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2026 Salary Data — Memphis, TN
Updated April 28, 2026

UX Designer Salary in Memphis: $86K Median

UX Designers in Memphis, TN earn between $62K and $145K per year.

That's -12% below the US national median of $98,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median UX Designer salary in Memphis, TN is $86,240 per year — -12% below the US national median of $98,000. Salaries range from $61,600 (entry, 25th percentile) to $145,200 (90th percentile). UX Designers in Memphis earned approximately $19,600 in 2025, representing 340.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$86,240
+340.0% YoY · $7,187/mo
Entry
$66,000
0–2 years
Experienced
$123,200
5+ years
Top 10%
$145,200
Senior/lead
UX Designer Salary — Memphis vs Nearby
Memphis
$86K
Nashville
$98K
-12% vs Memphis
El Paso
$83K
+4% vs Memphis
Tulsa
$86K
+0% vs Memphis

Free ATS scan · Memphis employers · Results in 60 seconds

About UX Designers in Memphis

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

Memphis Job Market

Logistics capital home to FedEx headquarters with major healthcare presence.

Population
633K
Cost of Living
85
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$175K

Top Industries in Memphis

Logistics (FedEx)HealthcareManufacturingMusic/Tourism

Top Employers Hiring UX Designers

Major employers active in Memphis 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 — Memphis

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$61,600$86,240$145,200
Monthly$5,133$7,187$12,100
Weekly$1,185$1,658$2,792
Hourly$30$41$70

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($98,000) adjusted for Memphis's cost-of-living multiplier (0.88×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

UX Designer Take-Home Pay in Memphis

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$68,967.84
Per month$5,747
Biweekly paycheck$2,653
Effective tax rate20.0%

Tax Breakdown on $86,240

Gross salary$86,240
Federal income tax−$10,674.8
Tennessee state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$6,597.36
Take-home (net)$68,967.84

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 — Memphis

Career-stage progression for UX Designers in Memphis.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$60,720
2–3 yr$66,000
4–6 yr$94,600
7–10 yr$123,200
11–15 yr$145,376
15+ yr$134,200

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Memphis's 0.88× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+340.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$19,600
2026 median:$86,240
Change:+$66,640

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
$101,459
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your UX Designer Salary in Memphis

Walk-away anchor: $77,000 (offers below this are below market for Memphis).

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 $123K–$145K for experienced roles, citing Memphis market data and your specific Figma/AI-assisted design expertise.

UX Designer Salary FAQ — Memphis

What is the average UX Designer salary in Memphis, TN?
The average UX Designer salary in Memphis is $86,240 per year as of April 2026 — $7,187/month, $1,658/week, or about $41/hour. Salaries range from $61,600 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $145,200 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Memphis's cost-of-living multiplier (0.88×).
Is $86,240 a good UX Designer salary in Memphis?
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. Memphis's cost-of-living index is 85 (vs 100 nationally), giving $86,240 a real purchasing power of approximately $101,459 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $86,240 in Memphis?
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 Memphis specifically (median home price $175,000), a $86,240 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $86,240 enough for a single person in Memphis?
A single adult in Memphis typically needs ~$38,250 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $86,240 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $86,240 enough for a couple in Memphis?
A couple (one earner) in Memphis typically needs ~$61,200 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $86,240 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $86,240 each ($172,480 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $86,240 enough for a family of 4 in Memphis?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Memphis typically needs ~$93,500 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $86,240 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 Memphis. Childcare costs in Memphis typically run $13K-$24K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a UX Designer in Memphis?
On a $86,240 UX Designer salary in Memphis, TN, you take home approximately $68,967.84 per year ($5,747/month, $2,653 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $10,674.8, state $0, FICA $6,597.36. Effective tax rate: 20.0%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do UX Designers in Memphis earn compared to the US average?
UX Designers in Memphis earn approximately 12% less than the US national median for this role ($98,000 nationally vs $86,240 in Memphis). However, Memphis's cost-of-living index of 85 means real purchasing power is approximately $101,459 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level UX Designer earn in Memphis?
Entry-level UX Designers in Memphis typically start at around $66,000 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, UX Designers earn $123,200 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $145,200+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did UX Designer salaries in Memphis increase in 2026?
Yes — UX Designer salaries in Memphis grew approximately 340.0% year-over-year, from $19,600 in 2025 to $86,240 in 2026 (+$66,640). 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 Memphis?
UX roles growing 8% with strong demand at SaaS and enterprise companies. Senior/staff UX designers earning $200K+. Memphis's top industries include Logistics (FedEx), Healthcare, 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 Memphis.
Who are the top employers hiring UX Designers in Memphis?
Top employers hiring UX Designers in or near Memphis 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 Memphis?
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 Memphis?
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 Memphis?
Bachelor's degree (or strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, Memphis'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 Memphis are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($98,000) by Memphis's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.88× — 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 Memphis

Product Manager →Graphic Designer →

UX Designer Salary in Other Cities

Jacksonville, FL$90KEl Paso, TX$83KNashville, TN$98KOklahoma City, OK$86KLouisville, KY$89KAlbuquerque, NM$88KTucson, AZ$88KTulsa, OK$86K

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