28 Sep 2023
|12 min
UX designer salary
Discover UX designer salary ranges for 2026, from entry-level to senior positions. Learn what factors influence compensation and how to maximize your earnings.
Whether you're considering a career in user experience design or looking to advance your current position, understanding salary expectations helps you make informed decisions.
UX design offers strong earning potential, with compensation that varies based on experience level, location, industry, and company size.
In 2026, the average UX designer salary in the United States ranges from $82,000 to $126,000, with entry-level positions starting around $56,000 to $82,000 and senior roles commanding $115,000 to $181,000 or more. We share the various sources for these figures below.
This guide breaks down UX designer salaries by experience level, explores factors that influence compensation, and includes insights from designers about their salary journeys.
Key takeaways
Salaries scale with experience. Entry-level designers earn $56,000–$82,000, mid-career professionals average $82,000–$126,000, and senior designers command $115,000–$181,000+. Big tech total compensation can reach $400,000+ with equity and bonuses.
Location and industry drive significant differences. Tech hubs pay 20-40% above national averages, while fintech and big tech offer premiums of 15-60% compared to agencies or non-profits.
Your portfolio impacts earning potential. Strong case studies demonstrating research skills and measurable impact help you negotiate better compensation. Tools like Lyssna help you conduct professional research that strengthens your portfolio.
Strategic moves accelerate growth. Job switches typically yield 15-30% increases versus modest annual raises. Specializing in high-demand areas like UX research or design systems commands premium pay.
Negotiation matters at every level. Your starting salary sets the baseline for future raises. Research market rates, document impact with metrics, and evaluate total compensation – not just base salary.
Build portfolio-ready research
Strengthen your UX portfolio with professional research tools. Lyssna helps you conduct user interviews, usability tests, and surveys that demonstrate your skills to employers.
Entry level UX designer salary
Starting your career in UX design can be financially rewarding, even at the entry level. Based on 2025 data from multiple sources, entry-level UX designers (0-2 years of experience) typically earn between $56,000 and $82,000 annually.
Entry level UX designer salary by source (2025)
(Data sources: PayScale and ZipRecruiter)
Source | Salary | Experience |
|---|---|---|
PayScale | $71,708 | <1 year |
PayScale | $80,681 | 1-4 years |
ZipRecruiter | $56,698 | Junior |
The wide range ($56K-$82K) reflects differences in how sources define "entry level." Some include internships while others start at junior roles with 1-2 years of experience. When researching salaries for your situation, pay attention to these definitions.
What qualifies as entry-level experience
Entry-level UX designer positions typically require:
Education background: Most jobs require practical experience above formal education. Those that do require formal education request a minimum of a bachelor's degree, with a few cases requesting a master's degree.
Portfolio requirements: A strong UX portfolio showcasing 3-5 projects demonstrating your design process, problem-solving skills, and user research capabilities.
Relevant skills: Basic proficiency in design tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD, along with understanding of user research principles and usability testing.
Internship experience: Many entry-level candidates have completed internships or freelance projects that demonstrate real-world application of UX principles.
Factors affecting entry-level salaries
Geographic location: Entry-level salaries vary significantly by location. Major tech hubs like San Francisco and New York typically offer higher starting salaries to offset cost of living, while smaller markets and remote positions may start lower but offer better work-life balance tradeoffs.
Industry: Technology companies generally offer the highest starting salaries, followed by financial services and healthcare. Non-profits and agencies typically offer lower base salaries but may provide other benefits like mission alignment or diverse project experience.
Negotiation: Many entry-level designers accept initial offers without negotiating. Research suggests that your starting salary sets the baseline for future raises, so negotiating even a modest increase compounds over time.
Building your entry-level UX career
To maximize your earning potential as an entry-level UX designer, focus on building a strong portfolio that demonstrates your ability to conduct user research, create wireframes and prototypes, and iterate based on feedback. Include case studies that show your problem-solving process and the impact of your design decisions.
You can also check out our definitive guide to UX designer career paths.
Pro tip: Gaining hands-on experience with professional UX tools strengthens your resume and demonstrates your commitment to evidence-driven design. With Lyssna, you can conduct moderated and unmoderated studies, including user interviews, prototype testing, design surveys, preference testing, first click testing, and more.
