What are the main factors that influence a Lead UX Designer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Lead UX Designer's salary?

A Lead UX Designer's salary grows with experience: an UI/Usability Designer I (0-2 years)earns $81,283, an UI/Usability Designer II (2-4 years)earns $103,291, an Lead UX Designer (4-7 years)earns $116,195, an UI/Usability Designer IV (7+ years)earns $143,200, a UI/Usability Designer V (7-10 years)earns $158,091,

What are the highest paying states for a Lead UX Designer?

Lead UX Designer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lead UX Designer roles are District of Columbia $129,833, California $129,341, Massachusetts $127,617. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Lead UX Designer roles make?

Salaries for Lead UX Designer level roles vary by specialization: Lead Ux Ui Designer: $150,348; Principal UX Designer: $139,008; UX Designer: $115,139; Senior UX Designer: $115,139; Ux Product Designer: $112,140.

How do different companies affect a Lead UX Designer's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Lead UX Designer roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Lead UX Designer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead UX Designer make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Lead UX Designer in the United States is $117,262 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

However, a Lead UX Designer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $131,835
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $110,236 to $124,890
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $103,839

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Lead UX Designer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$124,890	$10,408	$2,402	$60
Average	$117,262	$9,772	$2,255	$56
25th Percentile	$110,236	$9,186	$2,120	$53

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Key Factors That Influence Lead UX Designer Salaries

A Lead UX Designer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Lead UX Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead UX Designer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,283
Early Career (1-2 years): $103,291
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,195
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $143,200
Expert (over 8 years): $158,091

Levels	Salary
UI/Usabil... Level Lead UX Designer	$81,283
UI/Usabil... Level Lead UX Designer	$103,291
Lead UX D... Level Lead UX Designer	$116,195
UI/Usabil... Level Lead UX Designer	$143,200
UI/Usabil... Level Lead UX Designer	$158,091

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead UX Designer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Lead UX Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $129,833.
California: $129,341.
Massachusetts: $127,617.

District of Columbia $129,833 California $129,341 Massachusetts $127,617 Washington $127,148 New Jersey $127,101 Alaska $126,937 Connecticut $125,318 New York $124,662

Hawaii $122,563 Rhode Island $121,578 Maryland $120,909 Minnesota $119,995 Colorado $119,643 Illinois $119,526 Oregon $119,080 Delaware $118,752

New Hampshire $118,545 Virginia $118,083 Pennsylvania $116,735 Nevada $116,055 North Dakota $115,832 Michigan $115,480 Wisconsin $115,351 Vermont $115,093

Texas $114,378 Maine $114,331 Arizona $114,261 Ohio $114,178 Georgia $113,100 Indiana $112,560 Wyoming $112,455 Utah $112,291

Iowa $112,220 Kansas $111,657 Louisiana $111,493 North Carolina $111,435 Missouri $111,411 Florida $110,954 Montana $110,707 Nebraska $110,473

Kentucky $110,344 South Carolina $109,875 Tennessee $109,582 Idaho $109,465 New Mexico $108,609 Oklahoma $108,421 Alabama $107,729 South Dakota $106,568

Arkansas $105,935 West Virginia $105,595 Mississippi $104,575

Top Paying Cities for Lead UX Designers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $147,903
San Francisco: $146,449
Oakland: $143,201

