Bottom quarter
$102K
User Experience (UX) Research Salary in Chicago
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median
$124K
Top quarter
$149K
Top 10%
$171K
Adjusted for Chicago at 1.05× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
User Experience (UX) Research in Chicago pulls a median of $124,320 at mid-career, with a top-quartile band reaching $148,890 and the top 10% at $171,360. Chicago sits at 1.05× the national average for pay. If you're up for review, the right ask sits at the top quarter of the band: $148,890.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$148,890 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$136,605 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$124,320 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real pay data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
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User Experience (UX) Research elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on the company, the level, the stock piece, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.