UX Designer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$105,000
estimated national base salary
$80,000 to $135,000. Last updated September 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $104,000 for Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255) across the United States, based on 113,330 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$53,750
25th percentile
$73,290
Median
$104,000
75th percentile
$158,820
90th percentile
$201,550
Workers surveyed
113,330
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$98,090
May 2025 release
$104,000
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
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 national 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 15-1255Highest Paying
$146,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$110,000
Washington DC, DC
Lowest Paying
$83,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 15-1255. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average UX Designer salary in the United States at $105,000 in 2026, within a range of $80,000 to $135,000. 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. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $146,000, while Washington DC offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Portfolio quality, user research methodology depth, and ability to quantify design impact on business metrics are key differentiators.
UX Designer salary by city.
Skills that increase UX Designer pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for UX Designers, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $10,500 a year.
≈ +$10,500 per year
≈ +$7,350 per year
≈ +$5,250 per year
≈ +$5,250 per year
≈ +$4,200 per year
≈ +$4,200 per year
≈ +$4,200 per year
What you should know.
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.
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.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote UX Designers typically earn $92,000 (12% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about UX Designer pay.
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