Lead UX Researcher Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$112,000
national median salary
$95,000 to $137,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $69,460 for Survey Researchers (SOC 19-3022) across the United States, based on 8,290 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$39,260
25th percentile
$51,270
Median
$69,460
75th percentile
$99,760
90th percentile
$130,860
Workers surveyed
8,290
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$63,380
May 2025 release
$69,460
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.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $112,000 is 61% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Survey Researchers covers a different population than the Lead UX Researcher title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Survey Researchers (SOC 19-3022) rather than Lead UX Researcherspecifically. 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 19-3022Highest Paying
$156,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$117,000
Jersey City, NJ
Lowest Paying
$90,000
Charleston, WV
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 August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 19-3022. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Lead UX Researcher salary in the United States at $112,000 in 2026, within a range of $95,000 to $137,000. 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 Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $156,000, while Jersey City offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Lead UX Researcher compensation is driven by portfolio strength, systems-thinking depth, and domain specialization (B2B SaaS design commands a premium over agency-style creative).
Lead UX Researcher salary by city.
Skills that increase Lead UX Researcher pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Lead UX Researchers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $15,680 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$15,680 per year
≈ +$14,560 per year
≈ +$13,440 per year
≈ +$12,320 per year
≈ +$12,320 per year
≈ +$11,200 per year
≈ +$11,200 per year
≈ +$10,080 per year
What you should know.
Lead UX Researcher compensation is driven by portfolio strength, systems-thinking depth, and domain specialization (B2B SaaS design commands a premium over agency-style creative). Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. Within finance and business operations, licensure (CFA, CPA, FP&A) and industry (tech, banking, consulting) shift the compensation band by 20–40%.
Lead UX Researchers progress from entry to senior over 5 to 8 years, with lead and principal levels requiring 10+ years plus a portfolio of shipped systems-level work. For Lead UX Researchers specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope.
Total compensation for Lead UX Researchers runs roughly $167K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. In corporate finance and banking, bonus is a major component and can double the base in top-performing years (investment banking) or add 20–40% (corporate finance).
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Lead UX Researchers typically earn $99,000 (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 Lead UX Researcher pay.
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