UI/UX Designer Salary in India (2026)
UI/UX design is no longer just about “making screens look good.”
Companies now pay for:
- User research
- Usability testing
- Product thinking
- Conversion optimization
So how much does a UI/UX designer actually earn in India?
Let’s break it down clearly.
1️⃣ UI/UX Designer Salary – Freshers (0–2 Years)
Realistic Salary Range:
₹3 LPA – ₹8 LPA
Most freshers start between ₹3–5 LPA.
High-paying offers require strong portfolios.
Salary by Company Type
| Company Type | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Service Companies | ₹3 – ₹5 LPA |
| Small Design Agencies | ₹3.5 – ₹6 LPA |
| Product Startups | ₹6 – ₹10 LPA |
| Large Product Companies | ₹10 – ₹18 LPA (rare for freshers) |
Two Real Scenarios
Scenario 1:
Knows Figma basics, copies Dribbble designs → ₹3.8 LPA.
Scenario 2:
Strong case studies, UX research process, real app redesign → ₹8 LPA.
Portfolio quality = salary level.
2️⃣ UI/UX Designer Salary (2–5 Years)
Average Range:
₹6 LPA – ₹18 LPA
This is where serious growth happens.
Role-Based Pay
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| UI Designer | ₹6 – ₹12 LPA |
| UX Designer | ₹8 – ₹16 LPA |
| Product Designer | ₹10 – ₹20 LPA |
UX-focused roles pay more than pure UI roles.
Two Growth Examples
Example 1:
Stayed only visual design → ₹5 LPA → ₹7 LPA after 3 years.
Example 2:
Learned UX research + user flows + prototyping → switched → ₹15 LPA in 4 years.
Design thinking increases pay.
3️⃣ Senior UI/UX Designer Salary (5–10 Years)
Average Range:
₹18 LPA – ₹35 LPA
In strong SaaS companies, even ₹40+ LPA.
At this stage, you:
- Lead product experience
- Run user testing
- Work with PMs and developers
- Drive design systems
You’re paid for business impact, not aesthetics.
4️⃣ Salary by City (2026 Estimates)
| City | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Bangalore | ₹6 – ₹35 LPA |
| Hyderabad | ₹5 – ₹22 LPA |
| Pune | ₹5 – ₹20 LPA |
| Chennai | ₹4 – ₹18 LPA |
| Remote | ₹6 – ₹28 LPA |
Bangalore dominates due to product startups.
5️⃣ Skills vs Salary
Designer A (₹4 LPA)
- Uses Figma
- Makes attractive screens
- No user research
- No case study structure
Designer B (₹14 LPA)
- Conducts usability testing
- Builds wireframes + flows
- Knows design systems
- Measures UX metrics
Same job title. Massive salary gap.
6️⃣ What Actually Increases UI/UX Salary?
Not Instagram posts.
These matter:
- Real UX case studies
- Research documentation
- Interaction design
- Design systems
- Product thinking
- Communication skills
If you can’t explain design decisions logically, salary stagnates.