UX Designer Salary in California: $110,983 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 156 metropolitan areas, the average median ux designer pay sits at $110,983/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 15-1255. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $98,128 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($154,489), Santa Clara ($153,475), San Jose ($150,945).

UX Designer Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California ux designer salary overview (2026)

$110,983

Avg Median Salary

$53.36

Avg Hourly Rate

25,904

Metro Employed

156

Cities

In California, the average median salary for UX designers in 2026 is projected to be $110,983, which is significantly higher than the national median of $83,320, marking a difference of 33.2%. The salary landscape varies considerably across the state, with Sunnyvale offering the highest average at $165,025, while Bakersfield reflects the lowest at $66,335. This salary gap of $98,690 can be attributed to several factors including the cost of living, demand for tech talent, and the concentration of high-tech companies in major metro areas. California's specific factors also play a crucial role in shaping this market. There are no state licensing requirements for UX design, but the demand for skilled professionals continues to grow, driven by innovation in technology and the increasing importance of user experience in product development. The job market for UX designers in California shows a continuing strength, with a projected growth rate of 6.82% annually, highlighting ongoing opportunities for new and existing professionals. Top cities such as Sunnyvale, Santa Clara ($163,942), and San Jose ($161,239) indicate a vibrant ecosystem for UX roles. Meanwhile, Oakland and Fremont follow with projected salaries of $134,224 and $131,264, respectively. Understanding the regional dynamics is essential for potential candidates navigating this field in California.

California UX Designer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$59,181

avg across 156 cities

Median

$110,983

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$175,303

avg across 156 cities

Overall salary range in California: $32,703 (lowest entry-level) to $255,789 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$110,983

National Median

$83,320

California ux designers earn 33.20% more than the national median (+$27,663/year difference).

California UX Designer Salary Distribution (2026)

UX Designer salaries in California range from $59,181 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $175,303 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $110,983. The California median is $27,663 above the US national median of $83,320. The average hourly rate is $53.36/hr. Approximately 25,904 ux designers are employed across 156 cities.

2021 BLS Actual

$106,982

2025 BLS Actual

$103,897

2026 Current Est.

$110,983

2021–2027 Growth

+10.8%

Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in California (2021–2027)

2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2021	$106,982	Actual
2022	$115,661	Actual
2023	$131,820	Actual
2024	$137,021	Actual
2025	$103,897	Actual
2026(current)	$110,983	Estimated
2027	$118,552	Projected

Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew -2.9% from $106,982 (2021) to $103,897 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $118,552 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,570 (10.81%) from 2021.

Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $79.34/hr

$165,025

+48.69% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $78.82/hr

$163,942

+47.72% vs avg

San Jose

4,400 employed · $77.52/hr

$161,239

+45.28% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $64.53/hr

$134,224

+20.94% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $63.11/hr

$131,264

+18.27% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Bakersfield	$66,335	-40.23%	$31.90
San Luis Obispo	$66,383	-40.19%	$31.92
Fresno	$74,019	-33.31%	$35.59
Vallejo	$77,007	-30.61%	$37.02
Petaluma	$77,301	-30.35%	$37.16

Best Value Cities for UX Designers in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for ux designers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Jose	$161,239	110.423	$146,019
Sunnyvale	$165,025	113.1	$145,911
Santa Clara	$163,942	113.1	$144,953
Oakland	$134,224	113.1	$118,677
Fremont	$131,264	113.1	$116,060

