UX Designer Salary in St. Charles, MO: $56,617 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in St. Charles, MO earns a median $56,617/year (≈ $27.22/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in St. Charles's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.6), that paycheck buys what $63,189 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.1% above the Missouri state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the projected compensation for UX designers in St. Charles, Missouri is set at a median annual salary of $56,617, which reflects the ongoing adjustments in the local job market following the widespread layoffs in the tech sector from 2023 to 2024. This salary comes with a range that stretches from $32,838 at the 10th percentile to $87,756 at the 90th percentile, indicating that while entry-level positions might pay less, there are opportunities for substantial earnings among more experienced designers. These figures, based on 2025 BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional price variances, paint a clearer picture of the compensation landscape, showing a significant gap when compared to the national median of $83,320. The local job market has demonstrated resilience, absorbing many displaced designers and providing a stable employment base for those pursuing careers in UX design.
About the St. Charles Market
Salary estimated from Missouri average ($88,700) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $32,838 | $15.79 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,764 | $19.60 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $56,617 | $27.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $72,470 | $34.84 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $87,756 | $42.19 |
Median Salary Position
32.05% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Charles
In St. Charles, MO, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $54,918 (2026 est.). At $56,617, the local median is 32.05% below the national median of $83,320.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Charles: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Charles UX Designer Pay Compares
St. Charles median: $56,617/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Charles Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $56,001 | +1.10% more |
| National Average | $83,320 | -32.05% less |
UX Designers in St. Charles, MO earn a median of $56,617 per year (2026 est.), which is 32.05% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 1.10% above the Missouri state average of $56,001.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Charles has a cost of living 10.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Charles, MO has a cost-of-living index of 89.6 (below the national average of 100). A ux designer earning $56,617 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,189 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.61% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2021 BLS Actual
$40,715
2025 BLS Actual
$53,002
2026 Current Est.
$56,617
2021–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in St. Charles (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $40,715 | Actual |
| 2022 | $42,422 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,219 | Actual |
| 2024 | $80,364 | Actual |
| 2025 | $53,002 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $56,617 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $60,478 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Charles metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew 30.2% from $40,715 (2021) to $53,002 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $60,478 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,763 (48.54%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Charles 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) | $32,838 – $40,764 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,764 – $56,617 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $56,617 – $72,470 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $72,470 – $87,756 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in St. Charles
When examining the job market for UX designers in St. Charles, it's clear that the landscape is shaped by several contributing factors. Currently, only 16 UX designers are employed in the area, which may limit networking opportunities but can also create a tight-knit community that fosters collaboration. The cost of living index in St. Charles stands at 89.6, indicating that the relative affordability allows for a more secure financial footing for designers compared to more expensive regions. Companies ranging from local startups to in-house teams at established non-tech firms often pay more competitive rates, especially when they seek designers with strong portfolios demonstrating significant experience in tools like Figma. The disparity in pay within the field can arise from various factors, including the tier of the employing company—FAANG and unicorns typically offering higher pay due to equity options and their narrow focus on product design. To maximize earnings in this market, designers should consider expanding their skill sets, particularly in design systems and research, and actively seek roles within higher-paying firms while building a robust portfolio that showcases versatile capabilities.
More salary data for St. Charles, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do ux designers make in St. Charles, MO in 2026?
Is St. Charles, MO a good place to work as a ux designer?
Can ux designers make $100K in St. Charles?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted ux designer salary in St. Charles?
How much does a ux designer make per hour in St. Charles?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Missouri
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 $53,002 for ux designersin the St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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