Salary Comparison

UX Designer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs San Antonio, TX

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

Seattle, WA
$165,327
/ year
+64%
difference
San Antonio, TX
$100,792
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Seattle
San Antonio
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$165,327โœ“ higher
$100,792
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$106,916โœ“ higher
$65,182
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$255,649โœ“ higher
$155,857
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$110,494โœ“ higher
$71,547
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$116,427โœ“ higher
$114,536
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42ร—
0.88ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$106,916โœ“ higher
$65,182
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$255,649โœ“ higher
$155,857

What if you move from Seattle to San Antonio?

Gross salary change
$64,535
64% decrease
Take-home change
$38,947
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,891
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

Seattle, WA$165,327
P10: $106,916Median: $165,327P90: $255,649
San Antonio, TX$100,792
P10: $65,182Median: $100,792P90: $155,857

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median UX Designer salary in Seattle, WA is $165,327/yr compared to $100,792/yr in San Antonio, TX. Seattle pays 64% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a UX Designer salary worth more in Seattle or San Antonio 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 $114,536/yr for San Antonio. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a UX Designer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $110,494/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.