29 Honest UI Designer Salaries

User interface (UI) designers are the artists of the digital world. They are responsible for the visual layout and interactive elements of apps, websites, and software. They ensure that when you tap a button, scroll through a screen, or swipe left, it’s not just functional—it’s delightful.

As businesses continue to invest in intuitive, user-friendly experiences, the demand for talented UI designers is rapidly increasing. But with rising demand comes a wide range of salaries, and not all roles are created equal. 

That’s why salary transparency matters. Whether you're just getting started or looking to advance, understanding what others in your field are earning helps you negotiate more effectively and make strategic career decisions. 

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about UI designer salaries, including factors that impact earnings, what actual UI designers make, and tips to boost your salary. 

What is a UI Designer?

A UI (user interface) designer is responsible for creating the visual layout and interactive elements of a digital product. Their job is to ensure that every screen a user sees is not only visually appealing but also easy to navigate and use. Think buttons, icons, spacing, typography, and color schemes. 

UI design roles often go by different names depending on the company or focus. Keep an eye out for:

• UI Designer

• Visual Designer

• Product Designer (UI-focused)

• Digital Designer

• Interface Designer

Core Responsibilities of a UI Designer

While tasks vary by company, most UI designers focus on:

• Designing interfaces for web, mobile, or software platforms

• Creating component libraries and reusable design assets

• Collaborating with UX designers to translate research into clean visual layouts

• Working with developers to ensure designs are implemented accurately

• Maintaining consistency across products using design systems or style guides

Skills to Be a Successful UI Designer

To be successful, UI designers blend creativity with technical know-how. The most in-demand skills and tools include visual design principles, prototyping tools, design systems, and basic coding skills, like HTML or CSS. While coding skills aren't mandatory, they can help make the handoff to the dev team go smoother. 

29 Honest Salaries for UI Designers

Wondering what UI designers actually earn across the U.S.? Nationwide, UX/UI designers make around $112,000 per year. But, of course, UX and UI aren't the same, and someone living in NYC is going to earn a very different salary than someone living in rural Nebraska. 

To make this easier to understand, we compiled real-world salary data from job boards, self-reported sources, and sites such as Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and Built In, along with anecdotal reports from industry professionals. We focused on roles explicitly labeled as “UI Designer” or similar titles, excluding hybrid UX/UI positions unless UI was the dominant focus.

Each city listing includes a low, average, and high-end salary to help you understand how experience and different skills impact potential growth. Keep in mind, these figures don’t include bonuses, equity, or other perks, which can add significant value, especially at startups and tech companies.

A few clear patterns emerge when you look across cities:

• Tech Hubs Pay the Most: San Francisco, New York, and Seattle lead the pack, with average salaries exceeding $100,000 and high-end offers ranging from $135,000 to $145,000. If you're aiming for top-tier compensation, these cities still set the bar.

• Mid-Size Cities Are Catching Up: Places like Austin, Denver, and Minneapolis offer strong average salaries in the $85,000–$95,000 range, with a lower cost of living compared to coastal hubs. These markets are growing rapidly and often offer a better work-life balance.

• Smaller Markets Still Offer Solid Wages: Even in cities like Omaha, Boise, or Burlington, experienced UI designers can pull in $90,000 or more. That’s a strong return for regions where rent doesn’t eat half your paycheck.

• The Range Matters: In most cities, the spread between entry-level and senior roles is significant, often exceeding $40,000. That highlights just how much experience, skillset, and company type (agency vs. in-house) can affect earnings.

Salary Considerations for UI Designers

Not all UI design roles pay the same, and it’s not just about location. A variety of factors can influence how much you earn, from the tools you know to the industry you work in. If you're looking to boost your salary (or just understand what you're worth), here are the most significant variables to keep in mind.

Tool Proficiency

Knowing your way around industry-standard tools like Figma, Sketch, and prototyping platforms can give you a serious edge. Employers want designers who can jump into established workflows, use shared component libraries, and collaborate with ease. If you’re proficient in multiple tools—or can showcase mastery of one—you’ll stand out.

Design Systems Experience

More and more companies rely on design systems to keep their products consistent and scalable. If you’ve helped build or maintain a design system, that experience boosts your value. It demonstrates your ability to work within a system and shows you know when to evolve it. 

Coding Knowledge

You don’t need to be a front-end developer, but knowing the basics of HTML and CSS can make you a more attractive hire. It improves your collaboration with developers, streamlines handoff, and often leads to cleaner implementations of your designs.

Industry

Where you work matters; product-focused roles in SaaS, fintech, and health tech tend to offer higher salaries than agency or nonprofit gigs. These industries typically invest more in design and are willing to pay for specialized UI talent.

