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2026 Salary Data — Cleveland, OH
Updated April 28, 2026

UX Designer Salary in Cleveland: $90K Median

UX Designers in Cleveland, OH earn between $64K and $152K per year.

That's -8% below the US national median of $98,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median UX Designer salary in Cleveland, OH is $90,160 per year — -8% below the US national median of $98,000. Salaries range from $64,400 (entry, 25th percentile) to $151,800 (90th percentile). UX Designers in Cleveland earned approximately $20,491 in 2025, representing 340.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$90,160
+340.0% YoY · $7,513/mo
Entry
$69,000
0–2 years
Experienced
$128,800
5+ years
Top 10%
$151,800
Senior/lead
UX Designer Salary — Cleveland vs Nearby
Cleveland
$90K
Columbus
$95K
-5% vs Cleveland
Oklahoma City
$86K
+5% vs Cleveland
Louisville
$89K
+1% vs Cleveland

Free ATS scan · Cleveland employers · Results in 60 seconds

About UX Designers in Cleveland

UX designers create intuitive user experiences through research, wireframing, prototyping, and iterative testing.

Core Responsibilities

  • User research
  • Wireframing and prototyping
  • Usability testing
  • Design systems
  • Cross-functional collaboration

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree (or strong portfolio)

In-demand certifications

Google UX DesignNielsen Norman GroupInteraction Design Foundation

Cleveland Job Market

Major medical hub anchored by Cleveland Clinic.

Population
372K
Cost of Living
88
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$175K

Top Industries in Cleveland

Healthcare (Cleveland Clinic)FinanceManufacturingTechEducation

Top Employers Hiring UX Designers

Major employers active in Cleveland or hiring remotely from this metro.

Google
Apple
Meta
Airbnb
Spotify
Netflix
Adobe
Figma

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying UX Designer listings.

FigmaAI-assisted designDesign systemsUser researchAccessibility

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

Figmauser researchwireframingprototypingusability testingdesign systemsaccessibilityA/B testing
Career Outlook
+8% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

UX roles growing 8% with strong demand at SaaS and enterprise companies. Senior/staff UX designers earning $200K+.

UX Designer Salary Breakdown — Cleveland

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$64,400$90,160$151,800
Monthly$5,367$7,513$12,650
Weekly$1,238$1,734$2,919
Hourly$31$43$73

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($98,000) adjusted for Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

UX Designer Take-Home Pay in Cleveland

After federal, state, local, and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$67,217.56
Per month$5,601
Biweekly paycheck$2,585
Effective tax rate25.4%

Tax Breakdown on $90,160

Gross salary$90,160
Federal income tax−$11,537.2
Ohio state tax−$2,254
Cleveland local tax−$2,254
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$6,897.24
Take-home (net)$67,217.56

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

UX Designer Salary by Experience — Cleveland

Career-stage progression for UX Designers in Cleveland.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$63,480
2–3 yr$69,000
4–6 yr$98,900
7–10 yr$128,800
11–15 yr$151,984
15+ yr$140,300

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Cleveland's 0.92× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+340.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$20,491
2026 median:$90,160
Change:+$69,669

Design sector growth driven by demand for Figma and AI-assisted design.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$102,455
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your UX Designer Salary in Cleveland

Walk-away anchor: $80,500 (offers below this are below market for Cleveland).

Leverage Points

  • Portfolio impact: ship metrics, before/after redesigns, A/B test wins
  • Design-systems leadership and tokens / Figma library ownership
  • Tech-adjacent skills (Figma plugins, code, AI tooling) raise compensation
  • Senior/staff/principal design ladders mirror engineering pay - cite them

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

RSU / equity grant aligned with engineering ladderAnnual hardware refresh (Mac, monitor, iPad)Software / Figma / Adobe license budgetConference budget (Config, FITC) and learning stipendRemote-first flexibility

What To Say

"Senior product designers at peer SaaS companies are at $X plus equity. I'd like base in that range plus an RSU grant aligned with engineering at the same level."

