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2026 Salary Data — Long Beach, CA
Updated April 28, 2026

UX Designer Salary in Long Beach: $118K Median

UX Designers in Long Beach, CA earn between $84K and $198K per year.

That's +20% above the US national median of $98,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median UX Designer salary in Long Beach, CA is $117,600 per year — +20% above the US national median of $98,000. Salaries range from $84,000 (entry, 25th percentile) to $198,000 (90th percentile). UX Designers in Long Beach earned approximately $26,727 in 2025, representing 340.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$117,600
+340.0% YoY · $9,800/mo
Entry
$90,000
0–2 years
Experienced
$168,000
5+ years
Top 10%
$198,000
Senior/lead

Free ATS scan · Long Beach employers · Results in 60 seconds

About UX Designers in Long Beach

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

Long Beach Job Market

Major Pacific port city with strong aerospace and healthcare presence.

Population
467K
Cost of Living
153
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
5%
Median Home
$770K

Top Industries in Long Beach

AerospaceHealthcareLogistics (Port)TourismEducation

Top Employers Hiring UX Designers

Major employers active in Long Beach 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 — Long Beach

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$84,000$117,600$198,000
Monthly$7,000$9,800$16,500
Weekly$1,615$2,262$3,808
Hourly$40$57$95

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($98,000) adjusted for Long Beach's cost-of-living multiplier (1.20×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

UX Designer Take-Home Pay in Long Beach

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$84,561.6
Per month$7,047
Biweekly paycheck$3,252
Effective tax rate28.1%

Tax Breakdown on $117,600

Gross salary$117,600
Federal income tax$17,574
California state tax$6,468
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)$8,996.4
Take-home (net)$84,561.6

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 — Long Beach

Career-stage progression for UX Designers in Long Beach.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$82,800
2–3 yr$90,000
4–6 yr$129,000
7–10 yr$168,000
11–15 yr$198,240
15+ yr$183,000

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Long Beach's 1.20× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+340.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$26,727
2026 median:$117,600
Change:+$90,873

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

Is This A Good Salary?

Solid above median

Real purchasing power lands comfortably above the national middle-class threshold once cost of living is factored in. Homeownership and meaningful retirement savings are achievable on a single income.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$76,863
Difficult on the median - the nominal salary masks how little real purchasing power remains after rent, taxes, and basic costs.

How to Negotiate Your UX Designer Salary in Long Beach

Walk-away anchor: $105,000 (offers below this are below market for Long Beach).

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 $168K$198K for experienced roles, citing Long Beach market data and your specific Figma/AI-assisted design expertise.

UX Designer Salary FAQ — Long Beach

What is the average UX Designer salary in Long Beach, CA?
The average UX Designer salary in Long Beach is $117,600 per year as of April 2026 — $9,800/month, $2,262/week, or about $57/hour. Salaries range from $84,000 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $198,000 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Long Beach's cost-of-living multiplier (1.20×).
Is $117,600 a good UX Designer salary in Long Beach?
Solid above median. Real purchasing power lands comfortably above the national middle-class threshold once cost of living is factored in. Homeownership and meaningful retirement savings are achievable on a single income. Long Beach's cost-of-living index is 153 (vs 100 nationally), giving $117,600 a real purchasing power of approximately $76,863 in national terms. Difficult on the median - the nominal salary masks how little real purchasing power remains after rent, taxes, and basic costs.
Can you live on $117,600 in Long Beach?
Median pay is below HUD's low-income threshold for a family of four in some of these metros (notably San Francisco, where $104K qualifies as 'low income'). Raising a family on the median typically requires two earners, a long commute, or family help with housing. Spending 30% on rent is impossible at the median in this market - most workers spend 40-50% or take roommates well into their 30s. HUD classifies anything over 30% as 'cost-burdened' here. For Long Beach specifically (median home price $770,000), a $117,600 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $117,600 enough for a single person in Long Beach?
A single adult in Long Beach typically needs ~$68,850 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $117,600 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $117,600 enough for a couple in Long Beach?
A couple (one earner) in Long Beach typically needs ~$110,160 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $117,600 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $117,600 each ($235,200 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $117,600 enough for a family of 4 in Long Beach?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Long Beach typically needs ~$168,300 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $117,600 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 Long Beach. Childcare costs in Long Beach typically run $23K-$43K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a UX Designer in Long Beach?
On a $117,600 UX Designer salary in Long Beach, CA, you take home approximately $84,561.6 per year ($7,047/month, $3,252 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $17,574, state $6,468, FICA $8,996.4. Effective tax rate: 28.1%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do UX Designers in Long Beach earn compared to the US average?
UX Designers in Long Beach earn approximately 20% more than the US national median for this role ($98,000 nationally vs $117,600 in Long Beach). However, Long Beach's cost-of-living index of 153 means real purchasing power is approximately $76,863 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level UX Designer earn in Long Beach?
Entry-level UX Designers in Long Beach typically start at around $90,000 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, UX Designers earn $168,000 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $198,000+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did UX Designer salaries in Long Beach increase in 2026?
Yes — UX Designer salaries in Long Beach grew approximately 340.0% year-over-year, from $26,727 in 2025 to $117,600 in 2026 (+$90,873). 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 Long Beach?
UX roles growing 8% with strong demand at SaaS and enterprise companies. Senior/staff UX designers earning $200K+. Long Beach's top industries include Aerospace, Healthcare, Logistics (Port), and the metro's current unemployment rate is 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 Long Beach.
Who are the top employers hiring UX Designers in Long Beach?
Top employers hiring UX Designers in or near Long Beach 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 Long Beach?
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 Long Beach?
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 Long Beach?
Bachelor's degree (or strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, Long Beach'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 Long Beach are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($98,000) by Long Beach's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.20× — 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.

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