Utility Pages
Salary Comparison

Investment Banker vs UX Designer Salary

Investment Bankers earn approximately 55.0% more than UX Designers nationally — $200,000 vs $90,000.

Investment Banker
$200,000
national median annual
Hourly (40 hr × 52 wk)
$96
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$7,692
Monthly
$16,667
Category
Finance
UX Designer
$90,000
national median annual
Hourly (40 hr × 52 wk)
$43
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$3,462
Monthly
$7,500
Category
Design
Difference
Annual difference
UX Designer earn less than Investment Banker
-$110,000
Percentage difference
−55.0%
Hourly difference
-$53/hour
Monthly difference
-$9,167/month
Lifetime difference (40-yr career)
Naive — doesn't include compounding raises
-$4,400,000
Reverse
→ UX Designer vs Investment Banker — see this comparison from the other direction

Investment Banker vs UX Designer: salary breakdown

On a national-median basis, Investment Bankers out-earn UX Designers by $110,000 per year — a 55.0% gap. That works out to roughly $9,167/month or $53/hour of difference.

Important context: these are MEDIANS — the middle salary in the country. Real-world variation is wide: entry-level roles in either career may pay 25-35% below median, while senior roles or specialized niches can pay 50-100%+ above. Your specific numbers depend on experience, location, employer, and credentials.

When does the salary gap matter most?

For someone choosing between these careers, the $110,000 annual difference compounds:

  • Over 10 years: ~$1,100,000 in raw salary difference
  • Over 40 years: ~$4,400,000 (without raises or compounding)
  • With 3% annual raises: the gap typically grows because the higher-paid role's raises are also larger in dollar terms
  • With investment compounding: the $110,000/year extra invested at 7% over 40 years grows to roughly $21,890,000 — significantly more than the raw difference

But salary isn't everything. Job satisfaction, work-life balance, growth potential, and career switching costs all matter. A career you can sustain for decades beats a higher-paying one you'll burn out on.

By state and city — significant variation

National medians are starting points. Real salaries vary 30%+ by location:

  • Investment Banker in California ≈ $236,000 (1.18× national)
  • Investment Banker in Mississippi ≈ $168,000 (0.84× national)
  • UX Designer in California ≈ $106,200
  • UX Designer in Mississippi ≈ $75,600

Use our Investment Banker salary by state pages to drill into specific locations.

Other comparisons in Finance

Investment Banker vs Accountant
National median: $79,000
Investment Banker vs Financial Advisor
National median: $94,000
Investment Banker vs Bank Teller
National median: $36,000
Investment Banker vs Bookkeeper
National median: $47,000

Other comparisons in Design

UX Designer vs Graphic Designer
National median: $58,000

Related tools

Investment Banker salary by state — UX Designer salary by state — Best cities for Investment Banker — Best cities for UX Designer — Paycheck Calculator — Investment Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Investment Banker or a UX Designer?▾
Nationally, Investment Bankers earn approximately $200,000/year vs $90,000 for UX Designers — a difference of $110,000 or 55.0%. Both numbers are medians; entry-level and senior roles in either field can vary widely from these figures.
What's the hourly difference?▾
Investment Banker: $96/hour. UX Designer: $43/hour. Difference: $53/hour at standard 2,080 hours/year. This matters more for hourly-paid roles than salaried.
Are these national or state-specific salaries?▾
These are US national medians. Real salaries vary 30%+ by state and metro. A Investment Banker in San Francisco earns more than one in rural Mississippi, even with the same title. See our salary-by-state and salary-by-city pages for location-specific numbers.
Should I switch from Investment Banker to UX Designer?▾
Salary is one factor. Also consider: education/training cost (some careers require years of school), job security and growth outlook, work-life balance, fit with your interests and strengths, and geographic flexibility. A higher-paying career you'll burn out on isn't worth more than a moderately-paid one you enjoy.
How do these salaries grow with experience?▾
Most professions see 30-50% growth from entry-level to senior over a 10-15 year career. Leadership roles (manager, director, executive) can double base salaries on top of that. Specialized skills (rare languages, niche expertise) command premium pay regardless of years. Continuous learning matters more than tenure alone.