Salary Series: How Much Do UX Designers Make?
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What is UX design, and how much do UX designers make?
UX stands for user experience, and it’s all about ensuring that when you interact with a product—whether it’s a website, app, or even a physical space—it’s intuitive and easy to use. Think of it as the behind-the-scenes work that keeps users happy, engaged, and coming back for more. Companies should know how valuable good UX design is, and many of them are ready to pay well for designers who can deliver.
But what does good UX design look like? Well…I can definitely tell you what poor UX looks like.
Imagine you’re excited to try a new restaurant because of the UI (user interface). The website looks beautiful, the decor is classy, and even the menu looks nice. Then, you get to the restaurant, and guess what? The menu is confusing, the chairs are uncomfortable, the staff is rude, and the restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so you have to wait an hour to be seated. Beautiful UI? Sure. But the UX? A disaster. And you’ll probably never go back.
Now, let’s bring it back to our actual bread and butter—never write hungry—websites and apps. If the UI is stylish and the typography is on point, but the navigation is clunky and the page loads too slowly, that’s a UX problem. Your users will bounce faster than you can say “404 error,” and there’s a chance that some of them will never come back.
That’s where you come in. Companies need talented UX designers. A seamless user experience can be the difference between a user sticking around to make a purchase (or six) and heading straight to a competitor in frustration. So, it’s no surprise that companies are more than willing to pay top dollar for people who can make their websites, apps, and products easier and more enjoyable to use.
But the real question is: how much are they paying in 2025? Well, that’s exactly what we’re here for. In this article, we’ll break down UX designer salaries, explore what factors influence your pay, and share some tips on how to boost your earning potential.
Table of Contents
- What Affects Your UX Designer Salary?
- What Does a UX Designer Salary Look Like?
- How to Increase Your UX Designer Salary
- Start Your UX Design Career
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What Affects Your UX Designer Salary?
Like many tech professions, your salary as a UX designer isn’t exclusively about what you do. Generally speaking, a UX designer in San Francisco likely won’t make the same as a designer in Houston. They probably do the same thing every day, but the designer in San Francisco likely makes more, even if their company is headquartered elsewhere. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are six reasons your salary can vary:
- Credentials: You don’t need a formal degree to be a good UX designer, but having one can affect your salary. For example, a designer with a degree in UX might have an easier time landing a job at a larger company that’s willing to pay a higher salary. A self-taught designer could earn just as much, but you might need to prove your skills through specialized certifications, years of experience, and a great portfolio.
- Experience and Skill: Speaking of experience, the more experience you have, the more money you’ll earn, but it’s not always about time. Most of the time, it’s about skill. Once you’ve mastered tools—like Figma and Sketch—and other UX design principles, your work becomes more valuable.
- Industry or Employer: Where you work matters. A UX designer at a large tech company like Google or Microsoft will likely earn more than someone at a nonprofit or small startup. Bigger companies often have bigger budgets, but they also tend to demand more complex work. On the other hand, startups might offer more flexibility and opportunities for growth but lower starting salaries.
- Job Tasks: Your role—and what you do in your day-to-day—also makes a big difference. For example, a UX designer focused on simple interfaces might earn less than someone who spends their day building intricate user flows for complex enterprise software platforms (think Hubspot). Both jobs are important, but the more leadership and strategy that goes into your position, the higher the pay.
- Location: If you’re working in New York City, where the cost of living is as high as the skyscrapers, you can expect your salary to reflect that. However, someone in a smaller city or town (with lower living expenses) might see a lower salary even if they have the same experience.
- Performance: Some UX designers thrive in fast-paced environments where their success directly influences their pay. Think of a UX designer who’s leading a successful redesign for a high-profile app—it could lead to a big bonus or a pay raise based on the project’s success.
What Does a UX Designer Salary Look Like?
I could tell you exactly what you’d make as a UX designer, but I’d need to be a magician. There isn’t one absolute answer, and honestly, that’s a good thing. It means there’s plenty of wiggle room (read: negotiating).
As of January 2025, Salary.com reports the average salary for UX designers to be around $75,826, with the range between $69,259 and $83,886. But if you head over to Glassdoor, you’ll see that their average UX designer salary is $84,388 (as of mid-2024), which is almost 10k above Salary.com’s average. It’s also important to keep in mind that these figures are just your base salary, and don’t include benefits, bonuses, and commissions.
