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UI Designer Salary in Virginia Beach, VA: 2026

UI Designer salary data for Virginia Beach, VA, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.

The estimated median UI Designer salary in Virginia Beach, VA is $109,200 per year ($9,100/month, $53/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 105, which is 5% above the national average.

Entry Level
$74K
$35/hr
Median
$109K
$53/hr
Senior
$152K
$73/hr
Top Earner
$180K
$87/hr

All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Virginia Beach's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.

UI Designer Take-Home Pay in Virginia Beach

Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)

Gross Annual$109,200
Federal Tax-$15,194
State Tax (5.1% eff.)-$5,518
FICA (SS + Medicare)-$8,354
Annual Take-Home$80,134
Monthly Take-Home$6,678

Living Cost Comparison

Median Rent$1,400/mo
Rent-to-Income Ratio15.4%
Median Home Price$310,000
Cost of Living Index105
City Median Salary (BLS metro, all jobs)$49,430
UI Designer vs City Median+$59,770

UI Designer Requirements

Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
2-4 years
Job Growth
8.0% (2024-2034)

Key Skills

FigmaSketchDesign SystemsTypographyColor Theory

Virginia Beach Job Market Overview

Virginia Beach, Virginia has a population of 459,470 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Military, Tourism, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 1.8%, and the average commute time is 25minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.

Salary Percentile Breakdown: UI Designer in Virginia Beach

Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for UI Designer in Virginia Beach, VA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:

PercentileAnnual SalaryHourly EquivalentCareer Stage
10th (lowest)$73,605$35/hrEntry-level, < 1 yr exp.
25th$91,403$44/hrJunior, 1-3 yrs exp.
50th (median)$109,200$53/hrMid-career, 2-4 years
75th$151,935$73/hrSenior, 5-10 yrs exp.
90th (top)$180,390$87/hrLead/Principal, 10+ yrs

Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Virginia Beach's Military sector.

5-Year Salary Trajectory

Salario's national dataset models approximately 12.0% salary growth for UI Designers over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Virginia Beach estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:

5 Years Ago
$97,500
Adjusted for Virginia Beach COL
Today (2026)
$109,200
+12.0% vs 5y ago
Projected 2031
$122,304
If growth continues

Year-over-year, an average UI Designer can expect a 12.8% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Virginia Beach. Negotiation, certifications (Google UX Design Certificate), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.

Virginia Beach vs National Average

The national median UI Designer salary is $104,000 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Web and Digital Interface Designers). In Virginia Beach, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $109,200 is 5.0% above the national figure. This reflects Virginia Beach's cost of living index of 105 (higher than the national average of 100).

For UI Designers, this means: rent typically consumes 21.0% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Virginia Beach costs about 3.9× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Virginia Beach.

Industry Context: Military in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach's economy is anchored by Military, Tourism, Healthcare, with 459,470 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.0% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for UI Designers can differ by sector, so compare Military employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.8%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 8.0% growth outlook for UI Designer roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.

Methodology & Data Sources

How we calculate UI Designer salaries in Virginia Beach, VA:

  1. Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Web and Digital Interface Designers). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
  2. Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Virginia Beach index of 105 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
  3. Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
  4. Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), VA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 5.8%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
  5. Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.

Authoritative data sources:

Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. UI Designer salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Military vs others in Virginia Beach), specific skill set (Figma, Sketch, Design Systems), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average UI Designer salary in Virginia Beach, VA?
Salario estimates the median UI Designer salary in Virginia Beach, VA at $109,200 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national UI Designer benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 105, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $73,605, and the senior estimate is $151,935 or more.
How much does a UI Designer take home in Virginia Beach after taxes?
A UI Designer earning the median salary of $109,200 in Virginia Beach, VA takes home approximately $80,134 per year ($6,678/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 26.6%.
Is Virginia Beach a good city for UI Designers?
Virginia Beach, VA has a cost of living index of 105 (above national average). UI Designers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Military, Tourism, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a UI Designer in Virginia Beach?
Key skills for UI Designers include Figma, Sketch, Design Systems, Typography, Color Theory. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include Google UX Design Certificate.
How does UI Designer salary in Virginia Beach compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for UI Designer is $104,000 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Virginia Beach, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $109,200, which is 5.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average UI Designer salary in Virginia Beach, VA?

Salario estimates the median UI Designer salary in Virginia Beach, VA at $109,200 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national UI Designer benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 105, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $73,605, and the senior estimate is $151,935 or more.

How much does a UI Designer take home in Virginia Beach after taxes?

A UI Designer earning the median salary of $109,200 in Virginia Beach, VA takes home approximately $80,134 per year ($6,678/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 26.6%.

Is Virginia Beach a good city for UI Designers?

Virginia Beach, VA has a cost of living index of 105 (above national average). UI Designers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Military, Tourism, Healthcare.

What skills are needed for a UI Designer in Virginia Beach?

Key skills for UI Designers include Figma, Sketch, Design Systems, Typography, Color Theory. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include Google UX Design Certificate.

How does UI Designer salary in Virginia Beach compare to the national average?

Salario's national median benchmark for UI Designer is $104,000 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Virginia Beach, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $109,200, which is 5.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.