User Experience Engineer Salary in California

How much does an User Experience Engineer make in California?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an User Experience Engineer in California is $128,492 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $148,224
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $116,253 to $138,820
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,110
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View as table View as graph 25% $116,253 10% $105,110 90% $148,224 75% $138,820 $128,492 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

User Experience Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $138,820 $11,568 $2,670 $67
Average $128,492 $10,708 $2,471 $62
25th Percentile $116,253 $9,688 $2,236 $56
Check out User Experience Engineer Job Openings in California
User Experience Researcher

JBCPlatform - San Mateo, CA

Lead User Experience Designer

Silicon Valley Bank - San Francisco, CA

Lead User Experience Designer

First Citizens - San Francisco, CA

Lead User Experience Designer

MedStar Health - Los Angeles, CA

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Key Factors That Influence User Experience Engineer Salaries

An User Experience Engineer'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 User Experience Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an User Experience Engineer'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): $79,207
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $104,999
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $131,042
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $153,295
  • Expert (over 8 years): $133,492
Levels Salary
Talent Pe... Level User Experience Engineer$79,207
Talent Pe... Level User Experience Engineer$104,999
User Expe... Level User Experience Engineer$131,042
Organizat... Level User Experience Engineer$153,295
Talent Pe... Level User Experience Engineer$133,492
$79,207 0 yr
$104,999 < 2 yrs
$131,042 2-4 yrs
$153,295 5-8 yrs
$133,492 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for User Experience Engineers

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: $128,713
  • West Hollywood: $128,620
  • Dodgertown: $128,712

User Experience Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For User Experience Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, User Experience Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view User Experience Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an User Experience Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$179,888$86.040%
Software & Networking$179,888$86.040%
Pharmaceuticals$173,464$83.035%
Financial Services$167,039$80.030%
Internet$160,615$77.025%

User Experience Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an User Experience Engineer'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

Find Your Next User Experience Engineer Job

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

United States
  • First Citizens

    San Francisco, CA

    First Citizens | San Francisco, CA

    OverviewThis is a remote position that can only be hired in California.This position is aligned to the Enterprise Digital Design organization at Silicon Va... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Ultrahuman

    San Francisco, CA

    Ultrahuman | San Francisco, CA

    About Ultrahuman :Ultrahuman is the world's most comprehensive self-quantification platform.Ultrahuman's products include the Ultrahuman Ring AIR, world's ... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Living Spaces

    La Mirada, CA

    Living Spaces | La Mirada, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Position Summary. The Product Manager I, User Experience helps shape how customers experience our digital storefront by t... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Aeris Communications

    San Jose, CA

    Aeris Communications | San Jose, CA

    For more than three decades, Aeris has been a trusted cellular IoT leader enabling the biggest IoT programs and opportunities across Automotive, Utilities ... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Little Wheel

    Newark, CA

    Little Wheel | Newark, CA

    Join Our Team as a Website Tester at Little Wheel Little Wheel is a gambling technology company focused on researching and building products that put playe... more

    6 Days Ago

  • First Citizens

    San Francisco, CA

    First Citizens | San Francisco, CA

    Overview This is a remote role that may be hired in several markets in the United States.This position is aligned to Silicon Valley Bank, a division of Fir... more

    7 Days Ago

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