Salary Comparison

UX Designer Salary:
Boston, MA vs San Antonio, TX

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

Boston, MA
$155,566
/ year
+54%
difference
San Antonio, TX
$100,792
/ year
Bottom line: San Antonio offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Boston
San Antonio
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$155,566โœ“ higher
$100,792
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$100,604โœ“ higher
$65,182
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$240,555โœ“ higher
$155,857
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$104,604โœ“ higher
$71,547
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$111,119
$114,536โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—
0.88ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$100,604โœ“ higher
$65,182
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$240,555โœ“ higher
$155,857

What if you move from Boston to San Antonio?

Gross salary change
$54,774
54% decrease
Take-home change
$33,057
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$3,417
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$155,566
P10: $100,604Median: $155,566P90: $240,555
San Antonio, TX$100,792
P10: $65,182Median: $100,792P90: $155,857

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a UX Designer earn more in Boston or San Antonio?

The median UX Designer salary in Boston, MA is $155,566/yr compared to $100,792/yr in San Antonio, TX. Boston pays 54% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a UX Designer salary worth more in Boston or San Antonio after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $111,119/yr in a median-cost city, vs $114,536/yr for San Antonio. San Antonio offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a UX Designer in Boston vs San Antonio?

After estimated taxes, a UX Designer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $104,604/yr, vs $71,547/yr in San Antonio, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.