UX Designer Salary in Virginia Beach, VA: $54,951 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in Virginia Beach, VA earns a median $54,951/year (≈ $26.42/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in Virginia Beach's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $56,106 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 14.8% below the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Virginia Beach, the median annual salary for a UX designer is projected to reach $54,951 in 2026, significantly trailing the national median of $83,320 by 34.05%. Salaries in this region vary widely, with a range from $33,577 at the lower end (P10) to as high as $98,582 at the upper echelon (P90), indicating a competitive market for skilled designers. Derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, this data highlights the bifurcation in pay that exists between individual contributor roles and management positions in the local design sphere. Given the cost-of-living index in Virginia Beach is below the national average, aspects such as portfolio strength and expertise in design systems can heavily influence both job opportunities and salary potential in this market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,577 | $16.14 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $41,788 | $20.09 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $54,951 | $26.42 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $69,572 | $33.45 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $98,582 | $47.40 |
Median Salary Position
34.05% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Virginia Beach
In Virginia Beach, VA, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $65,005 (2026 est.). At $54,951, the local median is 34.05% below the national median of $83,320.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Virginia Beach: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Virginia Beach UX Designer Pay Compares
Virginia Beach median: $54,951/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Virginia Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $64,497 | -14.80% less |
| National Average | $83,320 | -34.05% less |
UX Designers in Virginia Beach, VA earn a median of $54,951 per year (2026 est.), which is 34.05% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 14.80% below the Virginia state average of $64,497.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Virginia Beach has a cost of living 2.06% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Virginia Beach, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.941 (below the national average of 100). A ux designer earning $54,951 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $56,106 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.1% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$60,550
2025 BLS Actual
$51,443
2026 Current Est.
$54,951
2021–2027 Growth
+-3.1%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in Virginia Beach (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $60,550 | Actual |
| 2022 | $65,790 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,090 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,490 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,443 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,951 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,699 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Virginia Beach metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew -15.0% from $60,550 (2021) to $51,443 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,699 by 2027 — a total increase of $-1,851 (-3.06%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Virginia Beach 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) | $33,577 – $41,788 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $41,788 – $54,951 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $54,951 – $69,572 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $69,572 – $98,582 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in Virginia Beach
With approximately 250 UX designers employed in the area, Virginia Beach offers a stable job market, particularly for those skilled in tools like Figma. Nonetheless, the cost of living index at 97.941 indicates that the take-home pay for designers is somewhat diminished compared to more affluent tech hubs. Notably, compensation can vary greatly among employers; large tech firms often pay significantly more than local agencies, where project variety may appeal to certain designers. The disparity in salaries can stem from factors such as the tier of the employer—whether it's a FAANG company or a smaller, boutique design firm—as well as specialty focus, where those engaged in user research or product design command higher pay. For those looking to maximize their ux designer pay in Virginia Beach, strengthening one's portfolio with well-trafficked projects and seeking opportunities at top-tier companies could lead to substantial salary enhancements.
More salary data for Virginia Beach, VA:
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 $51,443 for ux designersin the Virginia Beach 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, 5-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