San Jose, CA $147,903

San Francisco, CA $146,449

Oakland, CA $143,201

New York, NY $135,895

Queens Village, NY $135,016

Paramus, NJ $134,078

Passaic, NJ $133,961

Bergenfield, NJ $133,843

Stamford, CT $133,667

Huntington, NY $133,550

Newark, NJ $132,788

Bridgeport, CT $132,553

New Brunswick, NJ $132,167

Vallejo, CA $131,920

Middlesex, NJ $131,850

Somerset, NJ $131,744

Petaluma, CA $131,475

Santa Cruz, CA $131,017

Boston, MA $130,783

Monterey, CA $130,197

Fairbanks, AK $130,114

Los Angeles, CA $129,892

Washington, DC $129,833

Seattle, WA $129,622

Santa Rosa, CA $129,598

Juneau, AK $129,258

Orange, CA $128,871

Anchorage, AK $128,660

Anaheim, CA $128,578

Santa Ana, CA $128,402

Nassau, NY $128,332

Long Beach, CA $128,285

Danbury, CT $128,250

Santa Maria, CA $127,851

Everett, WA $127,828

Bremerton, WA $127,253

Trenton, NJ $127,030

Sacramento, CA $126,984

San Diego, CA $126,925

Brockton, MA $126,878

Tacoma, WA $126,831

Santa Barbara, CA $126,667

Lowell, MA $126,198

New Suffolk, NY $126,151

Nashua, NH $126,010

Lompoc, CA $125,823

Ventura, CA $125,705

Stockton, CA $125,670

New Haven, CT $125,436

Atlantic City, NJ $125,131

Hartford, CT $124,873

Modesto, CA $124,814

Poughkeepsie, NY $124,556

New Britain, CT $124,498

Kennewick, WA $124,333

Olympia, WA $124,333

New London, CT $124,310

Norwich, CT $124,275

Lawrence, MA $124,216

Bakersfield, CA $123,888

New Bedford, MA $123,724

Riverside, CA $123,724

Richland, WA $123,606

Portsmouth, NH $123,513

Vineland, NJ $123,489

San Bernardino, CA $123,395

Boulder, CO $123,067

Worcester, MA $122,973

Portland, OR $122,868

Saint Paul, MN $122,727

Minneapolis, MN $122,727

Philadelphia, PA $122,563

Honolulu, HI $121,941

Springfield, MA $121,531

Providence, RI $121,519

Chicago, IL $121,179

Bellingham, WA $121,038

Baltimore, MD $120,909

Chico, CA $120,616

Wilmington, DE $120,417

Pittsfield, MA $120,300

Manchester, NH $120,077

Spokane, WA $119,561

Denver, CO $119,549

Albany, NY $118,998

Troy, NY $118,951

Schenectady, NY $118,705

Burlington, VT $118,447

Portland, ME $118,036

Salem, OR $117,943

Yakima, WA $117,919

Ann Arbor, MI $117,884

Rochester, MN $117,556

Reno, NV $117,497

Fresno, CA $117,497

Milwaukee, WI $117,391

Detroit, MI $117,274

Allentown, PA $117,239

Carson City, NV $117,227

Houston, TX $117,051

Colorado Springs, CO $117,040

Syracuse, NY $116,981

Eugene, OR $116,758

Gary, IN $116,618

Bismarck, ND $116,618

Galveston, TX $116,618

Springfield, OR $116,524

Medford, OR $116,242

Fort Collins, CO $116,195

Austin, TX $116,102

Mesa, AZ $115,855

Phoenix, AZ $115,832

Dallas, TX $115,797

Reading, PA $115,726

Saint Cloud, MN $115,679

Concord, NH $115,574

Madison, WI $115,527

Utica, NY $115,210

Raleigh, NC $115,117

Las Vegas, NV $115,105

Rochester, NY $115,023

Des Moines, IA $115,011

Atlanta, GA $114,823

Battle Creek, MI $114,788

Salt Lake City, UT $114,753

Lancaster, PA $114,577

Champaign, IL $114,554

Harrisburg, PA $114,413

Durham, NC $114,307

Kansas City, MO $114,296

Kansas City, KS $114,272

Fort Worth, TX $114,261

Boca Raton, FL $114,214

Cleveland, OH $114,202

Columbus, OH $114,178

Pittsburgh, PA $114,167

Richmond, VA $114,120

Indianapolis, IN $114,096

Cincinnati, OH $113,944

Petersburg, VA $113,768

Lansing, MI $113,510

Billings, MT $113,510

Huntsville, AL $113,510

Lebanon, PA $113,498

Pueblo, CO $113,487

Dayton, OH $113,487

Appleton, WI $113,451

Buffalo, NY $113,405

Racine, WI $113,346

Charlotte, NC $113,334

Saint Louis, MO $113,299

Springfield, IL $113,252

York, PA $113,229

Elkhart, IN $113,229

Gastonia, NC $113,217

Benton Harbor, MI $113,217

Beaumont, TX $113,147

Lorain, OH $113,123

Toledo, OH $113,076

Binghamton, NY $113,018

Rock Hill, SC $113,006

Rockford, IL $112,947

Elyria, OH $112,889

Fargo, ND $112,889

Flagstaff, AZ $112,806

Fort Lauderdale, FL $112,736

Miami, FL $112,666

Duluth, MN $112,478

Bangor, ME $112,326

Cedar Rapids, IA $112,197

Louisville, KY $112,138

Grand Rapids, MI $112,115

Hialeah, FL $112,103

Casper, WY $111,939

Scranton, PA $111,798

New Orleans, LA $111,763

Virginia Beach, VA $111,751

Akron, OH $111,693

Peoria, IL $111,540

Sarasota, FL $111,517

Green Bay, WI $111,435

Baton Rouge, LA $111,376

Charleston, SC $111,352

Nashville, TN $111,317

Jamestown, NY $111,294

Davenport, IA $111,294

Tucson, AZ $111,235

Cheyenne, WY $111,200

Saint Petersburg, FL $111,165

Tampa, FL $111,141

Omaha, NE $111,118

Evansville, IN $111,071

Port Arthur, TX $111,071

Bradenton, FL $111,024

Santa Fe, NM $110,813

Orlando, FL $110,696

Clearwater, FL $110,567

La Crosse, WI $110,321

Canton, OH $110,321

Grand Forks, ND $110,285

Tulsa, OK $110,250

Albuquerque, NM $110,250

Newport News, VA $110,238

High Point, NC $110,203

Ogden, UT $110,156

Corpus Christi, TX $110,063

Laramie, WY $109,992

Norfolk, VA $109,992

Rock Island, IL $109,922

Saginaw, MI $109,898

Jacksonville, FL $109,887

Salisbury, NC $109,863

Memphis, TN $109,840

Moline, IL $109,781

Fort Myers, FL $109,746

Waterloo, IA $109,594

Spartanburg, SC $109,476

Lincoln, NE $109,418

