Technology · Level X3 · Salary
Design Lead salary
Typical total compensation (US national)
$283,000–$353,000
Base
$205,000
Bonus
$28,000
Equity (annual)
$80,000
Indicative, sourced — not a guarantee. Levels.fyi design lead/staff band; interpolated below Director
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 | $328,650 | $322,206 |
| Remote (US national) | $313,000 | $313,000 |
| Atlanta | $306,740 | $313,000 |
| Seattle | $369,340 | $307,783 |
| Chicago | $313,000 | $289,815 |
| Denver | $313,000 | $284,545 |
| Boston | $338,040 | $250,400 |
| New York City | $369,340 | $238,284 |
| Los Angeles | $338,040 | $233,131 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $391,250 | $217,361 |