So, why is there such a difference between the numbers? Data! These platforms simply have different people submitting salary information, and Glassdoor even gives the disclaimer that their salaries are “powered by their proprietary machine learning model,” which uses salary data (from users and the government) to make predictions.
That means you should always take salary data with a grain of salt. Average salary figures give you a good starting point, but your actual paycheck will be shaped by you—your credentials, your experience and skills, where you live, and the industry you decide to work in.
UX Designer Salary by Experience
Of the six factors we discussed earlier, experience is one of the biggest things to shape your salary as a UX designer. If you’re getting into tech without any experience, you can expect around $74,350 a year—which is still about $9,000 more than the average national salary ($65,470). As you build experience, you should see your salary increase. By the time UX designers hit the 15-year mark, their average salary is around $130,240. While it’s not set in stone, you could consider that with these numbers, each year adds roughly $3,700 to your salary. So, while your salary during the early years is nothing to scoff at, the real payoff happens over time.
| Experience in Years | Average UX Designer Salary in the U.S. |
| 0–1 year | $74,350 |
| 1–3 years | $84,290 |
| 4–6 years | $96,184 |
| 7–9 years | $104,523 |
| 10–14 years | $118,040 |
| 15+ years | $130,240 |
Source: Glassdoor
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UX Designer Salary by Seniority
In UX design, moving up isn’t just about how long you’ve been in the field. It’s also about your expertise and responsibilities. Take a Senior UX designer, for example. Unlike a regular UX designer who focuses on hands-on tasks, senior designers lead projects, guide teams, and make high-level design decisions. You’ll see that higher responsibility reflected in their salaries—around $125,995 annually. Typically, there are two reasons you’d see a UX salary this high. It reflects both the skills they’ve developed throughout their career and their leadership role in shaping a product’s user experience. It’s the difference between designing a feature and overseeing a product’s UX strategy.
- UX Designer: $84,388
- UX Designer IV: 95,717
- Senior UX Designer: $125,995
UX Designer Salary by Industry
While you might automatically associate UX with the tech industry, as a UX designer, you can work in virtually any industry. However, that industry definitely plays a role in how much money you’ll take home at the end of the day. Some sectors offer higher salaries because they rely heavily on smooth, efficient user experiences. Look at the financial industry: a UX designer working in finance can expect to earn an average salary of about $122,791. Why is it so high compared to the average? It’s no secret—designing secure, user-friendly banking apps isn’t a small task, and skilled designers are in high demand to make it happen.
The food service industry also offers high salaries for UX designers. Think back to how many of us turned to food delivery apps during the pandemic or how many digital menus are popping up in physical restaurants. Designing an effortless experience for ordering, tracking delivery, and tipping is crucial for keeping customers happy. And in the food service industry, a well-designed experience can literally drive sales and customer loyalty. I mean, it’s 2025, and I still use Grubhub’s contact-free delivery option.
But, of course, not all sectors offer the same financial benefits. Industries like Arts & Entertainment and Nonprofit/NGO organizations typically pay less. Arts and entertainment companies, though creative, sometimes don’t have the same financial resources to throw at design as, say, a fintech firm. Nonprofit organizations generally operate on tighter budgets, which translates to lower salaries for UX designers. At the end of the day, your salary as a UX designer doesn’t only depend on your skills. It also depends on the industry you’re in and how much they value—and can afford to pay for—design.
| Industry | Average UX Designer Salary in the U.S. |
| Financial Services | $122,791 |
| Restaurants & Food Service | $120,577 |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | $119,522 |
| Telecommunications | $114,213 |
| Real Estate | $107,627 |
| Manufacturing | $106,879 |
| Healthcare | $105,753 |
| Education | $98,530 |
| Nonprofit & NGO | $93,944 |
| Arts & Entertainment | $86,422 |
Source: Glassdoor
UX Designer Salaries in the United States
Where do you live? Whether you live in Washington, D.C. or Mississippi, there could be a big difference—to the tune of thousands of dollars—in your UX designer salary. We’ve pulled together salary data from all 50 U.S. states, plus some of the top cities in those states, to give you the lowdown on what UX designers are really making across the country.