Average UX designer salary
Mid-career UX designers (2-5 years of experience) represent the largest segment of the
profession. The average UX designer salary in the United States varies by source, reflecting
different methodologies and sample sizes:
Average UX designer salary by source (2025)
(Data sources: Glassdoor, Indeed, PayScale, Salary.com, ZipRecruiter, Built In)
Source | Average salary | Range |
|---|---|---|
Glassdoor | $109,000 | $81,558 - $150,548 |
Indeed | $120,874 | — |
PayScale | $82,251 | $59,000 - $116,000 |
Salary.com | $114,048 | $99,806 - $135,598 |
ZipRecruiter | $106,224 | $91,000 - $125,000 |
Built In | $93,892 (base) | — |
The variation between sources ($82K-$126K) reflects methodological differences. PayScale reports lower averages based on self-reported data, while Indeed reports higher figures that may include total compensation. Use multiple sources when benchmarking your salary.
Defining mid-career experience
Mid-career UX designers typically have:
2-5 years of professional UX experience
Proven track record of successful project delivery
Specialized skills in areas like user research, interaction design, or information architecture
Cross-functional collaboration experience with product managers, developers, and stakeholders
Portfolio demonstrating measurable impact on user experience and business metrics
How location affects salary
Geographic location significantly impacts UX designer compensation. Tech hubs like San
Francisco, Seattle, and New York consistently offer higher salaries, while remote positions
and smaller markets typically pay less but may offer lower cost of living tradeoffs.
Big tech UX designer salaries
Major technology companies offer significantly higher total compensation packages. According to Levels.fyi, which tracks verified compensation data, here's what UX designers earn at top tech companies (total compensation including base, bonus, and equity).
(Data sources: Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM)
Company | Median total comp | Range |
|---|---|---|
$400,000 | $147,000 - $960,000 | |
Apple | $311,000 | $165,000 - $472,000 |
Amazon | $249,000 | $148,000 - $458,000 |
Microsoft | $228,000 | $141,000 - $319,000 |
IBM | $204,000 | $102,000 - $232,000 |
Important note: These figures represent total compensation (base salary + bonus + stock/RSUs), which can be 40-100% higher than base salary alone at these companies. The
wide ranges reflect differences in seniority levels and locations.
Other factors influencing mid-career salaries
Specialization areas
Certain UX specializations command higher salaries:
UX Research: $80,000 - $120,000
Interaction Design: $90,000 - $120,000
Service Design: $100,000 - $135,000
UX Strategy: $110,000 - $145,000
Design Systems: $105,000 - $130,000
Company size impact:
Large enterprises (1,000+ employees): $100,000 - $130,000
Mid-size companies (100-1,000 employees): $85,000 - $110,000
Startups (10-100 employees): $80,000 - $105,000 (plus potential equity)
Agencies: $75,000 - $100,000
Additional compensation:
Many mid-career positions include additional benefits:
Annual bonuses: 10-20% of base salary
Stock options/RSUs: Particularly common in tech companies
Professional development budgets: $2,000 - $5,000 annually
Flexible work arrangements: Remote work options or flexible schedules
Health and wellness benefits: Comprehensive health insurance, mental health support
Career advancement strategies
To progress beyond average mid-career salaries:
Develop leadership skills: Take on mentoring responsibilities, lead cross-functional projects, and demonstrate your ability to influence product strategy.
Build domain expertise: Become an expert in specific industries, user types, or design challenges. Deep domain knowledge commands premium compensation.
Expand your skill set: Learn complementary skills like data analysis, front-end development, or business strategy to increase your value to organizations.
Document your impact: Track and communicate the business impact of your design work, including metrics like conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores, and cost savings.
Senior UX designer salary
Senior UX designers (5+ years of experience) command significantly higher compensation due to their extensive experience, strategic thinking abilities, and proven track record. Based on 2025 data, senior UX designers earn between $115,000 and $181,000 annually.
Senior UX designer salary by source (2025)
(Data sources: Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Indeed, Built In, Salary.com, PayScale)
Source | Average salary | Range |
|---|---|---|
Glassdoor | $180,959 | $141,288 - $235,551 |
ZipRecruiter | $139,080 | $111,508 - $157,000 |
Indeed | $132,788 | — |
Built In | $122,688 (base) | $40,000 - $215,000 |
Salary.com | $116,148 | $101,657 - $138,114 |
PayScale | $115,758 | $89,000 - $148,000 |
According to Built In, UX designers with 7+ years of experience average $138,662, while remote senior UX designers average $140,768.
