UX Designer.
Boston.
$133,000
median salary, 27% above the national average
$102,000 to $171,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A UX Designer in Boston earns a median of $133,000 in 2026. That is 27% above the national average. The range runs from $102,000 to $171,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Portfolio quality, user research methodology depth, and ability to quantify design impact on business metrics are key differentiators. 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 Boston, 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 $122,270 for Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, based on 2,330 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$72,860
25th percentile
$86,770
Median
$122,270
75th percentile
$159,540
90th percentile
$178,250
Workers surveyed
2,330
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 Boston 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 $120,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$86,000
to $106,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$113,000
to $140,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$146,000
to $173,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$166,000
to $206,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $36,000 to the total package.
Base
$133,000
Equity
$20,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $169,000
How Boston compares.
Boston, MA
$133,000
Cost of living: 22% above average
National Average
$105,000
Boston is $28,000 above
UX Designer salary by city.
Salary by role in Boston.
What you should know.
Here is what the UX Designer market actually looks like in Boston. Boston's job market is powered by world class universities, a thriving biotech corridor, and established finance and healthcare sectors. The Kendall Square area is one of the most concentrated biotech hubs globally. Tech salaries in Boston are competitive with West Coast markets, particularly for roles that intersect with life sciences, AI, and robotics. 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 Boston, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 22% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
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: massachusetts has a flat 5% income tax on most earnings, plus a 4% surtax on income above $1 million. There is no city income tax in Boston, keeping the total burden moderate. When someone quotes you $133,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize specialized credentials or advanced degrees. Boston employers, especially in biotech and finance, place a premium on educational pedigree and certifications. The range for UX Designers in Boston runs from $102,000 to $171,000. 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 Deep Learning Engineer in Boston earns $134,000 (1% more)
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Common questions.
UX Designer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Boston.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"UX Designer Salary in Boston, MA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/ux-designer/boston
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