UX Designer Salary in Indianapolis, IN: $54,102 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time ux designer in Indianapolis, IN earns a median $54,102/year (≈ $26.01/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1255). Once you factor in Indianapolis's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.7), that paycheck buys what $56,535 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.2% below the Indiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a median annual salary of $54,102 for UX designers in Indianapolis, the local market is showing resilience following the widespread design layoffs that followed 2023. This salary figure is considerably lower than the national average of $83,320, highlighting a significant gap of 35.07%. The salary range spans from $28,513 at the lower 10th percentile to $101,041 at the top 90th percentile. Such statistics, derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys, reflect a competitive but somewhat conservative compensation landscape for UX professionals in the area. This variance signifies the ongoing potential for growth within the Indianapolis job market, particularly in light of the projected annual growth rate of 6.82% over the next five years.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $28,513 | $13.71 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $44,953 | $21.62 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $54,102 | $26.01 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $72,696 | $34.95 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $101,041 | $48.57 |
Median Salary Position
35.07% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Indianapolis
In Indianapolis, IN, the ux designer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $72,528 (2026 est.). At $54,102, the local median is 35.07% below the national median of $83,320.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Indianapolis: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Indianapolis UX Designer Pay Compares
Indianapolis median: $54,102/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Indianapolis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Average | $57,070 | -5.20% less |
| National Average | $83,320 | -35.07% less |
UX Designers in Indianapolis, IN earn a median of $54,102 per year (2026 est.), which is 35.07% lower than the national median of $83,320 and 5.20% below the Indiana state average of $57,070.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Indianapolis has a cost of living 4.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Indianapolis, IN has a cost-of-living index of 95.696 (below the national average of 100). A ux designer earning $54,102 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $56,535 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.5% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$60,550
2025 BLS Actual
$50,648
2026 Current Est.
$54,102
2021–2027 Growth
+-4.6%
Salary Trajectory for UX Designers in Indianapolis (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $60,550 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,240 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,390 | Actual |
| 2024 | $64,990 | Actual |
| 2025 | $50,648 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,102 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $57,792 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Indianapolis metropolitan area, the median ux designer salary grew -16.4% from $60,550 (2021) to $50,648 (2025). At a 6.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $57,792 by 2027 — a total increase of $-2,758 (-4.55%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Indianapolis 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) | $28,513 – $44,953 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $44,953 – $54,102 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $54,102 – $72,696 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $72,696 – $101,041 |
UX salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual ux designer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
UX Designer Job Market in Indianapolis
The landscape for UX designer pay in Indianapolis, IN, reveals a mix of opportunity and challenges. With approximately 490 UX designers employed locally, the competitive environment suggests that companies, especially larger tech firms and established digital product agencies, tend to offer the highest salaries. The cost of living index in Indianapolis stands at 95.696, indicating affordability when juxtaposed with salaries, which can help employees maintain a decent standard of living. Top compensators include tech giants and successful startups, where salaries can peak, especially for those with substantial portfolios and expertise in rapidly expanding areas like design systems. Additionally, factors like company tier, specialty skills, and design management roles create a diverse pay spectrum. For aspiring designers, focusing on building a strong portfolio with notable projects—potentially using tools like Figma—while networking within the local tech community can enhance earning potential in this evolving market.
More salary data for Indianapolis, IN:
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 $50,648 for ux designersin the Indianapolis 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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