Technology · Level X4 · Salary
Design Director salary
Typical total compensation (US national)
$405,000–$485,000
Base
$245,000
Bonus
$45,000
Equity (annual)
$150,000
Indicative, sourced — not a guarantee. Levels.fyi Director/Senior Director design median salary ~$216k; total $400-600k+ at big tech
Pay by metro — nominal vs cost-adjusted
“Real” adjusts for cost of living, so a high headline number in an expensive metro can be worth less in practice. Ranked by real pay.
| Metro | Nominal | Real (cost-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $462,000 | $452,941 |
| Remote (US national) | $440,000 | $440,000 |
| Atlanta | $431,200 | $440,000 |
| Seattle | $519,200 | $432,667 |
| Chicago | $440,000 | $407,407 |
| Denver | $440,000 | $400,000 |
| Boston | $475,200 | $352,000 |
| New York City | $519,200 | $334,968 |
| Los Angeles | $475,200 | $327,724 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $550,000 | $305,556 |