia (2024)