Creative pay 2026
UX/UI designer salary in North Carolina (2026)
UX/UI designers in North Carolina earn a median $97,990 a year ($47.11 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($104,000), 14th of 48 states and territories. It is 2.0 times the median for all jobs in North Carolina.
- $97,990median a year in North Carolina
- $47.11median an hour
- −6%vs the US median ($104,000)
- 3,400employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for an ux/ui designer in North Carolina?
Half of UX/UI designers in North Carolina earn between $63,920 and $133,860. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (3.7 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $44,530 | $53,750 | $21.41 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $63,920 | $73,290 | $30.73 |
| Median | $97,990 | $104,000 | $47.11 |
| 75th | $133,860 | $158,820 | $64.36 |
| 90th percentile | $163,850 | $201,550 | $78.77 |
The mean (average) is $104,010, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does North Carolina compare with other states?
North Carolina sits 14th of 48, between Arizona ($98,070) and Maryland ($96,760).
| Georgia | $103,810 | +6% | 2,800 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $80,930 | −17% | 800 |
| Tennessee | $63,510 | −35% | 3,610 |
| Virginia | $77,140 | −21% | 1,990 |
Which cities in North Carolina pay UX/UI designers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in North Carolina where BLS publishes a median for the job, Durham-Chapel Hill pays most, at $133,340, 36% above the state median.
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,070 | $94,290 | $45.33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 770 | $102,860 | $49.45 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 510 | $133,340 | $64.11 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 250 | $68,590 | $32.97 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 210 | $77,790 | $37.40 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 110 | $72,170 | $34.70 |
| Asheville, NC | 60 | $80,530 | $38.72 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 50 | $60,910 | $29.29 |
How many UX/UI designers work in North Carolina?
BLS estimates 3,400 employee jobs, 0.69 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 0.94).
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in North Carolina?
UX/UI designer is the best-paid of these creative jobs in North Carolina.
| Motion designer | $88,350 | 370 |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriter | $63,660 | 1,810 |
| Videographer | $62,720 | 380 |
| Video editor | $60,020 | 400 |
| Graphic designer | $58,450 | 5,660 |
| Photographer | $37,120 | 2,130 |
What do freelance UX/UI designers charge?
Upwork, UX designers list $25 to $39 an hour, worldwide. North Carolina's employee median of $47.11 an hour is above that range, and a freelancer also has to cover unpaid hours, kit and tax. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average ux/ui designer salary in North Carolina?
The median is $97,990 a year and the mean is $104,010, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 3,400 employee jobs.
How much does an ux/ui designer make an hour in North Carolina?
The median hourly wage is $47.11. The bottom 10% earn under $21.41 and the top 10% over $78.77.
What does a starting ux/ui designer earn in North Carolina?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of UX/UI designers in North Carolina earn under $63,920 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $44,530, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 15-1255, Web and Digital Interface Designers. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 3,400 jobs in the North Carolina estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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UX/UI designer pay in other states
- California $136,110
- Washington $130,480
- New York $120,990
- Massachusetts $113,540
- New Hampshire $111,150
- District of Columbia $107,650
- Pennsylvania $104,160
- Georgia $103,810
- Texas $102,650
- Oregon $102,220
- Utah $99,990
- Arizona $98,070