UX Designer Salary

Chino Hills vs San Jose: UX Designer Salary (2026)

Compare ux designer salaries between Chino Hills, CA and San Jose, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Chino Hills, CA
$84,268
$40.52/hr
San Jose, CA
$161,239
$77.52/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricChino Hills, CASan Jose, CA
Median Salary$84,268$161,239
Hourly Rate$40.52$77.52
Entry Level (P10)$48,875$91,075
25th Percentile$60,673$129,763
75th Percentile$107,864$175,012
Top Earner (P90)$130,615$228,913
Total Employed214,400
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Chino Hills ($84,268) and San Jose ($161,239) ux designer salaries.Chino HillsSan JoseMedian Salary$84,268$161,239Entry Level (P10)$48,875$91,075Top Earner (P90)$130,615$228,913US Median $83,320

Verdict

San Jose, CA offers better overall compensation for ux designers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Chino Hills.

The salary gap between Chino Hills and San Jose is $76,971 (91.34%). San Jose's median is +93.52% compared to the US national median of $83,320.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Chino Hills spans $81,740,San Jose spans $137,838. San Jose has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced ux designers.

Chino Hills
P10 (Entry)$48,875
P25$60,673
Median$84,268
P75$107,864
P90 (Top)$130,615
San Jose
P10 (Entry)$91,075
P25$129,763
Median$161,239
P75$175,012
P90 (Top)$228,913

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, San Jose ($146,019 effective) pays 95.98% more than Chino Hills ($74,508 effective).

Chino Hills
Nominal: $84,268
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $74,508
San Jose
Nominal: $161,239
CoL Index: 110.423
Adjusted: $146,019

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Chino Hills if…

  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose San Jose if…

  • Higher median salary ($161,239/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($228,913)
  • Larger job market (4,400 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $146,019)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, ux designer salaries in Chino Hills grew -51.3% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 2.3% growth in San Jose over the same period.

Chino Hills, CA

+-51.3%

$161,917 (2024) → $78,888 (2025)

San Jose, CA

+2.3%

$147,540 (2021) → $150,945 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays ux designers more: Chino Hills or San Jose?

San Jose has a higher median ux designer salary at $161,239/year, compared to Chino Hills at $84,268/year — a difference of $76,971 (91.34%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Chino Hills and San Jose?

Chino Hills ux designers earn $40.52/hr while San Jose hygienists earn $77.52/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Chino Hills to San Jose as a ux designer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Chino Hills and San Jose. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Chino Hills = $74,508, San Jose = $146,019), job availability (21 vs 4,400 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level ux designers earn in Chino Hills vs San Jose?

Entry-level (10th percentile) ux designers earn $48,875 in Chino Hills and $91,075 in San Jose. The San Jose 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