New York is the second-highest-paying UX market in the country and offers the most diverse industry landscape on the continent. Unlike SF, where tech dominates, NYC UX designers work across finance, media, fashion, advertising, and tech in roughly equal measure. The diversity creates specialisations and career paths that do not exist anywhere else. The agency scene is also world-class.
Median base
$130,000
25th-75th range
$118K-$145K
Average total comp
$160,000
vs national
+20% 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 platform offices in NYC | $155K - $290K total comp |
| Finance UX (investment banking, trading, fintech) | $120K - $180K |
| Asset management and exchange platforms | $130K - $185K |
| Media and publishing UX | $100K - $155K |
| Streaming / salary-only NY offices | $190K - $290K base |
| Advertising and brand agencies | $80K - $135K |
| Fashion and DTC retail UX | $95K - $145K |
| Funded startups (NYC scene) | $105K - $150K + equity |
Cost of living
NYC's cost of living is 1.69x national. Manhattan rents are the highest in the US, but Brooklyn and Queens offer 15-30% savings with strong subway access. New York State income tax adds 4-10.9% on top of federal. A $130K NYC salary has roughly the same purchasing power as $77K in an average US city. Many designers live in Brooklyn for lower rents and a creative community vibe.
Local community
Local meetups, conferences, schools, and creative spaces that anchor the New York City design scene.
New York City FAQ