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$59,181	$28.45	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$110,983	$53.36	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$175,303	$84.28	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 156 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$165,025	$79.34	$95,715	$255,789	26
2	Santa Clara	$163,942	$78.82	$95,087	$254,110	32
3	San Jose	$161,239	$77.52	$91,075	$228,913	4,400
4	Oakland	$134,224	$64.53	$77,849	$208,047	78
5	Fremont	$131,264	$63.11	$76,133	$203,459	43
6	San Francisco	$131,237	$63.10	$64,989	$184,825	6,630
7	Chula Vista	$99,338	$47.76	$57,617	$153,975	51
8	San Diego	$99,223	$47.71	$43,310	$164,556	1,270
9	Carlsbad	$98,393	$47.30	$57,068	$152,509	23
10	Santa Cruz	$91,507	$43.99	$54,430	$155,968	60
11	Folsom	$91,013	$43.75	$52,787	$141,070	17
12	Sacramento	$90,402	$43.47	$47,460	$160,223	480
13	Roseville	$90,029	$43.28	$52,217	$139,545	35
14	Santa Ana	$89,121	$42.85	$51,690	$138,137	69
15	Riverside	$88,026	$42.32	$51,055	$136,440	65
16	Fontana	$87,472	$42.06	$50,733	$135,581	32
17	Irvine	$87,376	$42.01	$50,678	$135,432	72
18	Pomona	$86,949	$41.80	$50,431	$134,772	36
19	Simi Valley	$86,901	$41.78	$50,403	$134,697	23
20	Anaheim	$86,882	$41.77	$50,391	$134,667	51
21	Escondido	$86,881	$41.77	$50,391	$134,666	31
22	San Bernardino	$86,744	$41.70	$50,311	$134,453	33
23	Fairfield	$86,725	$41.69	$50,300	$134,423	25
24	Stockton	$86,563	$41.62	$50,206	$134,172	71
25	Fullerton	$86,406	$41.54	$50,116	$133,929	25
26	Daly City	$86,331	$41.51	$50,072	$133,812	20
27	El Monte	$86,303	$41.49	$50,056	$133,770	20
28	Vista	$86,256	$41.47	$50,028	$133,697	24
29	Concord	$86,236	$41.46	$50,016	$133,666	29
30	Clovis	$86,107	$41.39	$49,942	$133,465	19
31	Ontario	$86,100	$41.39	$49,938	$133,456	42
32	Garden Grove	$86,018	$41.35	$49,890	$133,327	37
33	Temecula	$85,998	$41.35	$49,879	$133,296	25
34	Santa Clarita	$85,940	$41.32	$49,845	$133,207	41
35	Lancaster	$85,828	$41.26	$49,780	$133,033	40
36	Inglewood	$85,828	$41.26	$49,780	$133,033	21
37	Corona	$85,719	$41.21	$49,717	$132,864	24
38	Richmond	$85,705	$41.20	$49,709	$132,842	25
39	Rialto	$85,664	$41.19	$49,685	$132,779	17
40	Long Beach	$85,646	$41.18	$49,675	$132,752	89
41	Torrance	$85,556	$41.14	$49,623	$132,613	26
42	Salinas	$85,460	$41.08	$49,567	$132,463	29
43	Elk Grove	$85,393	$41.05	$49,528	$132,360	25
44	Oceanside	$85,373	$41.04	$49,516	$132,328	28
45	Los Angeles	$85,363	$41.04	$46,547	$161,288	9,220
46	Whittier	$85,347	$41.03	$49,501	$132,288	22
47	San Rafael	$85,341	$41.03	$49,497	$132,278	11
48	Modesto	$85,302	$41.01	$49,475	$132,219	45
49	Rancho Cucamonga	$85,264	$41.00	$49,453	$132,159	46
50	Hayward	$85,216	$40.97	$49,426	$132,084	23
51	Woodland	$85,194	$40.95	$49,413	$132,051	15
52	Buena Park	$85,180	$40.95	$49,404	$132,030	20
53	Encinitas	$85,174	$40.94	$49,401	$132,020	16
54	Downey	$85,169	$40.94	$49,398	$132,011	22
55	Dublin	$85,121	$40.92	$49,370	$131,937	14
56	Redlands	$85,094	$40.91	$49,354	$131,896	16
57	Chino	$85,048	$40.89	$49,327	$131,824	17
58	Westminster	$85,021	$40.88	$49,312	$131,783	21
59	Santa Monica	$85,014	$40.87	$49,308	$131,771	20
60	San Mateo	$85,005	$40.87	$49,303	$131,758	21
61	Tulare	$84,981	$40.86	$49,289	$131,720	17
62	San Buenaventura	$84,951	$40.84	$49,272	$131,674	19
63	Visalia	$84,896	$40.82	$49,240	$131,589	35
64	Mission Viejo	$84,894	$40.82	$49,239	$131,586	23
65	Moreno Valley	$84,893	$40.82	$49,238	$131,584	53
66	Pleasanton	$84,881	$40.81	$49,231	$131,566	16
67	Pasadena	$84,761	$40.75	$49,161	$131,379	35
