Salary Comparison

UX Designer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Seattle, WA
$165,327
/ year
+3%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$160,123
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Seattle
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$165,327✓ higher
$160,123
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$106,916✓ higher
$103,551
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$255,649✓ higher
$247,602
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$110,494✓ higher
$107,354
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$116,427✓ higher
$116,031
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.38×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$106,916✓ higher
$103,551
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$255,649✓ higher
$247,602

What if you move from Seattle to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
$5,204
3% decrease
Take-home change
$3,140
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$396
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

Seattle, WA$165,327
P10: $106,916Median: $165,327P90: $255,649
Los Angeles, CA$160,123
P10: $103,551Median: $160,123P90: $247,602

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a UX Designer earn more in Seattle or Los Angeles?

The median UX Designer salary in Seattle, WA is $165,327/yr compared to $160,123/yr in Los Angeles, CA. Seattle pays 3% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $116,427/yr in a median-cost city, vs $116,031/yr for Los Angeles. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a UX Designer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $110,494/yr, vs $107,354/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.