UX and product design has grown into a well-compensated technology discipline. The days of design being treated as an afterthought are over at most product companies—strong designers can command salaries competitive with other tech roles.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
The closest occupation the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports is Web and Digital Interface Designers, so treat these figures as a guide.
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| 25th | $73,290 | $35.24 |
| 50th (median) | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| 75th | $158,820 | $76.36 |
| 90th | $201,550 | $96.90 |
| Average (mean) | $117,490 | $56.49 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Web and Digital Interface Designers (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
UX Designer Salary by Experience Level
| Level | Title | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (0-2 years) | Junior UX Designer | $60,000-$85,000 |
| Mid-level (2-5 years) | UX Designer / UI Designer | $85,000-$125,000 |
| Senior (5-8 years) | Senior UX Designer / Product Designer | $125,000-$170,000 |
| Lead/Staff | Lead / Principal Designer | $160,000-$210,000 |
| Manager | Design Manager | $155,000-$210,000 |
| Director | Director of UX / Head of Design | $190,000-$280,000+ |
UX vs UI vs Product Designer: Salary by Role
| Role | Typical Range | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| UX Designer | $85,000-$150,000 | Research, information architecture, flows |
| UI Designer | $75,000-$135,000 | Visual design, components, interface |
| Product Designer | $100,000-$175,000 | End-to-end design (most common at tech co) |
| UX Researcher | $95,000-$165,000 | Qualitative/quantitative research, usability |
| Interaction Designer | $90,000-$155,000 | Motion, micro-interactions, prototyping |
| Design Systems Designer | $105,000-$170,000 | Component libraries; high demand |
| UX Writer | $85,000-$145,000 | Content design, microcopy |
Design Systems Designers are particularly in demand—building and maintaining design systems is valued engineering-adjacent work.
Salary by Company Type
| Employer Type | Total Comp Notes |
|---|---|
| FAANG / large tech | Large equity grants on top of base |
| Growth startup (Series B/C) | Meaningful equity |
| Mid-size tech product company | Limited equity |
| Enterprise software | Stable; slower growth |
| Digital agency | Diverse projects; limited equity |
| Healthcare / fintech | Strong demand |
| Non-tech company (in-house) | Lower ceiling than tech |
UX Designer Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $146,210 | $68,090 | $136,110 |
| 2 | Washington | $134,700 | $60,580 | $130,480 |
| 3 | New York | $129,990 | $63,960 | $120,990 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $121,470 | $71,110 | $113,540 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $116,540 | $78,120 | $107,650 |
| 6 | Oregon | $115,280 | $65,260 | $102,220 |
| 7 | Arizona | $112,270 | $53,260 | $98,070 |
| 8 | Georgia | $112,270 | $54,910 | $103,810 |
| 9 | Texas | $111,600 | $59,290 | $102,650 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $109,360 | $65,640 | $105,990 |
| 11 | Colorado | $107,680 | $60,620 | $95,880 |
| 12 | Utah | $106,760 | $57,890 | $99,990 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $106,270 | $51,550 | $111,150 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $104,180 | $50,340 | $95,310 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $104,010 | $44,530 | $97,990 |
| 16 | Maryland | $103,650 | $52,930 | $96,760 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $103,430 | $30,800 | $71,880 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $102,150 | $54,450 | $104,160 |
| 19 | Illinois | $98,960 | $58,090 | $85,710 |
| 20 | Montana | $95,850 | $47,670 | $77,030 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $94,750 | $43,720 | $80,930 |
| 22 | Ohio | $94,540 | $48,940 | $83,360 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $94,340 | $57,980 | $95,340 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $93,170 | $53,240 | $94,660 |
| 25 | Nevada | $92,530 | $52,000 | $80,120 |
| 26 | Delaware | $92,270 | $50,880 | $93,880 |
| 27 | Florida | $89,440 | $49,710 | $77,730 |
| 28 | Michigan | $89,020 | $42,660 | $81,010 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $87,740 | $47,190 | $82,650 |
| 30 | Virginia | $84,660 | $42,080 | $77,140 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $83,370 | $52,750 | $77,000 |
| 32 | Idaho | $78,600 | $45,240 | $64,250 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $78,220 | $37,730 | $76,440 |
| 34 | Missouri | $77,340 | $43,680 | $70,970 |
| 35 | Indiana | $76,420 | $37,960 | $63,430 |
| 36 | Kansas | $76,250 | $44,520 | $70,620 |
| 37 | Alaska | $76,110 | $50,800 | $71,300 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $75,050 | $44,740 | $67,020 |
| 39 | Alabama | $73,190 | $44,190 | $51,860 |
| 40 | Iowa | $72,090 | $42,140 | $69,060 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $71,740 | $50,940 | $64,260 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $71,360 | $46,990 | $65,520 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $71,210 | $38,090 | $68,790 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $66,150 | $32,660 | $53,300 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $66,090 | $45,510 | $63,510 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $62,650 | $41,180 | $48,550 |
| — | National | $117,490 | $53,750 | $104,000 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Web and Digital Interface Designers (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
Portfolio’s Role in UX Salaries
Unlike software engineering where certifications matter, UX is almost entirely portfolio-driven. A strong portfolio showing measurable outcomes (“reduced checkout abandonment by 18%”) can support a noticeably higher salary than an equally experienced designer with a weaker portfolio.
| Portfolio Quality Indicator | Impact |
|---|---|
| Before/after with measurable outcome | Strongest differentiator for senior roles |
| Case studies showing research methodology | Required for UX Researcher roles |
| Design systems work | Premium for large company roles |
| Shipped products at recognizable companies | Credibility with hiring managers |
| Dribbble/Behance aesthetic portfolio | Less valued at tech companies; more at agencies |
Maximizing UX Design Salary
| Strategy | Expected Impact |
|---|---|
| Move from agency to in-house product company | +$20,000-$40,000 |
| Target large tech companies (L4/L5 at Google/Meta) | Equity can add $50,000-$150,000+ |
| Develop UX research skills alongside design | Opens UXR track; +$15,000-$25,000 |
| Specialize in design systems | High demand; premium at large organizations |
| Add AI/ML interface expertise | Fastest-growing premium in 2025-2026 |
| Lead projects and mentor junior designers | Path to staff/principal level pay |
Related Salary Guides
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UX designer salaries are tracked in the profession salary guides hub. Compare earnings with a closely related tech role in the web developer salary guide, and benchmark against national pay ranges at the good salary hub.
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