Portfolio Strength 

A sleek, modern, and mobile-first portfolio is one of the most powerful tools you have. Employers want to see what you can do. A strong portfolio demonstrates not just your skills but your ability to think through problems, communicate your decisions, and deliver polished, user-centered designs.

How Experience Impacts Salary

As with most careers, your level of experience plays a major role in what you can earn as a UI designer. Entry-level roles focus more on production and support, while senior designers often shape strategy and mentor others. Here's how that can impact your take-home pay. 

Entry-Level (0–2 years) ~$60K–$75K

New UI designers typically support more experienced teammates by producing mockups, polishing visuals, and handling smaller features. The focus here is on learning tools, understanding team workflows, and building confidence with real-world projects.

Mid-Level (3–5 years): ~$75K–$100K

Mid-level designers usually own product flows, work directly with developers and product managers, and contribute to larger initiatives like A/B testing and pattern updates. By this point, they’re expected to solve problems independently and think more strategically about the user experience.

Senior-Level (6+ years): ~$100K–$130K+

Senior UI designers often lead visual direction, maintain or evolve component libraries, and mentor junior designers. They’re involved in product planning, cross-functional collaboration, and may contribute to shaping the overall design culture within a company. Their work impacts not just pixels, but product strategy.

Must-Know Tools for UI Designers

To thrive as a UI designer, you need the right tools in your belt. Here’s a breakdown of essential software grouped by function:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch are your go-to tools for interface layout, wireframing, and interactive prototypes. Figma, in particular, dominates the collaborative product design space.

• Asset Creation: You'll need to be very comfortable with Illustrator, Photoshop, and Canva. Whether it’s icons, illustrations, or marketing visuals, these tools help polish your UI assets and prep them for handoff or presentation.

• Handoff & Collaboration: Tools like Zeplin, InVision, and Storybook streamline the dev handoff process, offering specs, assets, and documentation in one place. This is critical for efficient teamwork.

• Motion/Interaction Design: Get familiar with Principle, Lottie, and After Effects. These tools help bring your designs to life with animations and micro-interactions that enhance usability and delight users.

• Bonus – Front-End Familiarity: If you want to really stand out, get familiar with HTML and CSS. It's not mandatory, but understanding how your designs translate to code can reduce friction during implementation and make you a more effective design partner.

Must-Have Certifications for UI Designers

Certifications aren’t always required for UI roles, but they can boost your credibility, especially if you’re transitioning from another field or want to stand out in a competitive market. Here are some of the most valuable ones:

• Google UX Design Certificate: Offered through Coursera, this beginner-friendly program covers UX fundamentals but includes plenty of UI design applications. It’s a solid choice for those with cross-disciplinary goals.

• UI Design Courses on Coursera or LinkedIn Learning: These platform-based certificates vary in depth and style but often include portfolio-building projects. They’re a great way to learn design tools and workflows at your own pace.

• Adobe Certified Professional – Visual Design: Focused on Illustrator, Photoshop, and layout principles, this cert shows you’ve got a handle on key visual design tools often used in UI work.

• Nielsen Norman Group Certifications: While more UX-oriented, these are highly respected in the design world, especially if your role involves user testing or interaction design.

How to Increase Your Salary as a UI Designer

If you're aiming to boost your earning potential, good news: there are several strategic moves you can make beyond just waiting for your annual review. Here are some of the most effective ways to level up:

• Specialize in Mobile-First or Accessibility-Focused Design: Designers who understand how to create inclusive, responsive experiences are in high demand. These skills are especially valued in regulated industries and companies with large user bases.

• Learn Motion Design and Interactive Prototyping Tools: Tools like Lottie, After Effects, and Principle help you design rich, interactive experiences that stand out. Bonus: they make your portfolio more engaging, too.

• Build a Strong Personal Brand and Portfolio Site: A modern, mobile-optimized portfolio—paired with thoughtful case studies—can be a game-changer in salary negotiations. Consider blogging, speaking, or sharing your work on design platforms to increase visibility.

• Work in Product-Focused Companies Rather Than Agencies: Agencies can be great for variety and growth, but product companies often offer higher salaries, clearer career ladders, and more design ownership.

• Cross-Train in UX Research or Front-End Development: UI designers who understand the “why” behind user needs—or who can translate designs into code—are often seen as more strategic and collaborative team members. That value translates into higher pay.

Conclusion

UI designers play a critical role in shaping how people interact with the digital world, and companies are willing to pay top dollar for those who bring creativity and technical skill. Whether you're just starting or looking to advance, your salary potential depends on a combination of experience, specialization, and the strength of your portfolio.

Staying current with tools, certifications, and industry trends is key. The more value you bring to the table through mobile-first design, accessibility, motion, or even a bit of code, the more negotiating power you'll have. 

Ready to level up your UI design skills and boost your earning potential? Check out CBT Nuggets’ programming and development training to get hands-on with the tools and tech that hiring managers are looking for.