Senior-level qualifications and responsibilities
Senior UX designers typically have 5-8 years of professional experience with leadership responsibilities including mentoring junior designers, developing design strategy, managing stakeholders, and overseeing complex user research initiatives. They're expected to influence product roadmaps and translate business objectives into design solutions that scale across products and teams.
Management vs individual contributor tracks
Many senior UX designers face a career decision between remaining individual contributors or transitioning to management. Both paths offer competitive compensation, though management roles often include larger teams and broader organizational impact, while senior IC roles allow deeper focus on craft and complex design challenges.
Negotiation strategies for senior roles
At the senior level, negotiation skills become even more critical. Highlight your transferable skills during the interview process and share case studies demonstrating measurable impact. Having competing offers significantly strengthens your negotiating position.
Related UX roles and their salaries
Understanding compensation for related roles helps you evaluate career transitions.
(Data sources: Product Designer, UX Researcher, UI Designer)
Role | Average salary |
|---|---|
Product Designer | $115,705 |
UX Researcher | $107,332 |
UI Designer | $85,374 |
UX designer salary calculator
Understanding how various factors influence UX designer salaries helps you make informed career decisions and negotiate effectively. While exact salary calculations depend on numerous variables, these guidelines can help you estimate potential earnings based on key factors.
Geographic location
Location significantly impacts compensation. Major tech hubs like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York consistently offer salaries 20-40% above national averages, reflecting both the concentration of tech companies and higher cost of living.
Mid-tier metros like Austin, Denver, and Portland offer near-national averages with more favorable cost-of-living tradeoffs. Smaller markets have traditionally paid less, though remote-friendly hiring is lifting regional pay floors—cities like Boise and Madison now reach the $90K mark at the midpoint for mid-career roles.
Remote roles vary widely depending on company policy. Some companies pay location-adjusted salaries, while others offer US-level compensation regardless of where you live.
Practitioner insight: "I doubled my salary when we moved to Germany to work in a Luxembourgish startup... I doubled my salary again when I started working for a London-based startup. One of the latest trends in remote work that I started noticing is companies paying US-level salaries to their employees no matter where in the world they are. When it comes to compensation that's probably the biggest win one can get because you could be earning $180k per year and live in a country with minimal costs of living."
– Matej Latin, UX/Product Designer
Industry
Different industries offer varying compensation levels.
Big Tech companies (FAANG and similar) typically pay 40-60% above average when you factor in total compensation including equity and bonuses. Financial services and fintech follow, offering 15-25% premiums – these sectors value designers who can navigate complex regulatory requirements and build trust through intuitive interfaces.
Healthcare technology and e-commerce offer more modest premiums of 5-20% above average, while agencies tend to pay near or slightly below average but offer exposure to diverse projects and industries. Designing for startups are highly variable: base salaries may be 10% below market, but equity compensation can significantly increase total earnings if the company succeeds.
Non-profit and government roles typically pay below market rates but may offer other benefits like mission alignment, job stability, and work-life balance.
According to CBT Nuggets, "Fintech, AI, and healthcare – sectors where mistakes are expensive and regulation is tight – pay premiums for UX talent that can navigate complexity without sacrificing usability. Moving to a higher-paying industry is one of the simplest ways to drive your salary up."
Building a competitive portfolio
Your portfolio directly influences your ability to land interviews and negotiate effectively. Strong portfolios typically include:
3-5 detailed case studies showing problem, process, solution, and measurable impact
Diverse project types demonstrating range across industries and design challenges
Process documentation including research methods, ideation, and iteration cycles
Collaboration examples highlighting cross-functional teamwork
Quantified results whenever possible (conversion improvements, task completion rates, user satisfaction scores)
Negotiation preparation
Effective salary negotiation starts with research and documentation:
Benchmark your market value using multiple sources like Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and Built In
Document your achievements with specific metrics demonstrating business impact
Consider total compensation including base salary, bonuses, equity, benefits, and professional development budgets
Time your ask strategically by aligning requests with successful project completions or annual review cycles
Ready to advance your UX career?
Strong portfolios open doors to better opportunities. Use Lyssna's free plan to conduct professional research and build case studies that showcase your impact.
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