UX Designer Salary

Castle Rock vs Denver: UX Designer Salary (2026)

Compare ux designer salaries between Castle Rock, CO and Denver, CO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Castle Rock, CO
$64,634
$31.07/hr
Denver, CO
$78,778
$37.87/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCastle Rock, CODenver, CO
Median Salary$64,634$78,778
Hourly Rate$31.07$37.87
Entry Level (P10)$37,487$48,309
25th Percentile$46,793$76,205
75th Percentile$82,731$105,664
Top Earner (P90)$100,182$132,022
Total Employed142,120
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Castle Rock ($64,634) and Denver ($78,778) ux designer salaries.Castle RockDenverMedian Salary$64,634$78,778Entry Level (P10)$37,487$48,309Top Earner (P90)$100,182$132,022US Median $83,320

Verdict

Denver, CO offers better overall compensation for ux designers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Castle Rock.

The salary gap between Castle Rock and Denver is $14,144 (21.88%). Denver's median is -5.45% compared to the US national median of $83,320.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Castle Rock spans $62,695,Denver spans $83,713. Denver has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced ux designers.

Castle Rock
P10 (Entry)$37,487
P25$46,793
Median$64,634
P75$82,731
P90 (Top)$100,182
Denver
P10 (Entry)$48,309
P25$76,205
Median$78,778
P75$105,664
P90 (Top)$132,022

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Denver ($74,472 effective) pays 20.98% more than Castle Rock ($61,556 effective).

Castle Rock
Nominal: $64,634
CoL Index: 105
Adjusted: $61,556
Denver
Nominal: $78,778
CoL Index: 105.782
Adjusted: $74,472

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Castle Rock if…

  • You prefer the Colorado area and lifestyle

Choose Denver if…

  • Higher median salary ($78,778/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($132,022)
  • Larger job market (2,120 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $74,472)
  • You prefer the Colorado area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, ux designer salaries in Castle Rock grew -52.2% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 19.6% growth in Denver over the same period.

Castle Rock, CO

+-52.2%

$126,702 (2024) → $60,507 (2025)

Denver, CO

+19.6%

$61,640 (2021) → $73,748 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays ux designers more: Castle Rock or Denver?

Denver has a higher median ux designer salary at $78,778/year, compared to Castle Rock at $64,634/year — a difference of $14,144 (21.88%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Castle Rock and Denver?

Castle Rock ux designers earn $31.07/hr while Denver hygienists earn $37.87/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Castle Rock to Denver as a ux designer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Castle Rock and Denver. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Castle Rock = $61,556, Denver = $74,472), job availability (14 vs 2,120 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level ux designers earn in Castle Rock vs Denver?

Entry-level (10th percentile) ux designers earn $37,487 in Castle Rock and $48,309 in Denver. The Denver area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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