Salary Comparison

Product Designer Salary:
Austin, TX vs Los Angeles, CA

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Austin, TX
$145,163
/ year
-17%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$175,803
/ year
Bottom line: Austin offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Austin
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$145,163
$175,803✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$93,876
$113,691✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$224,469
$271,848✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$98,325
$117,368✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$129,610✓ higher
$127,393
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12×✓ lower
1.38×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$93,876
$113,691✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$224,469
$271,848✓ higher

What if you move from Austin to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
+$30,640
17% increase
Take-home change
+$19,043
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,217
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Austin, TX$145,163
P10: $93,876Median: $145,163P90: $224,469
Los Angeles, CA$175,803
P10: $113,691Median: $175,803P90: $271,848

More Product Designer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Product Designer earn more in Austin or Los Angeles?

The median Product Designer salary in Austin, TX is $145,163/yr compared to $175,803/yr in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles pays 17% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Product Designer salary worth more in Austin or Los Angeles after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $129,610/yr in a median-cost city, vs $127,393/yr for Los Angeles. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Product Designer in Austin vs Los Angeles?

After estimated taxes, a Product Designer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $98,325/yr, vs $117,368/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.