UX Designer Salary in Gallup, NM: $54,846 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in Gallup, NM earns a median $54,846/year (≈ $26.36/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in Gallup's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 94.4), that paycheck buys what $58,100 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.0% below the New Mexico state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Gallup, NM offers a notable economic landscape for UX designers, with a median annual salary projected at $54,846 for 2026. This figure falls significantly below the national median of $83,320, reflecting a local market that focuses on varied salary bands. The salary ranges from $31,811 at the lower end (P10) to $85,011 (P90) for more experienced designers. These estimates, based on 2025 BLS data projected to 2026, highlight how the city's compensation for UX professionals often diverges from national trends, emphasizing the trade-off between roles. In Gallup, the potential for higher salaries typically resides in management positions, whereas individual contributors may find themselves earning less than their peers in larger metropolitan areas or tech hubs.
About the Gallup Market
Salary estimated from New Mexico average ($73,600) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,811 | $15.30 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,552 | $19.49 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $54,846 | $26.36 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $70,202 | $33.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85,011 | $40.87 |
Median Salary Position
34.17% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Gallup
In Gallup, NM, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $53,200 (2026 est.). At $54,846, the local median is 34.17% below the national median of $83,320.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Gallup: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Gallup UX Designer Pay Compares
Gallup median: $54,846/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Gallup Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico Average | $58,974 | -7.00% less |
| National Average | $83,320 | -34.17% less |
UX Designers in Gallup, NM earn a median of $54,846 per year (2026 est.), which is 34.17% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 7.00% below the New Mexico state average of $58,974.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Gallup has a cost of living 5.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Gallup, NM has a cost-of-living index of 94.4 (below the national average of 100). A ux designer earning $54,846 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $58,100 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.93% 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
$39,441
2025 BLS Actual
$51,344
2026 Current Est.
$54,846
2021–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in Gallup (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $39,441 | Actual |
| 2022 | $41,095 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,648 | Actual |
| 2024 | $64,597 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,344 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,846 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,586 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Gallup metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew 30.2% from $39,441 (2021) to $51,344 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,586 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,145 (48.54%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Gallup 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) | $31,811 – $40,552 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,552 – $54,846 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $54,846 – $70,202 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $70,202 – $85,011 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in Gallup
With only four UX designers employed in the Gallup area, the local job market remains quite small but stable. The cost of living index, currently at 94.4, suggests that residents enjoy a modest financial environment, allowing for relatively strong purchasing power compared to national standards. In this context, employers in the area—predominantly within smaller tech firms or agencies specializing in UX design—may offer competitive packages, albeit still lower than the leading tech companies typically found in larger cities. The disparity in salaries stems from the nature of local companies, where lower-tier tech experiences and roles within non-tech businesses often dominate the hiring landscape. To maximize potential earnings, UX designers should focus on developing a strong portfolio, particularly with a specialty in design systems, which is increasingly valued. Contracting or freelance work may also provide additional avenues for income, given the city's limited full-time positions.
More salary data for Gallup, NM:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do ux designers make in Gallup, NM in 2026?
Is Gallup, NM a good place to work as a ux designer?
Can ux designers make $100K in Gallup?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted ux designer salary in Gallup?
How much does a ux designer make per hour in Gallup?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in New Mexico
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 $51,344 for ux designersin the Gallup 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 Gallup 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