UI/UX Desgin Salary

blogmeta November 24, 2025No Comments

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of UI/UX Designer salaries, covering the key factors that influence pay and providing current salary ranges.

Table of Contents

Quick Summary: Average Salary Ranges (USA)

Total Range: $65,000 – $180,000+
National Average (USA): Approximately $95,000 – $115,000 per year for mid-level roles.

These numbers can vary widely based on experience, location, and company. Here’s a detailed breakdown.

1. By Experience Level (United States)

This is the single biggest factor in determining salary.

Experience Level	Typical Title	Average Base Salary (USA)	Key Responsibilities
Entry-Level	Junior UX/UI Designer	$65,000 – $85,000	Assists senior designers, creates simple wireframes, conducts basic research, follows established design systems.
Mid-Level	UX Designer, UI Designer, Product Designer	$90,000 – $130,000	Leads design for features/products, conducts user research and testing, creates prototypes, collaborates with PMs and engineers.
Senior-Level	Senior UX Designer, Lead Designer	$120,000 – $160,000+	Leads design strategy for complex products, mentors junior designers, works closely with leadership, defines design systems.
Leadership	Design Manager, Head of Design, Director of UX	$150,000 – $250,000+	Manages a team of designers, sets design vision for the company, oversees budgets, hires talent.

Note: Total compensation at tech companies (FAANG, etc.) often includes significant bonuses and stock options, which can make the total package much higher.

2. By Location

Where you work has a massive impact on salary due to cost of living and concentration of tech companies.

High-Cost Tech Hubs (Highest Salaries):

San Francisco Bay Area, CA: $115,000 – $170,000+ (Mid-Level)
New York City, NY: $105,000 – $160,000+ (Mid-Level)
Seattle, WA: $105,000 – $155,000+ (Mid-Level)
Boston, MA: $100,000 – $145,000+ (Mid-Level)

Other Major Metros (Strong Salaries):

Austin, TX: $95,000 – $135,000
Chicago, IL: $95,000 – $135,000
Los Angeles, CA: $95,000 – $140,000
Denver, CO: $95,000 – $135,000

Remote Salaries: These are becoming more standardized. Many companies now pay based on the employee’s location (location-based pay), while others (especially top tech firms) have moved to a single, high-paying tier for all remote US employees.

3. By Company Type & Industry

The industry and company size significantly influence pay.

FAANG & Big Tech (e.g., Google, Meta, Apple, Netflix): Highest pay, with large base salaries, bonuses, and stock. Mid-level can easily be $150,000 – $220,000+ in total compensation.
Well-Funded Startups & Unicorns: High base salaries, often with equity (stock options). Cash compensation can be competitive with big tech.
Enterprise & B2B Companies (e.g., Salesforce, IBM): Strong, stable salaries with good benefits.
Agency / Consultancy (e.g., IDEO, Frog): Salaries can be slightly lower than in-house product roles, but offer diverse project experience.
Freelance / Contract: Hourly rates can range from $50 – $200+/hour, heavily dependent on experience and specialization. This can often translate to a higher annual income than a salaried role, but without benefits.

4. Specialization & Skills Impact

Specializing in high-demand areas can boost your salary.

UX Research: Deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
UI / Visual Design Mastery: Exceptional skills in branding, design systems, and micro-interactions.
Interaction Design: Specializing in complex workflows and prototyping.
Product Design (a broader role): Often the highest-paid individual contributor role, combining UX, UI, and business strategy.
Design Ops: Focusing on improving design team workflows, tools, and systems.