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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a UX Designer III in the United States is $116,108 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $130,669
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,114 to $123,730
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $100,836

Key Factors That Influence UX Designer III Salaries

A UX Designer III'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 UX Designer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a UX Designer III'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:

  • UI/Usability Designer I (0-2 years): $81,272
  • UI/Usability Designer II (2-4 years): $103,288
  • UX Designer III (4-7 years): $116,108
  • UI/Usability Designer IV (7+ years): $143,206
  • UI/Usability Designer V (7-10 years): $157,994
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
UI/Usability Designer I0-2 years$81,272
UI/Usability Designer II2-4 years$103,288
UX Designer III4-7 years$116,108
UI/Usability Designer IV7+ years$143,206
UI/Usability Designer V7-10 years$157,994

How Do UX Designer IIIs 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 UX Designer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $128,555.
  • California: $128,067.
  • Massachusetts: $126,360.

Top Paying Cities for UX Designer III

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: $146,447
  • San Francisco: $144,844
  • Oakland: $141,791

What Skills Can Increase a UX Designer III'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.
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 UX Designer III's salary.

  • Data Transfer: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Biotechnology: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • XML: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Data Transfer $133,524
15%
Biotechnology $131,202
13%
XML $130,041
12%

UX Designer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

UX Designer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $129,976. While startup companies pay approximate $109,957.

UX Designer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $109,957
Growth Stage 51~500 $116,292
Established 501~5000 $125,515
Enterprise 5000+ $129,976

UX Designer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For UX Designer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 104% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, UX Designer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view UX Designer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a UX Designer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$162,551$78.040%
Financial Services$150,940$73.030%
Biotechnology$145,135$70.025%
Internet$141,652$68.022%
Pharmaceuticals$137,007$66.018%

How Education impacts an UX Designer III's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an UX Designer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $113,999 and $120,316.

UX Designer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for UX Designer III
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%

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

Understanding how a UX Designer III'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
$108,114
Average $116,108/year
$123,730
$9,010
Average $9,676/month
$10,311
$2,079
Average $2,233/week
$2,379
$52
Average $56/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $123,730 $10,311 $2,379 $59
Average $116,108 $9,676 $2,233 $56
25th Percentile $108,114 $9,010 $2,079 $52

UX Designer III Salary Growth & Career Path

For a UX Designer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the UX Designer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $143,206 - a projected growth of 23% over your current level.

Most common benefits for UX Designer III

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for UX Designer III

Here are companies hiring for UX Designer III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about UX Designer III

1. Where can a UX Designer III earn the most?

A UX Designer III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a UX Designer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a UX Designer III is $146,447.

2. What is the highest pay for UX Designer III?

The highest pay for UX Designer III is $130,669.

3. What is the lowest pay for UX Designer III?

The lowest pay for UX Designer III is $100,836.

4. What are the responsibilities of UX Designer III?

Creates intuitive, user-centered digital experiences by understanding user needs, behaviors, and motivations. Researches and analyzes user data, conducts usability testing, and translates insights into wireframes, prototypes, and design solutions. Collaborates with product managers, developers, and stakeholders to ensure designs and features align with business goals and technical constraints. Requires knowledge of visual design and wireframing/prototyping tools. May require familiarity with various graphic design software packages. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for UX Designer III?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for UX Designer III roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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