Anchor on $129K–$152K for experienced roles, citing Cleveland market data and your specific Figma/AI-assisted design expertise.

UX Designer Salary FAQ — Cleveland

What is the average UX Designer salary in Cleveland, OH?
The average UX Designer salary in Cleveland is $90,160 per year as of April 2026 — $7,513/month, $1,734/week, or about $43/hour. Salaries range from $64,400 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $151,800 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×).
Is $90,160 a good UX Designer salary in Cleveland?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Cleveland's cost-of-living index is 88 (vs 100 nationally), giving $90,160 a real purchasing power of approximately $102,455 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $90,160 in Cleveland?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Cleveland specifically (median home price $175,000), a $90,160 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $90,160 enough for a single person in Cleveland?
A single adult in Cleveland typically needs ~$39,600 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $90,160 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $90,160 enough for a couple in Cleveland?
A couple (one earner) in Cleveland typically needs ~$63,360 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $90,160 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $90,160 each ($180,320 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $90,160 enough for a family of 4 in Cleveland?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Cleveland typically needs ~$96,800 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $90,160 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most families need a second income or to live in cheaper suburbs/exurbs of Cleveland. Childcare costs in Cleveland typically run $13K-$25K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a UX Designer in Cleveland?
On a $90,160 UX Designer salary in Cleveland, OH, you take home approximately $67,217.56 per year ($5,601/month, $2,585 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $11,537.2, state $2,254, local $2,254, FICA $6,897.24. Effective tax rate: 25.4%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do UX Designers in Cleveland earn compared to the US average?
UX Designers in Cleveland earn approximately 8% less than the US national median for this role ($98,000 nationally vs $90,160 in Cleveland). However, Cleveland's cost-of-living index of 88 means real purchasing power is approximately $102,455 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level UX Designer earn in Cleveland?
Entry-level UX Designers in Cleveland typically start at around $69,000 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, UX Designers earn $128,800 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $151,800+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did UX Designer salaries in Cleveland increase in 2026?
Yes — UX Designer salaries in Cleveland grew approximately 340.0% year-over-year, from $20,491 in 2025 to $90,160 in 2026 (+$69,669). This reflects the broader Design sector's compensation trend, driven by Figma and AI-assisted design demand.
What's the job outlook for UX Designers in Cleveland?
UX roles growing 8% with strong demand at SaaS and enterprise companies. Senior/staff UX designers earning $200K+. Cleveland's top industries include Healthcare (Cleveland Clinic), Finance, Manufacturing, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for UX Designers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for UX Designers are: Figma, AI-assisted design, Design systems, User research, Accessibility. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Cleveland.
Who are the top employers hiring UX Designers in Cleveland?
Top employers hiring UX Designers in or near Cleveland include: Google, Apple, Meta, Airbnb, Spotify, Netflix. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher UX Designer salary in Cleveland?
Senior product designers at peer SaaS companies are at $X plus equity. I'd like base in that range plus an RSU grant aligned with engineering at the same level. Key leverage points for Design negotiations: Portfolio impact: ship metrics, before/after redesigns, A/B test wins; Design-systems leadership and tokens / Figma library ownership; Tech-adjacent skills (Figma plugins, code, AI tooling) raise compensation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: RSU / equity grant aligned with engineering ladder, Annual hardware refresh (Mac, monitor, iPad), Software / Figma / Adobe license budget, Conference budget (Config, FITC) and learning stipend.
How can I increase my UX Designer salary in Cleveland?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (Figma, AI-assisted design, Design systems) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., Google UX Design or Nielsen Norman Group). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a UX Designer in Cleveland?
Bachelor's degree (or strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, Cleveland's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Design roles.

Methodology & Sources

UX Designer salary figures for Cleveland are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($98,000) by Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.92× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (340.0%) reflects the Design sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Cleveland

Product Manager →Graphic Designer →

UX Designer Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$91KJacksonville, FL$90KColumbus, OH$95KIndianapolis, IN$91KDetroit, MI$91KMemphis, TN$86KOklahoma City, OK$86KLas Vegas, NV$93K

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