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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an User Experience Lead in California is $166,777 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.
However, an User Experience Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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User Experience Lead Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $178,040 | $14,837 | $3,424 | $86 |
| Average | $166,777 | $13,898 | $3,207 | $80 |
| 25th Percentile | $150,756 | $12,563 | $2,899 | $72 |
Silicon Valley Bank - San Francisco, CA
First Citizens - San Francisco, CA
MedStar Health - Los Angeles, CA
First Citizens - San Francisco, CA
An User Experience Lead'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.
Experience is a primary driver of an User Experience Lead'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| UI Design... Level User Experience Lead | $97,406 |
| UI Design... Level User Experience Lead | $125,242 |
| UI Design... Level User Experience Lead | $151,551 |
| UI Design... Level User Experience Lead | $172,663 |
| User Expe... Level User Experience Lead | $167,890 |
What Am I Worth?
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 User Experience Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For User Experience Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 5% above the average. In contrast, User Experience Lead positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view User Experience Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $175,116 | $84.0 | 5% |
| Business Services | $175,116 | $84.0 | 5% |
| Construction | $175,116 | $84.0 | 5% |
| Energy & Utilities | $175,116 | $84.0 | 5% |
| Healthcare | $175,116 | $84.0 | 5% |
Understanding how an User Experience Lead'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $178,040 | $14,837 | $3,424 | $86 |
| Average | $166,777 | $13,898 | $3,207 | $80 |
| 25th Percentile | $150,756 | $12,563 | $2,899 | $72 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current User Experience Lead job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
JBCPlatform
San Mateo, CA
JBCPlatform | San Mateo, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Client: Autonomous Vehicle/Tech. Title:User Experience Researcher. Job Location: Foster City, CA. Duration: ~12 Months. T... more
10 Days Ago
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
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