68	Santee	$84,701	$40.72	$49,127	$131,286	9
69	Glendale	$84,625	$40.69	$49,083	$131,169	36
70	Thousand Oaks	$84,611	$40.68	$49,074	$131,147	32
71	Mountain View	$84,581	$40.67	$49,057	$131,101	13
72	Pittsburg	$84,575	$40.66	$49,054	$131,091	19
73	Novato	$84,548	$40.65	$49,038	$131,050	11
74	Costa Mesa	$84,516	$40.63	$49,020	$131,000	23
75	Berkeley	$84,427	$40.59	$48,967	$130,862	23
76	Huntington Beach	$84,407	$40.58	$48,956	$130,831	50
77	Jurupa Valley	$84,332	$40.55	$48,913	$130,715	24
78	Hemet	$84,308	$40.53	$48,899	$130,677	14
79	Union City	$84,301	$40.53	$48,895	$130,666	11
80	West Covina	$84,292	$40.53	$48,889	$130,653	25
81	Chino Hills	$84,268	$40.52	$48,875	$130,615	21
82	Chico	$84,156	$40.46	$48,810	$130,442	20
83	Gilroy	$84,149	$40.45	$48,806	$130,430	10
84	San Marcos	$84,102	$40.43	$48,779	$130,358	17
85	Tustin	$84,028	$40.40	$48,737	$130,243	18
86	San Ramon	$84,021	$40.40	$48,732	$130,233	19
87	Eastvale	$83,941	$40.36	$48,686	$130,109	10
88	Murrieta	$83,938	$40.36	$48,684	$130,104	25
89	Vacaville	$83,938	$40.36	$48,684	$130,104	15
90	Brentwood	$83,902	$40.34	$48,663	$130,048	13
91	Hesperia	$83,861	$40.31	$48,639	$129,985	14
92	Lake Elsinore	$83,855	$40.31	$48,636	$129,975	18
93	Citrus Heights	$83,748	$40.26	$48,574	$129,810	19
94	El Cajon	$83,673	$40.23	$48,530	$129,693	18
95	San Clemente	$83,649	$40.22	$48,517	$129,655	10
96	Bellflower	$83,615	$40.20	$48,497	$129,604	11
97	Palmdale	$83,578	$40.19	$48,475	$129,546	29
98	La Mirada	$83,577	$40.19	$48,475	$129,545	10
99	Apple Valley	$83,562	$40.18	$48,466	$129,521	19
100	Menifee	$83,538	$40.16	$48,451	$129,483	20
101	Yucaipa	$83,502	$40.14	$48,431	$129,428	14
102	Norwalk	$83,497	$40.14	$48,428	$129,420	22
103	Yuba City	$83,462	$40.12	$48,408	$129,365	10
104	Rancho Cordova	$83,422	$40.11	$48,385	$129,305	20
105	Montebello	$83,342	$40.07	$48,338	$129,181	16
106	Compton	$83,309	$40.06	$48,319	$129,129	25
107	Porterville	$83,249	$40.03	$48,285	$129,036	11
108	Lompoc	$83,238	$40.01	$48,278	$129,019	8
109	Hawthorne	$83,109	$39.96	$48,204	$128,820	13
110	Antioch	$83,082	$39.94	$48,188	$128,778	17
111	Burbank	$83,075	$39.94	$48,183	$128,766	22
112	Redding	$82,943	$39.88	$48,106	$128,561	13
113	Napa	$82,922	$39.87	$48,095	$128,529	17
114	Alhambra	$82,883	$39.84	$48,072	$128,468	13
115	Livermore	$82,883	$39.84	$48,072	$128,468	21
116	Santa Maria	$82,863	$39.84	$41,195	$149,719	190
117	Orange	$82,858	$39.83	$48,057	$128,430	21
118	South Gate	$82,856	$39.83	$48,056	$128,426	25
119	Victorville	$82,838	$39.82	$48,045	$128,399	30
120	West Sacramento	$82,809	$39.81	$48,029	$128,354	9
121	Poway	$82,788	$39.80	$48,017	$128,321	8
122	San Leandro	$82,675	$39.75	$47,951	$128,147	23
123	Indio	$82,583	$39.70	$47,898	$128,003	23
124	Lake Forest	$82,583	$39.70	$47,898	$128,003	14
125	Carson	$82,436	$39.63	$47,813	$127,776	21
126	Rocklin	$82,422	$39.63	$47,805	$127,755	10
127	Newport Beach	$82,282	$39.56	$47,724	$127,538	12
128	Redwood City	$82,276	$39.56	$47,720	$127,528	13
129	Turlock	$82,257	$39.54	$47,709	$127,498	17
130	Manteca	$82,230	$39.53	$47,693	$127,457	13
131	Perris	$82,223	$39.53	$47,689	$127,445	12
132	Madera	$82,156	$39.50	$47,650	$127,342	8
133	Lodi	$82,123	$39.48	$47,631	$127,291	14
134	Baldwin Park	$82,010	$39.43	$47,566	$127,116	19
135	Palo Alto	$82,010	$39.43	$47,566	$127,116	15
136	Lakewood	$81,977	$39.42	$47,547	$127,065	19
137	Hanford	$81,810	$39.33	$47,449	$126,806	10
138	Beaumont	$81,737	$39.30	$47,407	$126,692	9
139	Merced	$81,724	$39.29	$47,399	$126,671	20
140	Tracy	$81,716	$39.29	$47,395	$126,660	14
141	Alameda	$81,690	$39.28	$47,380	$126,619	12