UX Design Salaries by State
If you’re eyeing the highest average UX designer salary in 2025, you might want to set your sights on Washington, D.C. Okay, it’s not technically a state, but it’s close enough to give it a spot on this list. With an average salary of $84,394, it’s the highest-paying “state” and one of the highest-paying cities in the country. But if the nation’s capital isn’t your scene, California isn’t far behind, offering its UX designers $83,636 on average. Other high-paying states include New Jersey ($83,105), Alaska ($82,574), and Massachusetts ($82,498).
On the other hand, South Dakota ($68,167), West Virginia ($68,243), and Arkansas ($69,077) are among the states with the lowest average UX designer salaries, with Mississippi ($67,636) being the lowest—nearly $17,000 less than Washington, D.C.
| Average UX Design Salaries by State | |||||
| State | Salary | State | Salary | State | Salary |
| Alabama | $69,684 | Louisiana | $72,110 | Ohio | $74,157 |
| Alaska | $82,574 | Maine | $73,778 | Oklahoma | $70,139 |
| Arizona | $73,854 | Maryland | $78,176 | Oregon | $77,039 |
| Arkansas | $69,077 | Massachusetts | $82,498 | Pennsylvania | $75,674 |
| California | $83,636 | Michigan | $74,840 | Rhode Island | $79,162 |
| Colorado | $77,342 | Minnesota | $77,570 | South Carolina | $71,579 |
| Connecticut | $81,437 | Mississippi | $67,636 | South Dakota | $68,167 |
| Delaware | $76,963 | Missouri | $72,262 | Tennessee | $70,215 |
| Florida | $72,034 | Montana | $70,821 | Texas | $74,233 |
| Georgia | $73,323 | Nebraska | $71,428 | Utah | $72,110 |
| Hawaii | $79,238 | Nevada | $76,129 | Vermont | $74,385 |
| Idaho | $70,745 | New Hampshire | $77,115 | Virginia | $76,053 |
| Illinois | $77,570 | New Jersey | $83,105 | Washington | $81,740 |
| Indiana | $73,551 | New Mexico | $69,911 | Washington, D.C. | $84,394 |
| Iowa | $72,565 | New York | $80,830 | West Virginia | $68,243 |
| Kansas | $72,186 | North Carolina | $72,793 | Wisconsin | $74,916 |
| Kentucky | $71,352 | North Dakota | $75,067 | Wyoming | $72,717 |
Source: Salary.com
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UX Design Salaries by City
Even the city you’re in affects how much you earn as a UX designer. Take San Francisco, for example. It’s home to tech giants like Apple, Google, and Facebook—companies that demand the best UX talent. And because of this demand, salaries for UX designers in the Bay Area average around $94,782, often with extra perks on top.
New York has the second-highest city salary, with an average of $88,564. NYC is another hub with its own thriving tech scene, so it’s pretty common to find UX designers working with high-profile startups or global companies. Plus, the notoriously high cost of living increases the salaries to more than what you’d see in some other cities.
Now, let’s talk about Austin—yes, Austin, Texas. Here’s why Austin’s worth talking about in tech conversations. As California grew increasingly expensive, a lot of tech giants migrated down to Texas. Austin is home to many tech offices, earning it the “Silicon Hills” nickname. Nestled in the hilly terrain are offices for Amazon, Apple, eBay, Meta, Alphabet, IBM, Indeed, Intel, PayPal, Visa…the list goes on! But here’s the catch: despite all the big-name companies, UX designer salaries in Austin are still a bit lower than expected, hovering just below the national average. My best guess is that it still comes down to the cost of living. Lower cost of living means companies don’t have to offer the same high salaries as they do in more expensive cities.
| Average UX Designer Salary by US City | |
| City | Average UI/UX Designer Salary |
| San Francisco, CA | $94,782 |
| New York, NY | $88,564 |
| Boston, MA | $85,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $84,470 |
| Washington, D.C. | $84,394 |
| Seattle, WA | $83,636 |
| Chicago, IL | $79,571 |
| Houston, TX | $75,067 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $74,916 |
| Miami, FL | $73,172 |
Source: Salary.com
UX Designer Salaries Across the Globe
When you’re trying to figure out your salary, where you live in the world matters, too. In the U.S., the average salary for a UX designer is $84,388, but if you move to Tokyo, that number is cut in half. At first glance, that looks like a massive gap, but you have to remember—and I can’t stress this enough—it’s all about context.
At the sake of sounding repetitive, consider the cost of living. Tokyo is known as “the big city where housing is still affordable.” Rent and transportation are generally lower than in the United States, especially when compared to cities like New York and San Francisco. So, while the salary might be lower, a UX designer in Tokyo could live more comfortably, depending on their cost of living. For example, in the U.S., you might spend a large part of your paycheck on rent, food, transportation, and—hello!—healthcare. But in Tokyo, a UX designer might spend less on those essentials, which stretches their salary much further.
You’ll also have to consider local tax rates and job expectations. In Europe, for example, UX roles might offer more flexibility in terms of work-life balance. Depending on your personal priorities, that could make a slightly lower salary more appealing.
At the end of the day, your salary is relative to where you live and the cost of living. Whether you’re in the U.S. or looking for a job in France, you need to remember that it’s not just about the number. Always think about how much your paycheck can actually buy.
| Average UX Designer Salaries by Country | ||
| Country | Average Salary | Avg. Salary Converted to USD |
| USA | $84,388 | — |
| London, The UK | £47,882 | $59,678 |
| Sydney, Australia | A$90,500 | $56,405 |
| Canada | CA$71,510 | $49,627 |
| Paris, France | €43,100 | $44,920 |
| Tokyo, Japan | ¥6,500,000 | $42,090 |
| Shanghai, China | CN¥255,000 | $35,556 |
| Seoul, South Korea | ₩47,000,000 | $32,583 |
| Sao Paulo, Brazil | R$84,000 | $14,245 |
| Mexico City, Mexico | MX$336,000 | $16,445 |
Source: Glassdoor
How to Increase Your UX Designer Salary
So, you want to make more money. I get it! If you’re looking for ways to increase your earning potential—that doesn’t include a cross-country move or waiting it out—there are a few smart moves you can make.
First things first: certifications. Don’t underestimate the power of having extra credentials on your resume. They’re not just a piece of paper, but if they were, they’d be your “I know what I’m doing” stamp that signals to employers that you’ve got the know-how. If you really want to stand out, think beyond the standard UX certifications and get into more niche areas like user research or accessibility in design. Plus, as big data continues to intersect with—well—everything, you might find it useful to learn about data visualization. It can help you better analyze user behavior data to find and fix problems in the user journey.
Next, you need to stay on top of the tools and tech. If you’ve been using tools that are on their way out (looking at you, Visio!), it’s time to switch it up. For example, let’s say you were a UX designer who’s been holding onto Visio for wireframing. By October 2025, Visio 2016 and Visio 2019 will reach the end of support, which could expose you to security risks and productivity issues if you keep using them. If this were you, now would be the perfect time to get comfortable with Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD (if you aren’t already). These are the gold standard in UX design, and even if Visio wasn’t reaching the end of support, a UX designer who stays on top of industry trends and standards should already be using these tools.
Then, there’s the matter of tech skills. UX designers aren’t expected to be full-blown front-end developers, but knowing front-end development principles and some hands-on skills can help increase your earning potential. Spend some time brushing up on front-end languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js, and version control systems like Git. These skills not only help you better collaborate with developers, but they also help make sure your designs and ideas come to life in the real world.
These skills make you incredibly valuable to a company because you can bridge the gap between design and development. The more flexible and skilled you are, the more in demand you become. And when you’re in demand, companies are willing to pay the big bucks to get you on their payroll.
Is Tech Right For you? Take Our 3-Minute Quiz!
You Will Learn:
☑️ If a career in tech is right for you
☑️ What tech careers fit your strengths
☑️ What skills you need to reach your goals
Start your UX Design Career
Ready to start designing your future (see what I did there)? You can start preparing for a career in UX design right now! All you have to do is sign up for Skillcrush’s Break Into Tech program and enroll in the UI/UX design track. You’ll learn everything from user research to wireframing, and get all the support you need with job search prep, 1-on-1 coaching, and interview practice. No more waiting around! When you’re ready, Skillcrush is here to help you take the next step toward landing your dream tech job.
