UX Designer Salary

Charlotte vs Fayetteville: UX Designer Salary (2026)

Compare ux designer salaries between Charlotte, NC and Fayetteville, NC. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Charlotte, NC
$75,541
$36.32/hr
Fayetteville, NC
$65,653
$31.57/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCharlotte, NCFayetteville, NC
Median Salary$75,541$65,653
Hourly Rate$36.32$31.57
Entry Level (P10)$35,090$38,078
25th Percentile$51,210$47,270
75th Percentile$107,242$84,035
Top Earner (P90)$130,123$101,762
Total Employed1,07037
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Charlotte ($75,541) and Fayetteville ($65,653) ux designer salaries.CharlotteFayettevilleMedian Salary$75,541$65,653Entry Level (P10)$35,090$38,078Top Earner (P90)$130,123$101,762US Median $83,320

Verdict

Charlotte, NC offers better overall compensation for ux designers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Fayetteville.

The salary gap between Charlotte and Fayetteville is $9,888 (15.06%). Charlotte's median is -9.34% compared to the US national median of $83,320.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Charlotte spans $95,033,Fayetteville spans $63,684. Charlotte has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Charlotte
P10 (Entry)$35,090
P25$51,210
Median$75,541
P75$107,242
P90 (Top)$130,123
Fayetteville
P10 (Entry)$38,078
P25$47,270
Median$65,653
P75$84,035
P90 (Top)$101,762

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Charlotte ($77,599 effective) pays 10.63% more than Fayetteville ($70,142 effective).

Charlotte
Nominal: $75,541
CoL Index: 97.348
Adjusted: $77,599
Fayetteville
Nominal: $65,653
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $70,142

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Charlotte if…

  • Higher median salary ($75,541/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($130,123)
  • Larger job market (1,070 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $77,599)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Fayetteville if…

  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, ux designer salaries in Charlotte grew 16.3% from 2021 to 2025, compared to 26.8% growth in Fayetteville over the same period.

Charlotte, NC

+16.3%

$60,820 (2021) → $70,718 (2025)

Fayetteville, NC

+26.8%

$48,470 (2021) → $61,461 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays ux designers more: Charlotte or Fayetteville?

Charlotte has a higher median ux designer salary at $75,541/year, compared to Fayetteville at $65,653/year — a difference of $9,888 (15.06%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Charlotte and Fayetteville?

Charlotte ux designers earn $36.32/hr while Fayetteville hygienists earn $31.57/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Charlotte to Fayetteville as a ux designer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Charlotte and Fayetteville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Charlotte = $77,599, Fayetteville = $70,142), job availability (1,070 vs 37 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level ux designers earn in Charlotte vs Fayetteville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) ux designers earn $35,090 in Charlotte and $38,078 in Fayetteville. The Fayetteville 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