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2026 Salary Data — Kansas City, MO
Updated April 28, 2026

UX Designer Salary in Kansas City: $93K Median

UX Designers in Kansas City, MO earn between $67K and $157K per year.

That's -5% below the US national median of $98,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median UX Designer salary in Kansas City, MO is $93,100 per year — -5% below the US national median of $98,000. Salaries range from $66,500 (entry, 25th percentile) to $156,750 (90th percentile). UX Designers in Kansas City earned approximately $21,159 in 2025, representing 340.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$93,100
+340.0% YoY · $7,758/mo
Entry
$71,250
0–2 years
Experienced
$133,000
5+ years
Top 10%
$156,750
Senior/lead
UX Designer Salary — Kansas City vs Nearby
Kansas City
$93K
San Antonio
$91K
+2% vs Kansas City
Omaha
$95K
-2% vs Kansas City
Indianapolis
$91K
+2% vs Kansas City

Free ATS scan · Kansas City employers · Results in 60 seconds

About UX Designers in Kansas City

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

Kansas City Job Market

Major logistics hub with growing tech presence.

Population
508K
Cost of Living
91
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.7%
Median Home
$270K

Top Industries in Kansas City

TechLogisticsFinanceHealthcareEngineering

Top Employers Hiring UX Designers

Major employers active in Kansas City 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 — Kansas City

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$66,500$93,100$156,750
Monthly$5,542$7,758$13,063
Weekly$1,279$1,790$3,014
Hourly$32$45$75

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($98,000) adjusted for Kansas City's cost-of-living multiplier (0.95×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

UX Designer Take-Home Pay in Kansas City

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$69,418.15
Per month$5,785
Biweekly paycheck$2,670
Effective tax rate25.4%

Tax Breakdown on $93,100

Gross salary$93,100
Federal income tax−$12,184
Missouri state tax−$3,444.7
Kansas City local tax−$931
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,122.15
Take-home (net)$69,418.15

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 — Kansas City

Career-stage progression for UX Designers in Kansas City.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$65,550
2–3 yr$71,250
4–6 yr$102,125
7–10 yr$133,000
11–15 yr$156,940
15+ yr$144,875

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Kansas City's 0.95× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+340.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$21,159
2026 median:$93,100
Change:+$71,941

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
$102,308
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your UX Designer Salary in Kansas City

Walk-away anchor: $83,125 (offers below this are below market for Kansas City).

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 $133K–$157K for experienced roles, citing Kansas City market data and your specific Figma/AI-assisted design expertise.

UX Designer Salary FAQ — Kansas City

What is the average UX Designer salary in Kansas City, MO?
The average UX Designer salary in Kansas City is $93,100 per year as of April 2026 — $7,758/month, $1,790/week, or about $45/hour. Salaries range from $66,500 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $156,750 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Kansas City's cost-of-living multiplier (0.95×).
Is $93,100 a good UX Designer salary in Kansas City?
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. Kansas City's cost-of-living index is 91 (vs 100 nationally), giving $93,100 a real purchasing power of approximately $102,308 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $93,100 in Kansas City?
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 Kansas City specifically (median home price $270,000), a $93,100 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $93,100 enough for a single person in Kansas City?
A single adult in Kansas City typically needs ~$40,950 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $93,100 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $93,100 enough for a couple in Kansas City?
A couple (one earner) in Kansas City typically needs ~$65,520 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $93,100 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $93,100 each ($186,200 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $93,100 enough for a family of 4 in Kansas City?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Kansas City typically needs ~$100,100 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $93,100 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 Kansas City. Childcare costs in Kansas City typically run $14K-$25K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a UX Designer in Kansas City?
On a $93,100 UX Designer salary in Kansas City, MO, you take home approximately $69,418.15 per year ($5,785/month, $2,670 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $12,184, state $3,444.7, local $931, FICA $7,122.15. Effective tax rate: 25.4%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do UX Designers in Kansas City earn compared to the US average?
UX Designers in Kansas City earn approximately 5% less than the US national median for this role ($98,000 nationally vs $93,100 in Kansas City). However, Kansas City's cost-of-living index of 91 means real purchasing power is approximately $102,308 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level UX Designer earn in Kansas City?
Entry-level UX Designers in Kansas City typically start at around $71,250 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, UX Designers earn $133,000 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $156,750+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did UX Designer salaries in Kansas City increase in 2026?
Yes — UX Designer salaries in Kansas City grew approximately 340.0% year-over-year, from $21,159 in 2025 to $93,100 in 2026 (+$71,941). 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 Kansas City?
UX roles growing 8% with strong demand at SaaS and enterprise companies. Senior/staff UX designers earning $200K+. Kansas City's top industries include Tech, Logistics, Finance, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.7% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
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 Kansas City.
Who are the top employers hiring UX Designers in Kansas City?
Top employers hiring UX Designers in or near Kansas City 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 Kansas City?
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 Kansas City?
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 Kansas City?
Bachelor's degree (or strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, Kansas City'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 Kansas City are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($98,000) by Kansas City's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.95× — 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 Kansas City

Product Manager →Graphic Designer →

UX Designer Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$91KJacksonville, FL$90KColumbus, OH$95KIndianapolis, IN$91KDetroit, MI$91KLas Vegas, NV$93KLouisville, KY$89KMilwaukee, WI$93K

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