UX Designer Salary in San Clemente, CA: $83,649 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in San Clemente, CA earns a median $83,649/year (≈ $40.22/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in San Clemente's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $73,960 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.6% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the median annual salary for a UX designer in San Clemente, California, is projected to be $83,649, slightly surpassing the national median of $83,320. Salaries for this role range from $48,517 at the low end to $129,655 at the high end, reflecting variations in experience, specialization, and employer type. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data and adjusted for regional cost of living, indicate a competitive market for UX designers in this coastal city. For those targeting positions in large tech firms, the FAANG compensation structures often lead to higher pay due to stock options and robust benefits, while designers in local agencies or in-house roles may expect different trade-offs in compensation and project diversity.
About the San Clemente Market
Salary estimated from California average ($142,900) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,517 | $23.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60,227 | $28.96 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $83,649 | $40.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,070 | $51.48 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $129,655 | $62.33 |
Median Salary Position
0.39% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Clemente
In San Clemente, CA, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $81,138 (2026 est.). At $83,649, the local median is 0.39% above the national median of $83,320.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in San Clemente: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How San Clemente UX Designer Pay Compares
San Clemente median: $83,649/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Clemente Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $84,154 | -0.60% less |
| National Average | $83,320 | +0.39% more |
UX Designers in San Clemente, CA earn a median of $83,649 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.39% higher than the national median of $83,320 and 0.60% below the California state average of $84,154.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Clemente has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
San Clemente, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $83,649 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $73,960 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2021 BLS Actual
$60,154
2025 BLS Actual
$78,308
2026 Current Est.
$83,649
2021–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in San Clemente (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $60,154 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,677 | Actual |
| 2023 | $74,197 | Actual |
| 2024 | $160,727 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,308 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83,649 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $89,353 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Clemente metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew 30.2% from $60,154 (2021) to $78,308 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $89,353 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,199 (48.54%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Clemente metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 6.82% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $48,517 – $60,227 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $60,227 – $83,649 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $83,649 – $107,070 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,070 – $129,655 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in San Clemente
Analyzing the local job market reveals that there are currently only 10 UX designers employed within San Clemente, suggesting a niche, close-knit community. The cost of living, indicated by a 113.1 index, presents challenges for take-home purchasing power, as it is above the national average. Within the city, tech companies generally offer the best salaries, especially those in the FAANG tier or other high-growth startups, compared to agencies and in-house teams at non-tech firms. The pay gap between the lower and higher ends of the spectrum can be driven by factors such as company reputation, the complexity of projects, and the strength of a designer’s portfolio showcasing high-traffic applications. Aspiring designers looking to maximize their ux designer pay in San Clemente should focus on building exceptional portfolios, gaining experience with top-tier design tools like Figma, and potentially considering roles that offer robust equity components characteristic of leading tech companies.
More salary data for San Clemente, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $78,308 for ux designersin the San Clemente metropolitan area. A 6.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for San Clemente is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.82%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for ux designers (SOC 15-1255).
Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, MDes, a licensed ux designer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov