UX Designer Salary in Fort Collins, CO: $74,612 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in Fort Collins, CO earns a median $74,612/year (≈ $35.87/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in Fort Collins's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 101.1), that paycheck buys what $73,780 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.7% above the Colorado state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fort Collins, the compensation landscape for UX designers reflects the broader trends in the industry, with the median annual salary projected at $74,612 for 2026. The salary range spans from $31,702 at the 10th percentile to $100,104 at the 90th percentile, indicating a healthy disparity based on experience and specialization. This data is derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. Notably, the local UX designer pay in Fort Collins CO lags behind the national median of $83,320 by about 10.45%, suggesting a balance between the growth of local tech sectors and the competitive salary expectations seen in more prominent markets. The evolving job market in Fort Collins positions itself as an attractive option for aspiring designers, particularly as demand increases annually by 6.82%.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,702 | $15.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $58,316 | $28.03 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $74,612 | $35.87 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80,580 | $38.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $100,104 | $48.12 |
Median Salary Position
10.45% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fort Collins
In Fort Collins, CO, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,402 (2026 est.). At $74,612, the local median is 10.45% below the national median of $83,320.
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How Fort Collins UX Designer Pay Compares
Fort Collins median: $74,612/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fort Collins Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Average | $65,621 | +13.70% more |
| National Average | $83,320 | -10.45% less |
UX Designers in Fort Collins, CO earn a median of $74,612 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.45% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 13.70% above the Colorado state average of $65,621.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fort Collins has a cost of living 1.13% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fort Collins, CO has a cost-of-living index of 101.128 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $74,612 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $73,780 — a 1.12% reduction.
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2021 BLS Actual
$62,660
2025 BLS Actual
$69,848
2026 Current Est.
$74,612
2021–2027 Growth
+27.2%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in Fort Collins (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $62,660 | Actual |
| 2022 | $83,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $95,750 | Actual |
| 2024 | $97,610 | Actual |
| 2025 | $69,848 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $74,612 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $79,700 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fort Collins metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew 11.5% from $62,660 (2021) to $69,848 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $79,700 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,040 (27.19%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Collins 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $31,702 – $58,316 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $58,316 – $74,612 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $74,612 – $80,580 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $80,580 – $100,104 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in Fort Collins
Job availability for UX designers in Fort Collins is robust, though the cost of living, reflected in a cost-of-living index of 101.128, means salaries must stretch further than in lower-cost regions. Top employers are likely to be tech entities and in-house product teams, which often command higher compensation packages, especially for candidates with strong portfolios showcasing successful Figma projects. The gap in pay can often be traced back to company tier, with FAANG and unicorn firms typically offering higher compensation, including stock options, as opposed to tier-2 tech companies or design agencies with broader scopes but lower baseline salaries. To enhance earning potential in Fort Collins, designers are advised to focus on specialization in high-demand areas, build impressive portfolios, and consider the trade-offs between agency and in-house roles. Such strategies will help position themselves favorably in a growing tech hub.
More salary data for Fort Collins, CO:
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
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $69,848 for ux designersin the Fort Collins metropolitan area. A 6.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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