How much do UX designers make?

UX Designer salary 2026 · BLS occupation: Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255) · Updated October 28, 2026

Answer

UX designers in the US earned a median of $104,000 a year ($50.00 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $73,290 to $158,820.

Median annual pay: $104,000; Mean $117,490
Median hourly pay: $50.00; Mean $56.49
Typical range (10th–90th): $53.8K–$202K; $53,750 to $201,550
US jobs: 113,330; +6.0% projected, 2025–35

BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology

How to become a UX designer: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: California

UX Designer pay range

Annual wages, May 2025

10th percentile$53,750
25th percentile$73,290
Median$104,000
75th percentile$158,820
90th percentile$201,550

Half of all UX designers earned more than $104,000 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $53,750; the top 10% made over $201,550. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $73,290 to $158,820.

These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.

Percentile	Annual	Hourly	Monthly
10th	$53,750	$25.84	$4,479
25th	$73,290	$35.24	$6,108
Median (50th)	$104,000	$50.00	$8,667
75th	$158,820	$76.36	$13,235
90th	$201,550	$96.90	$16,796
Mean (average)	$117,490	$56.49	$9,791

UX Designer salary by state

Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024

Median annual pay for UX designers by state. Darker tiles pay more. A dash means BLS did not publish a figure.

Highest-paying states

1. California $136,110
2. Washington $130,480
3. New York $120,990
4. Massachusetts $113,540
5. New Hampshire $111,150

Lowest-paying states

46. Mississippi $48,550
45. Alabama $51,860
44. New Mexico $53,300
43. Indiana $63,430
42. Tennessee $63,510

Best after cost of living: California. Its median of $136,110 is worth about $122,932 at national-average prices.


Alabama	$51,860	45	$58,386	44	$24.93	130	0.06
Alaska	$71,300	33	$69,657	40	$34.28	30	0.11
Arizona	$98,070	13	$97,411	15	$47.15	810	0.25
Arkansas	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
California	$136,110	1	$122,932	1	$65.44	27,090	1.49
Colorado	$95,880	16	$93,040	17	$46.10	3,250	1.13
Connecticut	$94,660	19	$91,362	19	$45.51	1,060	0.63
Delaware	$93,880	20	$94,061	16	$45.14	130	0.26
District of Columbia	$107,650	6	$97,952	14	$51.76	480	0.69
Florida	$77,730	27	$75,164	36	$37.37	4,620	0.47
Georgia	$103,810	9	$107,806	4	$49.91	2,800	0.57
Hawaii	—	—	—	—	—	50	0.08
Idaho	$64,250	41	$67,282	43	$30.89	340	0.40
Illinois	$85,710	21	$85,746	24	$41.21	2,050	0.34
Indiana	$63,430	43	$67,964	42	$30.49	1,160	0.36
Iowa	$69,060	36	$78,690	31	$33.20	670	0.43
Kansas	$70,620	35	$78,407	32	$33.95	200	0.14
Kentucky	$77,000	30	$85,405	25	$37.02	590	0.29
Louisiana	$68,790	37	$77,987	34	$33.07	170	0.09
Maine	—	—	—	—	—	380	0.59
Maryland	$96,760	15	$92,188	18	$46.52	1,310	0.47
Massachusetts	$113,540	4	$107,359	5	$54.59	2,740	0.75
Michigan	$81,010	24	$84,195	26	$38.95	1,750	0.40
Minnesota	$82,650	23	$83,806	27	$39.74	1,520	0.52
Mississippi	$48,550	46	$55,835	46	$23.34	230	0.20
Missouri	$70,970	34	$78,146	33	$34.12	1,210	0.41
Montana	$77,030	29	$81,388	28	$37.03	100	0.20
Nebraska	$65,520	39	$72,717	37	$31.50	720	0.70
Nevada	$80,120	26	$80,137	30	$38.52	1,180	0.76
New Hampshire	$111,150	5	$106,706	7	$53.44	430	0.63
New Jersey	$95,310	18	$87,597	21	$45.82	2,170	0.51
New Mexico	$53,300	44	$57,802	45	$25.63	200	0.23
New York	$120,990	3	$112,110	3	$58.17	16,560	1.71
North Carolina	$97,990	14	$103,884	9	$47.11	3,400	0.69
North Dakota	$64,260	40	$72,236	39	$30.90	40	0.09
Ohio	$83,360	22	$89,853	20	$40.08	2,520	0.45
Oklahoma	$76,440	31	$87,019	22	$36.75	340	0.20
Oregon	$102,220	11	$98,896	13	$49.14	1,230	0.63
Pennsylvania	$104,160	8	$106,752	6	$50.08	2,820	0.47
Rhode Island	$105,990	7	$103,627	10	$50.96	240	0.48
South Carolina	$80,930	25	$86,326	23	$38.91	800	0.35
South Dakota	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tennessee	$63,510	42	$69,130	41	$30.53	3,610	1.10
Texas	$102,650	10	$105,763	8	$49.35	5,910	0.42
Utah	$99,990	12	$101,139	12	$48.07	1,060	0.61
Vermont	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Virginia	$77,140	28	$76,298	35	$37.09	1,990	0.48
Washington	$130,480	2	$121,929	2	$62.73	11,580	3.26
West Virginia	$71,880	32	$80,316	29	$34.56	200	0.29
Wisconsin	$95,340	17	$101,323	11	$45.84	880	0.30
Wyoming	$67,020	38	$72,305	38	$32.22	110	0.39

BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (5 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.

Best-paying metro areas for UX designers

153 metro areas with published pay

Highest median pay
Metro area	Median	Adjusted	Jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$201,260	$182,263	4,400
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$163,810	$141,688	6,630
Boulder, CO	$139,900	$132,982	360
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$133,760	$120,360	10,330
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$133,340	$136,658	510
Ithaca, NY	$125,810	$121,771	40
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$123,850	$110,692	1,270
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$122,270	$112,935	2,330
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$120,640	$114,436	880
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$119,950	$122,316	1,080

Most jobs
Metro area	Jobs	Median	Adjusted
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	14,990	$119,190	$105,887
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	10,330	$133,760	$120,360
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	9,220	$106,550	$93,822
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	6,630	$163,810	$141,688
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	4,400	$201,260	$182,263
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	2,500	$63,510	$65,924
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	2,380	$104,150	$101,028
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	2,330	$122,270	$112,935
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	2,120	$98,330	$92,955
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	1,900	$97,000	$89,086

BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).

What moves UX designer pay: employers and settings

The employer's industry is the clearest pay signal for UX designers. Media streaming, social network and content companies pay a median of $130,370 and software publishers $129,050. Corporate headquarters, counted as management of companies and enterprises, pay $118,320 and computer systems design firms, the largest employer, pay $109,990. Consulting firms pay $94,980 and advertising and public relations agencies are much lower at $72,520. Government jobs also pay less: state government $72,790 and local government $76,710.

Scope matters as much as job title. A designer who leads research, owns a product area and can show measured results in a portfolio is paid differently from someone producing banner graphics or maintaining a small business website, even though both fall in this occupation. That mix is part of why the 10th percentile is $53,750, while the 90th is $201,550, nearly four times as much.

Location follows the tech industry. California has the highest median, $136,110, and the most jobs, followed by Washington at $130,480, then New York at $120,990, and Massachusetts. California is still first after living costs ($122,932 adjusted). Mississippi is lowest at $48,550.

Where UX designers work
Industry	Share of jobs	Median pay
Computer Systems Design and Related Services	15.8%	$109,990
Software Publishers	15%	$129,050
Management of Companies and Enterprises	5.5%	$118,320
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	5.4%	$94,980
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers	4.3%	$130,370
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	4%	$72,520

Private employers and government
Employer type	Jobs	Median pay
Private employers	110,640	$104,990
State government (incl. schools and hospitals)	1,530	$72,790
Local government (incl. schools and hospitals)	1,150	$76,710

BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).

UX Designer pay over time

Median annual pay, 2021–2025

$104K $79.9K

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Nominal median (dollars of each year)In May 2025 dollars (adjusted with CPI-U)

The median rose from $79,890 in 2021 to $104,000 in 2025, up 30% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2021 median is worth $95,402 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay grew 9% over the period.

The series starts in 2021 because BLS changed how it defines or publishes this occupation before then, so earlier figures are not comparable.

BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.

What UX designers do

A UX designer decides how a website, app or piece of software works from the user's side: what is on each screen, how people move from one step to the next, and what happens when they tap, type or make a mistake. UX stands for user experience. A UI designer focuses more on the visual layer, such as type, color, buttons and spacing, and many job ads ask for both as a "UI/UX designer." Web designers do similar work for websites and often build pages themselves.

The work starts with users: interviews, surveys, analytics and usability tests show where people get stuck. Designers then sketch flows, build wireframes and clickable prototypes in tools such as Figma, test them, and hand finished designs to developers. They work daily with product managers, engineers, researchers, writers and marketing staff. Computer systems design firms and software publishers are the largest employers, followed by corporate headquarters, consulting firms, streaming and social media companies, and ad agencies. About 13.3% are self-employed, doing freelance or contract work. The job is desk-based, and many teams work hybrid or remote.

A typical day

Interview users and watch them try a product to see where they struggle
Map user flows and sketch screens before any visual polish
Build wireframes and clickable prototypes, usually in Figma
Run usability tests and turn the findings into design changes
Check designs against accessibility guidelines such as color contrast and screen-reader support
Walk developers through specs and review the built version before release
Maintain the team's design system of shared buttons, forms and layouts

Also called: ui ux designer, ui designer, web designer, ui developer (user interface developer), ux developer (user experience developer), ux engineer (user experience engineer), web administration coordinator (web admin coordinator), web architect.

How to become a UX designer

Full guide

Most UX designers have a bachelor's degree in design, human-computer interaction, psychology or computer science, plus a portfolio of case studies that show their research and design process. No license is required, and some people switch in from other fields in under a year with a certificate program and portfolio work.

Typical time: 4 years (bachelor's degree with internships and a portfolio); Fastest: About 6 months to 1 year (career changers with a related background)
Minimum education: Bachelor's degree is typical (design, HCI, psychology, computer science or related); employers may accept a strong portfolio and experience instead
License: Not licensed (certification optional)
Typical training cost: $42.9K–$83.9K; See the guide for what it includes

Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a UX designer: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.

Is it worth it? Training cost against pay

Compare careers

Training time: 4 years (bachelor's degree with internships and a portfolio); Typical path in our guide
Training cost: $42.9K–$83.9K; Tuition and exam fees, before aid
Median pay: $104,000; $53,020 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
Cost vs. one year's pay: 41–81%; Training cost as a share of a year at the median

Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($53,020 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in less than a year to 1.6 years after training ends (4 years (bachelor's degree with internships and a portfolio) in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.

Job outlook for UX designers

BLS Employment Projections 2025–35

Projected growth: +6.0%; All occupations +3.5%
Jobs in 2025: 132,700; 140,800 projected for 2035
Openings each year: 8,300; New jobs plus replacements
Self-employed: 13.3%; Not in the pay figures above

BLS projects jobs for web and digital interface designers, the group that includes UX and UI designers, to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, from 132,700 to 140,800, faster than the 3.5% average. That means about 8,300 openings a year, most from people changing jobs or retiring. Growth comes from companies moving more sales and services online. BLS also expects better design tools, including generative AI, to let each designer do more, which holds growth below what demand alone would suggest.

Related careers and their pay

Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.

UX Designer salary FAQ

How much do UX designers make an hour?

The median hourly wage for UX designers was $50.00 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $25.84 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $96.90. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.

Which state pays UX designers the most?

California has the highest median pay for UX designers, $136,110 a year, followed by Washington ($130,480) and New York ($120,990). After adjusting for each state's price level, California comes out ahead at about $122,932 in national-average dollars.

Do UX designers make $200,000 a year?

Some do: based on the BLS percentiles, between 10% and 25% of UX designers earn more than $200,000 a year. The median is $104,000, and the top 10% earn more than $201,550. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.

What is the difference between a UX designer and a UI designer?

A UX designer works on how a product behaves: research, user flows, information structure and testing whether people can complete tasks. A UI designer works on how it looks and feels on screen: layout, type, color, icons and interactive states. Small companies often hire one person for both, which is why "UI/UX designer" is a common job title. Larger teams separate the roles and add dedicated UX researchers.

Do UX designers need to know how to code?

Most UX roles do not require you to write production code, but understanding HTML, CSS and how front-end developers build interfaces makes your designs more realistic and your handoffs smoother. Web designer and UX engineer roles usually do involve code. Knowing what is easy or hard to build helps you choose designs your team can actually ship on schedule.

Can UX designers work remotely?

Many can. The core work of research calls, design files, prototypes and reviews happens on a computer and in shared online tools, so UX teams at software and media companies often work hybrid or fully remote. In-person usability testing and some agency and government roles still require office time. About 13.3% of people in this occupation are self-employed, many of them freelancers working remotely for clients.

Sources

Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 15-1255
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
O*NET 31.0 Database (15-1255.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
Web Developers and Digital Designers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
Google UX Design Professional Certificate, Google / Coursera · checked October 28, 2026
UX Certification and UX Certification Exams, Nielsen Norman Group · checked October 28, 2026
Professional Certification Handbook (January 2026, Edition 2), International Association of Accessibility Professionals · checked October 28, 2026
License Finder, CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) · checked October 28, 2026
CPACC Body of Knowledge, International Association of Accessibility Professionals · checked October 28, 2026

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