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Experience Design Manager Salary in California

How much does an Experience Design Manager make in California?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Experience Design Manager in California is $174,073 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $84.

However, an Experience Design Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $197,973
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $159,283 to $186,583
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $145,817
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View as table View as graph 25% $159,283 10% $145,817 90% $197,973 75% $186,583 $174,073 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Experience Design Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $186,583 $15,549 $3,588 $90
Average $174,073 $14,506 $3,348 $84
25th Percentile $159,283 $13,274 $3,063 $77
Check out Experience Design Manager Job Openings in California
Sr Manager Product and Experience Design

Zoox - Foster City, CA

Experience Design Manager Vice President

J.P. Morgan - Wilmington, CA

Senior Experience Design Operations Manager

Expedia Group - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Experience Design Operations Manager

Expedia Group - San Francisco, CA

Search More Experience Design Manager Jobs in California

Key Factors That Influence Experience Design Manager Salaries

An Experience Design Manager'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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Experience Design Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Experience Design Manager'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:

  • User Experience Digital Designer IV (7+ years): $157,956
  • User Experience Digital Designer V (7-10 years): $174,267
  • Experience Design Manager (10+ years): $174,052
  • User Experience Digital Design Senior Manager (10+ years): $197,387
  • User Experience Digital Design Director (10+ years): $230,373
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
User Experience Digital Designer IV7+ years$157,956
User Experience Digital Designer V7-10 years$174,267
Experience Design Manager10+ years$174,052
User Experience Digital Design Senior Manager10+ years$197,387
User Experience Digital Design Director10+ years$230,373
$157,956 User Expe...
$174,267 User Expe...
$174,052 Experienc...
$197,387 User Expe...
$230,373 User Expe...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Experience Design Managers

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:

  • Los Angeles: $174,373
  • West Hollywood: $174,243
  • Dodgertown: $174,373

Experience Design Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Experience Design Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $194,865. While startup companies pay approximate $164,851.

Experience Design Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$164,851
Growth Stage51~500$174,349
Established501~5000$188,176
Enterprise5000+$194,865

Experience Design Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Experience Design Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Experience Design Manager positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Experience Design Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Experience Design Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$208,888$100.020%
Financial Services$208,888$100.020%
Software & Networking$208,888$100.020%
Energy & Utilities$200,184$96.015%
Internet$200,184$96.015%

Experience Design Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Experience Design Manager'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 August 01, 2026

Experience Design Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Experience Design Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the User Experience Digital Design Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $197,400 - a projected growth of 13% over your current level.

Find Your Next Experience Design Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Experience Design Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • J.P. Morgan

    San Francisco, CA

    J.P. Morgan | San Francisco, CA

    hackajob is collaborating with J.P. Morgan to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role. JOB DESCRIPTION Join a team where your design expe... more

    6 Days Ago

  • J.P. Morgan

    Wilmington, CA

    J.P. Morgan | Wilmington, CA

    hackajob is collaborating with J.P. Morgan to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role. JOB DESCRIPTION Steer the forefront of user experi... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Westcliff University

    Irvine, CA

    Westcliff University | Irvine, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. What if your next job wasn’t just a role, but a place where you truly felt valued, inspired, and empowered. ... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings Ltd

    Costa Mesa, CA

    Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings Ltd | Costa Mesa, CA

    Costa Mesa Experience Center Design Consultant. The Costa Mesa Experience Center Design Consultant is responsible for providing an exceptional customer exp... more

    9 Days Ago

  • J.P. Morgan

    Palo Alto, CA

    J.P. Morgan | Palo Alto, CA

    hackajob is collaborating with J.P. Morgan to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role. JOB DESCRIPTION Shape the future of user experienc... more

    6 Days Ago

  • BBSI

    Patterson, CA

    BBSI | Patterson, CA

    Truss Design Manager JOB I.D.#75611. Description. Our client is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Truss Design Manager to join their engineeri... more

    10 Days Ago

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