UX Designer Salary in Nicholasville, KY: $54,959 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in Nicholasville, KY earns a median $54,959/year (≈ $26.43/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in Nicholasville's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.3), that paycheck buys what $61,544 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.5% below the Kentucky state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With a median annual salary of $54,959 for UX designers, Nicholasville, KY, presents a competitive, albeit below-national average, compensation scenario. The local salary range spans from $31,876 at the 10th percentile to $85,187 at the 90th percentile, indicating significant variance based on experience and company type. These figures come from estimates derived from 2025 BLS data projected to 2026, adjusted for regional cost factors. The landscape reveals a trade-off between individual contributor and management tracks, with local opportunities providing practical pay differences that a savvy designer can navigate to optimize career path decisions.
About the Nicholasville Market
Salary estimated from Kentucky average ($80,900) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,876 | $15.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $39,570 | $19.02 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $54,959 | $26.43 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $70,347 | $33.82 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85,187 | $40.95 |
Median Salary Position
34.04% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Nicholasville
In Nicholasville, KY, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $53,311 (2026 est.). At $54,959, the local median is 34.04% below the national median of $83,320.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Nicholasville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Nicholasville UX Designer Pay Compares
Nicholasville median: $54,959/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Nicholasville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $55,796 | -1.50% less |
| National Average | $83,320 | -34.04% less |
UX Designers in Nicholasville, KY earn a median of $54,959 per year (2026 est.), which is 34.04% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 1.50% below the Kentucky state average of $55,796.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Nicholasville has a cost of living 10.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Nicholasville, KY has a cost-of-living index of 89.3 (below the national average of 100). A ux designer earning $54,959 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $61,544 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.98% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$39,523
2025 BLS Actual
$51,450
2026 Current Est.
$54,959
2021–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in Nicholasville (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $39,523 | Actual |
| 2022 | $41,180 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,749 | Actual |
| 2024 | $71,150 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,450 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,959 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,707 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Nicholasville metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew 30.2% from $39,523 (2021) to $51,450 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,707 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,184 (48.54%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Nicholasville 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) | $31,876 – $39,570 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $39,570 – $54,959 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $54,959 – $70,347 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $70,347 – $85,187 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in Nicholasville
The job market for UX designers in Nicholasville is modest, with only six professionals currently employed, suggesting limited local demand. However, the cost-of-living index in Nicholasville sits at 89.3, which allows designers to enjoy relatively better purchasing power despite salaries falling 34.04% below the national average. Notably, companies that typically offer higher compensation within the region include established technology firms and in-house design teams, with those in unicorn startups potentially commanding premium rates. The wide pay gap can be attributed to several factors, including company tier, design specialty, and portfolio strength. To maximize earnings, designers can focus on building strong portfolios featuring widely-used applications, enhancing their specialty in design systems, and considering freelance opportunities that may offer better financial flexibility than traditional employment paths.
More salary data for Nicholasville, KY:
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 $51,450 for ux designersin the Nicholasville 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
Salary data for Nicholasville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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