Design
Head of Design Salary Guide 2026
Leads the design function — managing a team of designers, setting design vision, establishing design systems, and ensuring design quality across the product. Compare salaries across 40+ cities worldwide — with breakdowns by experience level, top-paying skills, and what the best-paid Heads of Design actually negotiate for.
United States(19 cities)
San Francisco
Median: $186,900
New York
Median: $176,400
Seattle
Median: $180,600
Boston
Median: $165,900
Los Angeles
Median: $159,600
Washington DC
Median: $157,500
Chicago
Median: $147,000
Austin
Median: $136,500
Denver
Median: $133,350
Atlanta
Median: $128,100
Miami
Median: $123,900
Dallas
Median: $127,050
Portland
Median: $128,100
Raleigh
Median: $122,850
Nashville
Median: $119,700
Minneapolis
Median: $126,000
San Diego
Median: $138,600
Houston
Median: $126,000
Phoenix
Median: $121,800
United Kingdom(5 cities)
Germany(1 cities)
Netherlands(1 cities)
France(1 cities)
Ireland(1 cities)
Sweden(1 cities)
Switzerland(1 cities)
Canada(3 cities)
Australia(2 cities)
India(4 cities)
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