UX Designer Salary in Hilton Head Island, SC: $64,404 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in Hilton Head Island, SC earns a median $64,404/year (≈ $30.97/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in Hilton Head Island's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $70,387 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% below the South Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Hilton Head Island, SC, the average annual salary for a UX designer is projected to be $64,404 in 2026, which is approximately 22.70% lower than the national median of $83,320. Local salaries range from as low as $37,354 at the 10th percentile to as high as $99,826 at the 90th percentile. This reflects the choice between working for established firms, agencies, or in-house teams. Designers at FAANG companies can expect higher compensation due to their equity structures and ability to invest in complex projects, while those in agencies may find more variety, albeit at a lower baseline salary. The evolving market dynamics and recent industry layoffs have made the salary landscape in Hilton Head Island competitive, particularly for skilled professionals with experience in high-demand tools like Figma.
About the Hilton Head Island Market
Salary estimated from South Carolina average ($80,900) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,354 | $17.96 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,371 | $22.29 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,404 | $30.97 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $82,437 | $39.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $99,826 | $47.99 |
Median Salary Position
22.7% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hilton Head Island
In Hilton Head Island, SC, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $62,472 (2026 est.). At $64,404, the local median is 22.7% below the national median of $83,320.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Hilton Head Island: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Hilton Head Island UX Designer Pay Compares
Hilton Head Island median: $64,404/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hilton Head Island Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $64,858 | -0.70% less |
| National Average | $83,320 | -22.70% less |
UX Designers in Hilton Head Island, SC earn a median of $64,404 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.70% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 0.70% below the South Carolina state average of $64,858.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hilton Head Island has a cost of living 8.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hilton Head Island, SC has a cost-of-living index of 91.5 (below the national average of 100). A ux designer earning $64,404 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,387 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.29% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$46,315
2025 BLS Actual
$60,292
2026 Current Est.
$64,404
2021–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in Hilton Head Island (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $46,315 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,257 | Actual |
| 2023 | $57,127 | Actual |
| 2024 | $73,529 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,292 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,404 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68,796 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hilton Head Island metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew 30.2% from $46,315 (2021) to $60,292 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $68,796 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,481 (48.54%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hilton Head Island 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) | $37,354 – $46,371 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,371 – $64,404 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,404 – $82,437 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $82,437 – $99,826 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in Hilton Head Island
The job market in Hilton Head Island indicates the presence of only six employed UX designers, which creates a tight-knit community but also limits opportunities for competitive salary growth. With a cost-of-living index of 91.5, residents may find their purchasing power relatively better than in some major metropolitan areas; however, salaries also remain modest compared to national standards. Top employers in the region typically include digital agencies and in-house teams at non-tech companies, which generally offer salaries below the higher-end FAANG levels. Factors impacting the spread in compensation include company type, specialized skill sets, and the depth of portfolios. For practitioners looking to boost their UX designer pay in Hilton Head Island, focusing on building a robust portfolio with recognizable projects and networking within the local design community could prove advantageous against the current market limitations.
More salary data for Hilton Head Island, SC:
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 $60,292 for ux designersin the Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island 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