Fort Wayne, IN $109,394

Birmingham, AL $109,265

Cedar Falls, IA $109,242

Provo, UT $109,230

Springfield, OH $109,218

San Antonio, TX $109,195

Greensboro, NC $109,148

South Bend, IN $109,136

Winston Salem, NC $109,124

Boise, ID $109,089

Savannah, GA $109,007

Muskegon, MI $108,796

Lima, OH $108,655

Lake Charles, LA $108,609

Anderson, IN $108,585

Lexington, KY $108,550

Augusta, GA $108,515

Greenville, SC $108,515

Wichita, KS $108,409

Tuscaloosa, AL $108,409

Columbia, SC $108,304

Bloomington, IN $108,010

Roanoke, VA $107,940

Asheville, NC $107,788

Knoxville, TN $107,588

Shreveport, LA $107,577

Wilmington, NC $107,424

Frankfort, KY $107,201

Oklahoma City, OK $107,119

Chillicothe, OH $107,072

Longview, TX $107,061

Topeka, KS $107,025

Mobile, AL $106,850

Terre Haute, IN $106,803

Erie, PA $106,791

Altoona, PA $106,732

Melbourne, FL $106,697

Amarillo, TX $106,650

Killeen, TX $106,615

Fayetteville, AR $106,521

Sioux Falls, SD $106,439

Chattanooga, TN $106,369

Idaho Falls, ID $106,357

Gainesville, FL $106,111

Portsmouth, OH $106,052

Little Rock, AR $106,029

Lynchburg, VA $106,029

Youngstown, OH $105,982

Lafayette, LA $105,982

Temple, TX $105,935

Daytona Beach, FL $105,911

Clarksville, TN $105,900

Pensacola, FL $105,888

Hopkinsville, KY $105,536

Charleston, WV $105,524

Florence, SC $105,466

Sioux City, IA $105,396

Macon, GA $105,055

Tallahassee, FL $105,044

Fayetteville, NC $105,020

Wichita Falls, TX $104,997

Waco, TX $104,997

Pine Bluff, AR $104,950

Vincennes, IN $104,727

Lubbock, TX $104,680

Great Falls, MT $104,610

Alamogordo, NM $104,598

Abilene, TX $104,504

Rapid City, SD $104,352

Monroe, LA $104,352

Albany, GA $104,282

Huntington, WV $104,270

Jackson, MS $104,258

Greenville, MS $104,246

Parkersburg, WV $104,129

Montgomery, AL $104,106

Johnstown, PA $104,082

Springfield, MO $103,988

Biloxi, MS $103,930

Sumter, SC $103,683

Columbus, GA $103,672

Twin Falls, ID $103,601

Pascagoula, MS $103,449

Kingsport, TN $103,144

Gulfport, MS $103,109

Alexandria, LA $102,722

Fort Smith, AR $102,429

El Paso, TX $102,112

Helena, MT $101,960

Las Cruces, NM $101,584

Harlingen, TX $101,256

Pocatello, ID $101,151

Florence, AL $101,115

Brownsville, TX $101,092

Dothan, AL $100,904

Mcallen, TX $100,846

Columbus, MS $99,978

Altus, OK $99,439

Lawton, OK $99,216

Pierre, SD $98,794

What Skills Can Increase a Lead UX Designer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Problem Solving (Mentioned in 6.67% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
B2B (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): B2B (business-to-business), a type of electronic commerce (e-commerce), is the exchange of products, services or information between businesses, rather than between businesses and consumers (B2C).
Data Transmission (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): Data transmission is the transfer of data from one digital device to another. This transfer occurs via point-to-point data streams or channels.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Problem Solving	6.67%
B2B	1.67%
Data Transmission	1.67%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Lead UX Designer's salary.

Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Computer Science	$121,953	4%
Team Development	$119,608	2%
Presentation	$119,608	2%
Collaboration	$118,435	1%
Communicates Effectively	$118,435	1%
Innovation	$118,435	1%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Lead UX Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead UX Designers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Lead UX Designer with a Associate's Degree is between $113,500 and $119,768).

Lead UX Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead UX Designer

No Diploma 1.3%

High School 3.0%

Associates 4.3%

Bachelors 57.9%

Masters 30.2%

Doctorate 3.4%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	1.3%
High School	3.0%
Associates	4.3%
Bachelors	57.9%
Masters	30.2%
Doctorate	3.4%

view as graph

Lead UX Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead UX Designer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

$110,236

Average $117,262/year

$124,890

$9,186

Average $9,772/month

$10,408

$2,120

Average $2,255/week

$2,402

$53

Average $56/hour

$60

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$124,890	$10,408	$2,402	$60
Average	$117,262	$9,772	$2,255	$56
25th Percentile	$110,236	$9,186	$2,120	$53

Salaries of jobs related to Lead UX Designer

Salary Trends for Lead UX Designer

Salaries for a Lead UX Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $116,030 in 2023 to around $115,556 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead UX Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead UX Designer Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$116,030

2024

$116,119

2025

$115,556

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$116,030
2024	$116,119
2025	$115,556
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Lead UX Designer

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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