Salary Comparison

UX Designer Salary:
Denver, CO vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Denver, CO
$131,844
/ year
+7%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$122,835
/ year
Bottom line: Denver wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$131,844✓ higher
$122,835
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$85,263✓ higher
$79,437
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$203,873✓ higher
$189,943
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$90,287✓ higher
$84,850
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$115,653✓ higher
$113,736
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$85,263✓ higher
$79,437
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$203,873✓ higher
$189,943

What if you move from Denver to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$9,009
7% decrease
Take-home change
$5,437
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,917
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

Denver, CO$131,844
P10: $85,263Median: $131,844P90: $203,873
Philadelphia, PA$122,835
P10: $79,437Median: $122,835P90: $189,943

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a UX Designer earn more in Denver or Philadelphia?

The median UX Designer salary in Denver, CO is $131,844/yr compared to $122,835/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Denver pays 7% more in gross terms.

▶Is a UX Designer salary worth more in Denver or Philadelphia after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Denver salary has the purchasing power of $115,653/yr in a median-cost city, vs $113,736/yr for Philadelphia. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a UX Designer in Denver vs Philadelphia?

After estimated taxes, a UX Designer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $90,287/yr, vs $84,850/yr in Philadelphia, PA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.