UX Designer Salary in Waco, TX: $69,148 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in Waco, TX earns a median $69,148/year (≈ $33.25/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in Waco's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.5), that paycheck buys what $74,714 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.7% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the expected salary for a UX designer in Waco, Texas, is projected to reach $69,148, which is approximately 17.01% lower than the national median of $83,320. This market has a salary range that spans from $35,884 at the lower tenth percentile to $109,942 at the ninety percentile, demonstrating a significant disparity in earnings based on skills, experience, and types of employers. Data for these estimates is derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys and reflects the ongoing trends in the job market, where the annual growth rate for the UX design field is anticipated to be 6.82%. Waco's unique job environment offers a clear trade-off for designers between the high-paying FAANG positions, which tend to specialize in narrowly defined roles, and opportunities in agencies or in-house teams, which often provide broader project scopes at lower pay rates.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $35,884 | $17.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,605 | $25.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $69,148 | $33.25 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $83,008 | $39.91 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $109,942 | $52.87 |
Median Salary Position
17.01% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Waco
In Waco, TX, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $74,058 (2026 est.). At $69,148, the local median is 17.01% below the national median of $83,320.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Waco: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Waco UX Designer Pay Compares
Waco median: $69,148/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Waco Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $73,327 | -5.70% less |
| National Average | $83,320 | -17.01% less |
UX Designers in Waco, TX earn a median of $69,148 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.01% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 5.70% below the Texas state average of $73,327.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Waco has a cost of living 7.45% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Waco, TX has a cost-of-living index of 92.55 (below the national average of 100). A ux designer earning $69,148 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $74,714 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.05% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$49,726
2025 BLS Actual
$64,733
2026 Current Est.
$69,148
2021–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in Waco (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $49,726 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,811 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,770 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,420 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,733 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $69,148 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $73,864 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Waco metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew 30.2% from $49,726 (2021) to $64,733 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $73,864 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,138 (48.54%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Waco 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) | $35,884 – $53,605 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,605 – $69,148 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $69,148 – $83,008 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $83,008 – $109,942 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in Waco
With only 30 UX designers currently employed in Waco, the competition is relatively tight, impacting salary negotiations and opportunities. The cost of living in Waco sits at a favorable index of 92.55, indicating that residents may find their purchasing power more comfortable compared to more expensive markets. To maximize earnings, UX designers should consider targeting roles within tech companies that can offer the highest salaries, such as FAANG firms or significant local players. Those specializing in research or product design roles often command higher rates. Portfolio quality also greatly influences compensation, as heavily-trafficked applications can enhance one's market value. Professionals aiming to increase their pay in this specific environment should focus on developing robust design systems expertise while leveraging their experience with Figma, which continues to dominate the industry as a preferred tool for prototyping and collaboration.
More salary data for Waco, TX:
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 $64,733 for ux designersin the Waco 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, 3-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