Best cities for a user experience designer
The best cities for user experience designers are Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for user experience designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for user experience designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a user experience designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for user experience designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for user experience designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a user experience designer. While the absolute best city for user experience designers is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for user experience designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a user experience designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for user experience designers in 2026
1. Seattle, WA
User experience designer jobs in SeattleTotal user experience designer jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $117,198 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 26.17 2. San Francisco, CA
User experience designer jobs in San FranciscoTotal user experience designer jobs: 229 Average annual salary: $118,464 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 26.03 3. San Jose, CA
User experience designer jobs in San JoseTotal user experience designer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $118,063 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 13.14 4. Boston, MA
User experience designer jobs in BostonTotal user experience designer jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $95,691 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 7.96 5. Philadelphia, PA
User experience designer jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal user experience designer jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $82,206 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 5.67 6. Raleigh, NC
User experience designer jobs in RaleighTotal user experience designer jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $80,025 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 8.09 7. Oakland, CA
User experience designer jobs in OaklandTotal user experience designer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $118,240 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 4.04 8. Los Angeles, CA
User experience designer jobs in Los AngelesTotal user experience designer jobs: 111 Average annual salary: $106,532 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 4.55 9. Irvine, CA
User experience designer jobs in IrvineTotal user experience designer jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $105,323 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 5.27 10. Austin, TX
User experience designer jobs in AustinTotal user experience designer jobs: 150 Average annual salary: $80,904 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 7.88
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Best cities for user experience designers
- Seattle, WA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Boston, MA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Raleigh, NC
- Oakland, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Austin, TX
- (117 user experience designer jobs)
- (229 user experience designer jobs)
- (9 user experience designer jobs)
- (162 user experience designer jobs)
- (78 user experience designer jobs)
- (60 user experience designer jobs)
- (11 user experience designer jobs)
- (111 user experience designer jobs)
- (41 user experience designer jobs)
- (150 user experience designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a user experience designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $117,198 | $83,000 | 704,352 | 117 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $118,464 | $82,000 | 870,887 | 229 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $118,063 | $81,000 | 1,025,350 | 9 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $95,691 | $68,000 | 673,184 | 162 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,206 | $58,000 | 1,567,872 | 78 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $80,025 | $58,000 | 458,880 | 60 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $118,240 | $82,000 | 420,005 | 11 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $106,532 | $74,000 | 3,976,322 | 111 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $105,323 | $74,000 | 266,122 | 41 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $80,904 | $58,000 | 947,890 | 150 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $116,816 | $81,000 | 495,234 | 21 |
| 12 | Santa Ana, CA | $105,515 | $74,000 | 334,217 | 6 |
| 13 | Newark, NJ | $92,917 | $66,000 | 281,764 | 23 |
| 14 | Jersey City, NJ | $92,959 | $66,000 | 264,152 | 52 |
| 15 | Fremont, CA | $118,077 | $82,000 | 233,136 | 14 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $93,734 | $66,000 | 8,537,673 | 214 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,094 | $56,000 | 303,625 | 40 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $77,746 | $56,000 | 672,795 | 29 |
| 19 | Scottsdale, AZ | $85,384 | $60,000 | 246,645 | 10 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,480 | $60,000 | 1,615,017 | 46 |
| 21 | Long Beach, CA | $105,858 | $74,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $103,786 | $73,000 | 1,406,630 | 49 |
| 23 | Irving, TX | $80,271 | $57,000 | 238,289 | 57 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $85,461 | $60,000 | 639,863 | 55 |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $91,556 | $63,000 | 632,912 | 10 |
| 26 | Charlotte, NC | $77,797 | $56,000 | 842,051 | 98 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $80,277 | $57,000 | 1,317,929 | 73 |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $96,896 | $67,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $117,100 | $81,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $79,918 | $58,000 | 263,016 | 10 |
| 31 | Chicago, IL | $78,429 | $57,000 | 2,704,958 | 168 |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $115,616 | $80,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 33 | North Las Vegas, NV | $91,407 | $63,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 34 | Fort Worth, TX | $80,413 | $58,000 | 854,113 | 13 |
| 35 | Columbus, OH | $70,797 | $51,000 | 860,090 | 71 |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | $90,818 | $63,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 37 | Washington, DC | $98,115 | $70,000 | 681,170 | 97 |
| 38 | Mesa, AZ | $85,191 | $60,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 39 | Anaheim, CA | $105,702 | $74,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 40 | Houston, TX | $80,606 | $58,000 | 2,303,482 | 75 |
| 41 | Bakersfield, CA | $111,414 | $77,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 42 | Chandler, AZ | $85,221 | $60,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 43 | Saint Paul, MN | $78,456 | $58,000 | 302,398 | 24 |
| 44 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,446 | $58,000 | 413,651 | 48 |
| 45 | Riverside, CA | $105,352 | $74,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 46 | San Antonio, TX | $80,825 | $58,000 | 1,492,510 | 17 |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $85,525 | $60,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $84,307 | $60,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 49 | Denver, CO | $79,388 | $57,000 | 693,060 | 153 |
| 50 | Atlanta, GA | $73,099 | $53,000 | 472,522 | 200 |
Highest paying cities for user experience designers
| Rank | City | Avg. user experience designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Bruno, CA | $118,550 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $117,198 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $98,115 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $95,691 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $93,734 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $92,959 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $91,560 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,480 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $85,461 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,206 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $80,904 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $80,025 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $79,388 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,446 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $78,429 |
| 16 | Portland, ME | $77,832 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $77,746 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $76,519 |
| 19 | Tampa, FL | $76,516 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $75,101 |
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Updated January 8, 2025