Head of Design Salary in Washington, United States
Head of Design salaries have a median of $120,000. Major employers like Amazon and Microsoft drive demand. Compensation remains competitive.
Salary by experience level
Entry-level (0-2 years)
Salary range (per year)
$87,500 to $109,000
Average (per year)
$97,500
Early-career heads of design in Kirkland work at fast-growing startups or satellite offices.
Mid-level (3-5 years)
Salary range (per year)
$109,500 to $131,000
Average (per year)
$120,000
Mid-level heads of design have experience leading teams in SaaS, gaming, or cloud companies.
Senior (6-9 years)
Salary range (per year)
$132,000 to $152,500
Average (per year)
$143,000
Senior heads of design at established firms oversee multiple design functions.
Principal/Lead (10+ years)
Salary range (per year)
$153,500+
Principal or lead heads of design manage broad design responsibilities.
Hourly Rates
For freelance or contract work, hourly rates are typically higher than equivalent salaried positions.
Junior
$44 - $61
per hour
Mid-level
$62 - $80
per hour
Senior
$81 - $101
per hour
Nationally, the median sits near $110,000, so Washington outpaces the average. The gap reflects regional differences.