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Professional Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Mortgage Office

Product Designer

Huntington Beach, CA · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

What You Bring Required * 3+ years (or equivalent experience) as a Professional Designer and/or User Researcher * Demonstrated depth in user research: interviews, usability sessions, synthesizing ...

Jobsbridge

UX Designer

San Jose, CA · On-site

T staffing and professional services company specializing in Web, Cloud & Mobility staffing solutions. Be it core Java, full-stack Java, Web/UI designers, Big Data or Cloud or Mobility developers ...

We Are Social

Freelance Senior Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Utilize Gemini for Google Slides to transform creative briefs into compelling, professionally designed presentation decks rapidly Requirements * 5+ years of experience in a design, motion, or editing ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

$93K - $148K/yr

Designer, Project Designer & Senior Designer For five decades, HPI Architecture has shaped ... At HPI, you'll grow through continuing education, mentorship, and professional development, with ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$93K - $148K/yr

Designer, Project Designer & Senior Designer For five decades, HPI Architecture has shaped ... At HPI, you'll grow through continuing education, mentorship, and professional development, with ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

$93K - $148K/yr

Designer, Project Designer & Senior Designer For five decades, HPI Architecture has shaped ... At HPI, you'll grow through continuing education, mentorship, and professional development, with ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$93K - $148K/yr

Designer, Project Designer & Senior Designer For five decades, HPI Architecture has shaped ... At HPI, you'll grow through continuing education, mentorship, and professional development, with ...

K B M Office Equipment, Inc.

Designer

San Jose, CA · Hybrid

Description The Designer plays a key role in developing furniture plans, specifications, and visual ... Develop and maintain professional relationships within the industry and with vendor partners.

AVANTI RESTAURANT SOLUTIONS INC

Designer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$86K - $105K/yr

Summary The Designer supports the Design Department by collaborating with Senior Designers and ... level of professionalism. * Proven capacity to thrive in a fast‑paced, rapidly growing ...

RIOS

Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

The Designer role is responsible for being a positive team player and participating in the RIOS design process while focusing on professional development and obtaining technical expertise. A Designer ...

Northern Impact

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Voted as one of the "Best Places to Work" for healthcare, designers and architects at this firm ... Minimum 3 years of professional architectural experience * Acute healthcare experience preferred ...

Crateandbarrel

Designer

Malibu, CA · On-site

The Designer, Malibu CB2 drives sales, maximizes productivity and profitability through ... Experience in a professional selling environment preferred * High school diploma/GED or equivalent

White and Case LLP

Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

This seasoned professional will take responsibility for deadlines, resources, internal requestors and implementing high standards, as well as collaborating with graphic designers, production teams ...

Esri

Sr. Product Designer - Web GIS SDK

Redlands, CA · On-site

$112K - $176K/yr

Contribute to the visual and interaction quality of shared components, ensuring they feel cohesive, modern, and professionally designed across Esri applications * Partner with Product Engineers ...

White & Case LLP

Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

This seasoned professional will take responsibility for deadlines, resources, internal requestors and implementing high standards, as well as collaborating with graphic designers, production teams ...

Bergelectric

Designer

Escondido, CA · On-site +1

$75K - $90K/yr

Overview The NTS Designer participates in the coordination and design of installation drawings and ... Working Environment This role operates in either a professional office environment or in remote ...

White and Case LLP

Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

This seasoned professional will take responsibility for deadlines, resources, internal requestors and implementing high standards, as well as collaborating with graphic designers, production teams ...

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Professional Designer information

See California salary details

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How much do professional designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for professional designer in California is $23.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.47 and $23.70 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professional designer?

Professional designers are individuals who use creative and technical skills to develop visual concepts and solutions for various industries, such as graphic design, fashion, interior design, and product design. They work to communicate ideas, enhance aesthetics, and solve problems through design. Professional designers often collaborate with clients or teams to meet specific goals and ensure that their work aligns with brand identity, user needs, and industry standards.

How do professional designers typically collaborate with clients and other team members throughout a project?

Professional Designers often work closely with clients to understand their vision, goals, and brand identity, typically starting with discovery meetings and regular check-ins. They also collaborate with cross-functional teams such as marketing, developers, and copywriters to ensure design solutions align with project requirements and timelines. Effective communication and feedback loops are crucial at every stage, from concept development through revisions to final delivery, making teamwork and adaptability essential skills for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professional designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Professional Designer, you need a strong background in design principles, visual communication, and typically a degree or certification in graphic or visual design. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and familiarity with design management systems are essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration stand out as critical soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure the creation of visually compelling, functional designs that meet client objectives and industry standards.

What is the difference between Professional Designer vs Graphic Designer?

AspectProfessional DesignerGraphic Designer
CredentialsTypically holds a degree in design or related fieldOften has a degree or certification in graphic design or related area
Work EnvironmentWorks in various industries including advertising, branding, product designPrimarily works in marketing, advertising, publishing, and digital media
Employer & Industry UsageEmployed by agencies, corporations, or as freelancers across multiple sectorsEmployed mainly in marketing firms, publishing houses, or as freelancers

While both roles involve visual design, a Professional Designer often has broader responsibilities, including product, UX, or branding design, whereas a Graphic Designer primarily focuses on visual communication through print and digital media. The choice depends on the specific industry and project scope.

What are the most commonly searched types of Designer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Professional Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Professional Designer job openings:

Professional Designer jobs near you

Product Designer

The Mortgage Office

Huntington Beach, CA • On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

About TMO,
The Mortgage Office is the most trusted loan management platform in private lending. Founded in 1978, we power the full loan lifecycle for over 1,100 lenders, including private money firms, CDFIs, nonprofits, and government agencies, servicing more than $190 billion in loans.
We're recognized as G2's #1 Loan Servicing Software and Capterra's Best Ease of Use. With offices in Huntington Beach and San Mateo, we're now building the next generation of AI-native lending tools, and hiring a Product Designer to help lead that work.
The Opportunity
This is a research-forward role. Our design team already has strength in systems thinking, front-end craft, and shipping polished UI fast. What we need alongside it is someone who obsesses over why servicers do what they do, where their real workflows diverge from the software, and what the data says about it, then translates that into problem definitions the team can build against, and designs or prototypes to pressure-test the ideas.
Because we're building AI-native features into workflows where trust is non-negotiable, we need someone who thinks hard about what that means before opening Figma, and whose judgment sharpens with every round of discovery. You should apply if you get energized by understanding real user behavior, can navigate business and technical constraints, and can still bring a design to life once the problem is framed.
What You'll Own
Research & Discovery
  • Conduct user interviews, usability sessions, and contextual observation to understand how servicers actually work, asking behavioral questions and controlling for bias, not just collecting opinions.
  • Evaluate features and user flows through product analytics (Pendo, PostHog, etc.), using task-flow analysis, error rates, and click velocity to find what to fix and validate that shipped work improved outcomes.
  • Run competitive analysis and gather community feedback to inform what we build next.

Problem Framing & Strategy
  • Translate research findings into clear problem definitions and opportunity areas.
  • Partner with engineers, stakeholders, and customers to shape product vision and roadmaps, not just execute on them.

Design & Prototyping
  • Design polished, trustworthy interfaces that feel premium.
  • Rapidly prototype ideas in code (using AI) or other methods to pressure-test concepts and build alignment fast.
  • Ensure designs and prototypes are complete and well-documented, accounting for edge cases, error states, and responsiveness.

What You Bring
Required
  • 3+ years (or equivalent experience) as a Professional Designer and/or User Researcher
  • Demonstrated depth in user research: interviews, usability sessions, synthesizing qualitative data, and turning behavioral insight into design direction
  • Portfolio showing end-to-end product work: problem framing, research, and iteration, not just polished mocks
  • Fluency in Figma and the ability to take a framed problem to production-ready UI
  • Experience working directly with engineers in a fast-moving environment
  • Comfort operating in ambiguity and scoping work with incomplete information
  • Strong written communication for specs, tickets, async collaboration, and stakeholder alignment
  • Familiarity with analytics tools (Pendo, PostHog, Mixpanel, Amplitude, etc.) and using data to drive decisions
  • Ability to tie design decisions to business goals, saving cost or generating revenue
  • Understanding of business, resource, and technical constraints when planning feature rollouts
  • Ability to prototype in code (Claude Code, React, HTML/CSS, Cursor, etc.)

Preferred
  • Experience in fintech, mortgage, or B2B SaaS
  • Background in behavioral science, cognitive psychology, or HCI research methods
  • Exposure to reinventing traditional UI patterns for AI use cases
  • Prior experience in Product Management or a hybrid PM/design role

Benefits & Perks
  • Competitive compensation (Base: $75,000 - $85,000) + Bonus
  • Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Wellness programs
  • Professional development
  • Employee recognition programs
  • Team building & on-site amenities

Life at TMO,
TMO pairs 45+ years of category leadership with a culture that's still hands-on and collaborative. Ideas flow freely, every team member has a voice, and we have fun while we build.
Our Values: DRIVE
  • Data-Driven: numbers over opinions.
  • Respect: high on empathy, low on ego.
  • Initiative & Agency: don't wait to be told.
  • Value to Customers: create value for them above all else.
  • Evolve: progress over perfection.

The pay range for this role is:
75,000 - 85,000 USD per year (Huntington Beach, CA)

Apply