UX Designer Hourly Pay in Santa Fe, NM: $32.31 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a ux designer working in Santa Fe, NM runs $32.31 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $67,200 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Weighted against Santa Fe's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.8, 1% below national), each hour of work buys what $32.72 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $40,327 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Santa Fe, NM, a UX Designer earns a median hourly pay of $32.31, which falls below the national median of $40.06. This hourly rate is significant for part-time and per-diem workers, allowing them to thrive in various professional environments, from remote Figma collaboration to agency-based creative teams. With an hourly range spanning from $14.06 for entry-level roles to $50.27 for top earners, there is potential for lucrative earnings. This data reflects projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS statistics and illustrates the financial landscape for UX designers in Santa Fe, emphasizing salaries that are nearly 19.35% lower than the national average.
UX Designer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $14.06 | $112.46 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19.86 | $158.86 |
| Median (P50) | $32.31 | $258.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $42.54 | $340.29 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50.27 | $402.16 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Santa Fe
Based on $32.31/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $32.31/hr, a ux designer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Santa Fe, NM can expect to earn approximately $67,211 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $38,776. With a cost-of-living index of 98.77 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Santa Fe.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Santa Fe
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,292.52 | $5,601 | $67,211 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $775.51 | $3,361 | $40,327 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $517.01 | $2,240 | $26,884 |
Compare UX Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| UX Designer (Santa Fe) | $32.31 |
| 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 Santa Fe, NM earn a median of $67,200 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.35% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 13.90% above the New Mexico state average of $59,000.
UX Designer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $32.31/hr = $40,327/year (purchasing power: $40,830).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $67,211/year (purchasing power: $68,050).
CoL index: 98.767 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$23.24/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.25/hr
2026 Current Est.
$32.31/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for UX Designers in Santa Fe (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $23.24/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $34.35/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $36.79/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $39.11/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.25/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $32.31/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.52/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for ux designers in Santa Fe grew 30.2% from $23.24/hr (2021) to $30.25/hr (2025). At a 6.82% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.52/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 Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe
Exploring the part-time earning potential for a UX Designer who works three days a week reveals a distinct contrast between their actual take-home pay and that of full-time professionals. While full-time designers have a stable income, those working 24 hours weekly may only earn a fraction in annual terms compared to a full-year counterpart. On the other end, per-diem UX designers in Santa Fe can command significantly higher rates, often billing between $75 and $150 per hour for contract work. Seasoned professionals in product design can charge anywhere from $125 to $250 per hour, with senior consultants demanding upwards of $200 to $400 per hour. Rates fluctuate significantly, informed by employer types like tech giants and boutique agencies, leading to a strategic choice between higher hourly pay without benefits or lower rates with health insurance. For those negotiating their hourly rates in Santa Fe, transparency about experience and competitive industry knowledge can greatly enhance one's position.
More salary data for Santa Fe, NM:
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 Santa Fe. 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, 4-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