UX Designer Salary

Raleigh vs Statesville: UX Designer Salary (2026)

Compare ux designer salaries between Raleigh, NC and Statesville, NC. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Raleigh, NC
$82,406
$39.62/hr
Statesville, NC
$63,981
$30.76/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRaleigh, NCStatesville, NC
Median Salary$82,406$63,981
Hourly Rate$39.62$30.76
Entry Level (P10)$47,156$37,109
25th Percentile$57,186$46,066
75th Percentile$108,500$81,896
Top Earner (P90)$136,740$99,171
Total Employed7707
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Raleigh ($82,406) and Statesville ($63,981) ux designer salaries.RaleighStatesvilleMedian Salary$82,406$63,981Entry Level (P10)$47,156$37,109Top Earner (P90)$136,740$99,171US Median $83,320

Verdict

Raleigh, NC offers better overall compensation for ux designers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Statesville.

The salary gap between Raleigh and Statesville is $18,425 (28.80%). Raleigh's median is -1.10% compared to the US national median of $83,320.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Raleigh spans $89,584,Statesville spans $62,062. Raleigh has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Raleigh
P10 (Entry)$47,156
P25$57,186
Median$82,406
P75$108,500
P90 (Top)$136,740
Statesville
P10 (Entry)$37,109
P25$46,066
Median$63,981
P75$81,896
P90 (Top)$99,171

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Raleigh ($83,953 effective) pays 22.82% more than Statesville ($68,356 effective).

Raleigh
Nominal: $82,406
CoL Index: 98.157
Adjusted: $83,953
Statesville
Nominal: $63,981
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $68,356

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Raleigh if…

  • Higher median salary ($82,406/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($136,740)
  • Larger job market (770 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $83,953)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Statesville if…

  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, ux designer salaries in Raleigh grew 21.9% from 2021 to 2025, compared to -35.0% growth in Statesville over the same period.

Raleigh, NC

+21.9%

$63,260 (2021) → $77,145 (2025)

Statesville, NC

+-35.0%

$92,080 (2024) → $59,896 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays ux designers more: Raleigh or Statesville?

Raleigh has a higher median ux designer salary at $82,406/year, compared to Statesville at $63,981/year — a difference of $18,425 (28.80%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Raleigh and Statesville?

Raleigh ux designers earn $39.62/hr while Statesville hygienists earn $30.76/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Raleigh to Statesville as a ux designer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Raleigh and Statesville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Raleigh = $83,953, Statesville = $68,356), job availability (770 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level ux designers earn in Raleigh vs Statesville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) ux designers earn $47,156 in Raleigh and $37,109 in Statesville. The Raleigh area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MC

Written by Maria Chen, MDes

Content Lead

Maria has over 10 years of experience in user experience design. She specializes in usability testing and user research. Maria has worked with tech companies and startups.

Clinically reviewed by Ismail Khan, BA, UXDData verified by Aisha Patel, MS

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 6.82% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, MDes, a licensed ux designer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov