How much does an UX Designer make in San Francisco, CA?

The average salary for an UX Designer is $116,053 per year in San Francisco, CA. Salaries estimates are based on 3929 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an UX Designer employees in San Francisco, CA.

The highest salary for an UX Designer in San Francisco, CA is $149,455 per year.

The lowest salary for an UX Designer in San Francisco, CA is $90,735 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming an UX Designer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an UX Designer.

User experience designers (UX designers) earn similar compensation to web developers, computer programmers, and slightly higher than animators, graphic designers, and special effects artists. Some UX designers are self-employed freelancers while others work as salaried employees across all industries. Freelancers’ pay varies by the number of contracts they secure and the rates they charge.

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UX designers can make a significant salary since many companies are looking for their sought-after skills. You can earn $14,728.48 in this position through profit sharing and bonuses. Approximately 75% of UX designers say they're satisfied with their pay.

Your salary as a UX designer may range from $72,752.18 to $186,845.59 over time. The average salary for this position is $101,324.44. Some of the factors that affect the total pay for UX designers include years of experience and education level. You may also earn more in this role if you live in an urban area or work for high-profile clients in an agency setting.

Many UX designers advance by earning a second degree in a related field. For example, you could seek additional training or a degree in psychology, information technology, software development, or computer science. If you want to become a teacher or researcher in this area, you can pursue a master's or doctorate degree. Earning a master's degree in business administration could be a good route to higher earnings if you want to open your own UX studio. You can also build up your portfolio by adding more complex projects and developing new niches. Having impressive projects under your belt will help you move up to more lucrative positions.

When negotiating salary for a UX designer job, it helps to have an idea of what you can expect to make in this position. Use this information to guide the conversation with the hiring manager. In addition to providing the average salary for a UX designer with similar experience, you may also want to address the cost of living in your area. Urban areas with a higher cost of living tend to have higher salaries, so it's important to adjust your target salary appropriately. Don't forget to call the interviewer's attention to special certifications and skills you've earned in the UX field.