The Top 38 Best-Paying Cities for Product Designers in the United States
A product designer is responsible for the product’s user experience. They are tasked with solving problems, ideally before a user might encounter them. The designer might work with software engineers, product managers and other stakeholders to solve customer or end-user needs, correct issues with the user experience, or build prototypes or mock-ups for tests and redesigns.
Product designers do not necessarily have to work only on software or mobile apps. Regardless of whether the product they work on is physical or digital, their role is increasingly impactful; as a result, it is no wonder that it can be a particularly rewarding career.
The average total compensation of a product designer in the United States is $104,125 to $418,214, according to data from the professional social network Blind.
Here are the top 38 best-paying cities for product designers in the United States by average total compensation, according to the more than 5 million verified professionals on Blind. Total compensation includes annual cash salary and any stock-based compensation or bonus offered.
1. Los Gatos, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $418,214
- Median total compensation: $410,000
- Average salary: $404,285
- Median base salary: $400,000
2. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $301,388
- Median total compensation: $207,000
- Average salary: $157,593
- Median base salary: $155,000
3. Oakland, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $298,500
- Median total compensation: $279,500
- Average salary: $152,500
- Median base salary: $175,000
4. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $273,516
- Median total compensation: $234,875
- Average salary: $144,336
- Median base salary: $150,500
5. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $230,772
- Median total compensation: $215,025
- Average salary: $156,052
- Median base salary: $160,000
6. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $228,500
- Median total compensation: $238,000
- Average salary: $158,400
- Median base salary: $158,000
7. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $225,424
- Median total compensation: $187,000
- Average salary: $157,864
- Median base salary: $158,000
8. San Mateo, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $219,650
- Median total compensation: $210,000
- Average salary: $173,500
- Median base salary: $166,500
9. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $212,920
- Median total compensation: $171,250
- Average salary: $144,809
- Median base salary: $138,500
10. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $208,203
- Median total compensation: $180,324
- Average salary: $156,191
- Median base salary: $164,250
11. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $198,328
- Median total compensation: $174,500
- Average salary: $139,740
- Median base salary: $140,000
12. Santa Monica, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $192,426
- Median total compensation: $195,375
- Average salary: $140,371
- Median base salary: $145,000
13. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $192,336
- Median total compensation: $145,000
- Average salary: $145,086
- Median base salary: $135,000
14. New York
- Average total compensation: $187,958
- Median total compensation: $160,000
- Average salary: $141,547
- Median base salary: $140,000
15. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $182,775
- Median total compensation: $141,000
- Average salary: $129,834
- Median base salary: $130,000
16. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $180,875
- Median total compensation: $154,250
- Average salary: $126,421
- Median base salary: $119,000
17. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $178,138
- Median total compensation: $174,650
- Average salary: $148,618
- Median base salary: $150,000
18. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $177,364
- Median total compensation: $162,275
- Average salary: $146,302
- Median base salary: $148,875
19. Denver
- Average total compensation: $168,093
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average salary: $133,750
- Median base salary: $132,500
20. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $167,875
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average salary: $150,666
- Median base salary: $142,500
21. Redmond, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $165,435
- Median total compensation: $190,000
- Average salary: $131,457
- Median base salary: $140,000
22. Redwood City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $162,600
- Median total compensation: $150,150
- Average salary: $131,611
- Median base salary: $137,500
23. Portland, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $157,540
- Median total compensation: $169,500
- Average salary: $126,290
- Median base salary: $138,500
24. Philadelphia
- Average total compensation: $154,725
- Median total compensation: $158,950
- Average salary: $131,000
- Median base salary: $124,500
25. Salt Lake City
- Average total compensation: $148,716
- Median total compensation: $136,400
- Average salary: $119,500
- Median base salary: $120,500
26. Indianapolis
- Average total compensation: $147,687
- Median total compensation: $116,000
- Average salary: $113,000
- Median base salary: $103,500
27. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $143,569
- Median total compensation: $143,000
- Average salary: $123,236
- Median base salary: $130,000
28. Boulder, Colo.
- Average total compensation: $137,775
- Median total compensation: $125,000
- Average salary: $119,150
- Median base salary: $120,000
29. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $137,401
- Median total compensation: $116,000
- Average salary: $113,380
- Median base salary: $113,000
30. Minneapolis
- Average total compensation: $134,700
- Median total compensation: $127,200
- Average salary: $126,528
- Median base salary: $120,000
31. Columbus, Ohio
- Average total compensation: $128,500
- Median total compensation: $133,250
- Average salary: $120,000
- Median base salary: $120,000
32. Boston
- Average total compensation: $126,300
- Median total compensation: $120,500
- Average salary: $112,419
- Median base salary: $110,000
33. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $116,680
- Median total compensation: $117,500
- Average salary: $107,306
- Median base salary: $115,000
34. Pittsburgh
- Average total compensation: $113,750
- Median total compensation: $107,500
- Average salary: $113,125
- Median base salary: $106,250
35. Cincinnati
- Average total compensation: $113,537
- Median total compensation: $107,825
- Average salary: $105,787
- Median base salary: $107,500
36. Richmond, Va.
- Average total compensation: $111,000
- Median total compensation: $110,500
- Average salary: $106,200
- Median base salary: $107,400
37. Detroit
- Average total compensation: $109,785
- Median total compensation: $110,000
- Average salary: $99,928
- Median base salary: $100,000
38. Charlottesville, Va.
- Average total compensation: $104,125
- Median total compensation: $103,500
- Average salary: $98,125
- Median base salary: $97,500
Methodology
Blind analyzed the base salaries and total compensation of product designers in the United States on its platform. Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual cash salary and any stock-based compensation and cash bonuses. All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.