How much do UX designers make? (State and metro comparisons)
UX—short for "user experience"—is a growing computer technology field. UX designers create the overall experience a consumer has with a product or service to make it as streamlined and enjoyable as possible. Although UX design is applicable in many industries, it is perhaps associated most often with the design of websites, apps and other digital products.
UX designers can have a wide range of potential salaries which are affected by a multitude of factors. In some areas of the country, UX designers may have the chance to earn a generous six-figure income with the 90th percentile of web and digital interface designers earning at least $166,180, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
UX designer salary and top-paying states
The BLS doesn't compile salary data for UX designers specifically, but they are included in the profession of web and digital interface designers. According to their 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual salary for web and digital interface designers is $83,240. That's about $20,000 more than the annual mean wage across all occupations.
The top three paying states for web and digital interface designers—which also happen to be the three states that employ the most designers—are California, New York and Washington, all of which have six-figure median annual salaries. This is not terribly surprising when you consider the number of large tech companies located in these states, from Apple and Google in California's Silicon Valley to Microsoft and Amazon in Seattle, Washington.
Your potential salary as a UX designer can be influenced by a variety of factors, primarily location and experience. Education level can make a difference in salary too, but the degree you have probably won't make an impact on salary as much as your experience and portfolio of work would.
There are numerous other metropolitan areas scattered throughout the country that also have median annual salaries over $100,000, such as Boulder (Colorado), San Diego (California), Worcester and Boston (Massachusetts).
User Experience designer pay compared to similar occupations
UX designer salaries tend to fall right in the middle of a few other computer technology and design professions. Computer programmers and software developers have a higher median annual salary, for example, and graphic designers and web developers tend to earn a little less. That said, individual salaries can vary greatly and you may earn more (or less) than some of these similar occupations.
Where the majority of UX designers are employed
It's noted that certain areas of the country are more disposed to tech industry and because of that, hire more technology-skilled workers. The BLS says digital and web designers have the highest concentration of employees in the following metro areas:
How can I increase my salary as a UX designer?
While education level may not affect a UX designer's salary as much as experience would, getting a college degree in UX design, computer science or a similar subject usually allows students complete projects that can be used later in a professional portfolio. Having an impressive portfolio of work could land you higher-paying jobs.
...experience seems to be one of the biggest influences on the salaries of UX professionals according to a report by the Nielsen Norman Group.
Indeed, experience seems to be one of the biggest influences on the salaries of UX professionals according to a report by the Nielsen Norman Group. As of 2019, their data indicated that UX professionals experience a $6,000 average annual salary increase for each year of experience for the first five years of their career. This "experience premium" then drops to $3,000 per year after those first five years.
Andrea Huang, a New York-based UX designer, said that networking is also an important key to success as a UX designer.
"I think networking is definitely really crucial. Having the ability to share your experience, not be afraid of getting critiqued, and asking questions when you are confused. If there's a network or a community that you know you can reach out to, then you [may] have the resources to solve what your challenges are. Networking has a huge return, so that would be one of the top things to do."
UX designer job outlook
Despite massive layoffs in the technology industry in the first quarter of 2023, the outlook for UX designers in the long term is still bright. As the field of computer technology continues to proliferate, the number of UX design jobs is expected to grow, too. The BLS estimates that the employment of web and digital interface designers will increase through 2031, which is about three times faster than the average across all occupations.
Written and reported by:
Kendall Upton
Staff Writer
With professional insight from:
Andrea Huang
UX Designer