Chicago is the best-kept secret in UX design compensation. The Midwest's largest city offers strong base salaries ($115K median), a diverse employer base spanning tech, finance, CPG, and agencies, and a cost of living 30-40% below San Francisco and New York. COL-adjusted purchasing power of $98K is the highest of any major US city. The design community is vibrant with strong agency roots, growing tech presence, and world-class design education.
Median base
$115,000
25th-75th range
$105K-$128K
Average total comp
$135,000
vs national
+6% above
Sector pay bands
Pay ranges by industry sector and employer category for mid-to-senior UX, product, and interaction designers in this metro. Sector ranges are aggregated rather than per-employer to avoid misleading single-data-point comparisons.
| Sector / employer category | Mid-to-senior pay range |
|---|---|
| Big-tech broad-equity satellite offices | $155K - $290K total comp |
| Food-delivery and consumer marketplace UX | $100K - $155K |
| Insurance and financial services | $95K - $135K |
| CPG and quick-service-restaurant corporate UX | $95K - $140K |
| Investment research / data platforms | $100K - $145K |
| Independent and traditional brand agencies | $80K - $125K |
| Enterprise B2B SaaS (Chicago-based) | $95K - $140K |
| Communications and public-safety platforms | $95K - $135K |
Cost of living
Chicago's COL is 1.17x national, remarkably affordable for a major city. Rent is 40-50% lower than San Francisco and 25-35% lower than New York. Illinois has a 4.95% flat income tax, moderate compared to California (up to 13.3%) or New York (up to 10.9%). A $115K Chicago salary has purchasing power equivalent to $98K nationally, exceeding the SF, NYC, and LA equivalents.
Local community
Local meetups, conferences, schools, and creative spaces that anchor the Chicago design scene.
Chicago FAQ