142	Laguna Niguel	$81,670	$39.27	$47,368	$126,589	16
143	Milpitas	$81,630	$39.25	$47,345	$126,526	16
144	Camarillo	$81,457	$39.16	$47,244	$126,258	13
145	Oakley	$81,424	$39.15	$47,226	$126,207	8
146	Davis	$81,403	$39.14	$47,213	$126,175	14
147	Upland	$81,343	$39.11	$47,179	$126,083	18
148	La Habra	$81,224	$39.05	$47,110	$125,897	16
149	Lynwood	$81,191	$39.03	$47,091	$125,846	16
150	Brea	$79,805	$38.37	$46,287	$123,699	10
151	Santa Rosa	$78,048	$37.53	$46,539	$127,751	70
152	Petaluma	$77,301	$37.16	$44,834	$119,817	12
153	Vallejo	$77,007	$37.02	$43,623	$159,710	30
154	Fresno	$74,019	$35.59	$36,108	$128,408	100
155	San Luis Obispo	$66,383	$31.92	$39,208	$123,810	60
156	Bakersfield	$66,335	$31.90	$32,703	$122,633	50

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore ux designer hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new ux designers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced ux designers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More UX Designer Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do ux designers make in California in 2026?

The average median ux designer salary in California is $110,983/year across 156 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $66,335 in Bakersfield to $165,025 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 33.20% above the national median of $83,320. The state employs approximately 25,904 ux designers.

What is the highest paying city for ux designers in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest ux designer salary in California at $165,025/year ($79.34/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($165,025), Santa Clara ($163,942), San Jose ($161,239). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for user experience design services, and competition among employers for licensed ux designers.

How does California ux designer pay compare to the national average?

California's average ux designer salary of $110,983 is 33.20% above the national median of $83,320 in 2026. The state employs approximately 25,904 ux designers across 156 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level ux designer salary in California?

Entry-level ux designers (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $59,181/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $32,703 in lower-paying areas to $95,715 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many ux designers are employed in California?

California employs approximately 25,904 ux designers across 156 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of ux designers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the user experience design field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for ux designers?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Jose offers the highest purchasing power for ux designers in California, with an adjusted salary of $146,019 (nominal: $161,239, CoL index: 110.423). This means your dollar goes 9% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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

Statewide salary 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 each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 ux designer compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 156 metro areas — larger metro areas with more ux designerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (2021–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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