UX Designer.
Austin.
$106,000
median salary, 1% above the national average
$81,000 to $136,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
UX Designer pay in Austin ranges from $81,000 to $136,000 in 2026. The median is $106,000, 1% above the national average. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for UX Designer in Austin, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $119,950 for Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255) in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, based on 1,080 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$63,160
25th percentile
$85,290
Median
$119,950
75th percentile
$166,580
90th percentile
$180,440
Workers surveyed
1,080
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255) rather than UX Designer specifically. The Austin range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-1255Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $95,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$69,000
to $85,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$90,000
to $111,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$117,000
to $138,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$133,000
to $164,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $28,000 to the total package.
Base
$106,000
Equity
$16,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $134,000
How Austin compares.
Austin, TX
$106,000
Cost of living: 3% above average
National Average
$105,000
Austin is $1,000 above
UX Designer salary by city.
Salary by role in Austin.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a UX Designer offer in Austin, understand the terrain. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Portfolio quality, user research methodology depth, and ability to quantify design impact on business metrics are key differentiators. Designers who combine visual craft with interaction design and prototyping command higher salaries. Experience with enterprise B2B products or regulated industries like healthcare and finance also drives premiums.
Junior UX designers start at $65,000 to $85,000, advancing to mid level at $95,000 to $120,000 after two to three years. Senior UX designers earn $120,000 to $160,000. Design leads and directors reach $160,000 to $220,000, while VPs of Design at large companies can exceed $300,000 in total comp. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at tech companies adds $10,000 to $60,000 annually. Bonuses range from 5 to 15% of base. Benefits often include design tool subscriptions, conference budgets, and continuing education stipends. Signing bonuses of $10,000 to $25,000 are common at senior levels. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $106,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for UX Designers in Austin runs from $81,000 to $136,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Database Administrator in Austin earns $107,000 (1% more)
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Common questions.
UX Designer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Austin.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"UX Designer Salary in Austin, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/ux-designer/austin
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