UX Designer Hourly Pay in Fort Wayne, IN: $27.07 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a ux designer working in Fort Wayne, IN runs $27.07 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $56,297 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Weighted against Fort Wayne's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.6, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $29.24 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $33,781 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fort Wayne, Indiana, the projected median hourly pay for a UX designer is $27.07, significantly lower than the national median of $40.06. This hourly rate accommodates the versatile work settings typical for UX designers, whether they are collaborating in tech company design studios, thriving within agency creative floors, or engaging in remote work through tools like Figma. For those pursuing part-time opportunities, like a 3-day work week, this hourly rate can facilitate a comfortable living, albeit with a possible salary range from $19.80 for entry-level positions up to $48.15 for more seasoned professionals. Such figures reflect the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, highlighting the nuances of UX design employment in this region of Indiana.
UX Designer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.80 | $158.44 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.74 | $189.88 |
| Median (P50) | $27.07 | $216.55 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.72 | $285.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $48.15 | $385.24 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Fort Wayne
Based on $27.07/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $27.07/hr, a ux designer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Fort Wayne, IN can expect to earn approximately $56,302 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $32,482. With a cost-of-living index of 92.57 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Fort Wayne.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Fort Wayne
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,082.73 | $4,692 | $56,302 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $649.64 | $2,815 | $33,781 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $433.09 | $1,877 | $22,521 |
Compare UX Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| UX Designer (Fort Wayne) | $27.07 |
| Graphic Designer (National Avg) | $29.14 |
| Web Developer (National Avg) | $45.07 |
| Software Developer (National Avg) | $64.54 |
| Art Director (National Avg) | $55.79 |
UX Designers in Fort Wayne, IN earn a median of $56,297 per year (2026 est.), which is 32.43% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 1.30% below the Indiana state average of $57,039.
UX Designer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $27.07/hr = $33,781/year (purchasing power: $36,492).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $56,302/year (purchasing power: $60,820).
CoL index: 92.572 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$29.92/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$25.34/hr
2026 Current Est.
$27.07/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-3.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for UX Designers in Fort Wayne (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $29.92/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $32.72/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $30.51/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $35.08/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $25.34/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $27.07/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.91/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for ux designers in Fort Wayne grew -15.3% from $29.92/hr (2021) to $25.34/hr (2025). At a 6.82% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.91/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem ux designers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Wayne metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 6.82% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly UX Designer in Fort Wayne
The earning potential for part-time UX designers can be intriguing, especially for those working three days a week. A designer dedicating 24 hours could expect to take home around $33,000 annually, a stark contrast to the earnings of their full-time counterparts. Per-diem and agency UX designers often command higher rates and may bill at $75-$150 hourly, depending on their expertise and client demands. The variance becomes even more substantial in specialized consulting roles, where senior designers may charge between $200 and $400 per hour. Employers in Fort Wayne, ranging from tech giants to boutique design firms, contribute to this diversity, with some designers opting for lower hourly rates to secure benefits from full-time employment. Effective negotiation skills can help professionals advocate for better compensation, balancing the trade-offs between hourly pay and job benefits tailored to their unique circumstances.
More salary data for Fort Wayne, IN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 6.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for ux designers in Fort Wayne. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.82%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for ux designers (SOC 15-1255).
Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, MDes, a licensed ux designer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov