UX Designer Salary

Ankeny vs Davenport: UX Designer Salary (2026)

Compare ux designer salaries between Ankeny, IA and Davenport, IA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Ankeny, IA
$54,899
$26.40/hr
Davenport, IA
$55,023
$26.46/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAnkeny, IADavenport, IA
Median Salary$54,899$55,023
Hourly Rate$26.40$26.46
Entry Level (P10)$31,842$29,963
25th Percentile$39,528$41,188
75th Percentile$70,270$67,473
Top Earner (P90)$85,094$94,167
Total Employed1640
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Ankeny ($54,899) and Davenport ($55,023) ux designer salaries.AnkenyDavenportMedian Salary$54,899$55,023Entry Level (P10)$31,842$29,963Top Earner (P90)$85,094$94,167US Median $83,320

Verdict

Davenport, IA offers better overall compensation for ux designers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Ankeny.

The salary gap between Ankeny and Davenport is $124 (0.23%). Davenport's median is -33.96% compared to the US national median of $83,320.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Ankeny spans $53,252,Davenport spans $64,204. Davenport has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced ux designers.

Ankeny
P10 (Entry)$31,842
P25$39,528
Median$54,899
P75$70,270
P90 (Top)$85,094
Davenport
P10 (Entry)$29,963
P25$41,188
Median$55,023
P75$67,473
P90 (Top)$94,167

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Davenport ($61,769 effective) pays 1.71% more than Ankeny ($60,729 effective).

Ankeny
Nominal: $54,899
CoL Index: 90.4
Adjusted: $60,729
Davenport
Nominal: $55,023
CoL Index: 89.079
Adjusted: $61,769

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Ankeny if…

  • You prefer the Iowa area and lifestyle

Choose Davenport if…

  • Higher median salary ($55,023/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($94,167)
  • Larger job market (40 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $61,769)
  • You prefer the Iowa area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, ux designer salaries in Ankeny grew -27.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 5.0% growth in Davenport over the same period.

Ankeny, IA

+-27.0%

$70,370 (2024) → $51,394 (2025)

Davenport, IA

+5.0%

$49,080 (2021) → $51,510 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays ux designers more: Ankeny or Davenport?

Davenport has a higher median ux designer salary at $55,023/year, compared to Ankeny at $54,899/year — a difference of $124 (0.23%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Ankeny and Davenport?

Ankeny ux designers earn $26.40/hr while Davenport hygienists earn $26.46/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Ankeny to Davenport as a ux designer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Ankeny and Davenport. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Ankeny = $60,729, Davenport = $61,769), job availability (16 vs 40 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level ux designers earn in Ankeny vs Davenport?

Entry-level (10th percentile) ux designers earn $31,842 in Ankeny and $29,963 in Davenport. The Ankeny area offers higher starting salaries.
MC

Written by Maria Chen, MDes

Content Lead

Maria has over 10 years of experience in user experience design. She specializes in usability testing and user research. Maria has worked with tech companies and startups.

Clinically reviewed by Ismail Khan, BA, UXDData verified by Aisha Patel, MS

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 6.82% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, MDes, a licensed ux designer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov