UI UX Designer Salary in Mumbai for Freshers (2026 Breakdown)
- Admin
- Nov 10
- 4 min read
Entering the world of UI / UX design in a big metro like Mumbai can feel exciting and a little uncertain, especially when you’re looking to understand what salary you can expect. In this blog post we’ll walk through what a “fresh” UI UX designer (zero to about 2 years experience) might earn in Mumbai in 2026, what factors affect that salary, and how you can maximise your earning potential.
What is the typical salary for a UI UX Designer in Mumbai for freshers?
If you’re just starting out as a UI UX designer in Mumbai, here’s what various data sources suggest:
According to Intellipaat the salary for freshers (0-2 years) in India is usually in the range of ₹3,00,000 to ₹5,00,000 per year. Intellipaat+2GeeksforGeeks+2
A breakdown by city shows that in Mumbai the average UI/UX designer salary is somewhat higher because of cost of living and demand. For example, one source lists Mumbai’s average as approx ₹7 lakh per year for UI/UX designers. GeeksforGeeks+1
On Glassdoor the average total pay (all experience levels) for UI UX Designers in Mumbai is ~ ₹6,50,000 per year. Glassdoor
Putting that together, for a true fresher in Mumbai (0-1 year or just out of college/bootcamp) you might realistically expect a salary in the ball-park of ₹3.5 lakhs to ₹6 lakhs per annum, depending on the company, your portfolio, and the exact role.
Why is the salary what it is? Major factors for fresh UI/UX Designers
1. Experience & Portfolio
Even as a “fresher”, the strength of your portfolio (projects, internships, side-hustles) will hugely influence what you can negotiate. If you’ve done real UI/UX work (designing interfaces, usability testing, prototypes) you’ll be in a better place.
2. Company type and industry
Working for a large product company or a tech startup can pay differently compared to a small agency or service firm. Larger firms may offer better salaries, but also expect you to hit the ground running. Some sources noted that average salary for UI/UX in “top tech talent” companies in Mumbai is around ₹11.5 lakhs for ~2 years experience. Cutshort
3. Location within Mumbai & cost of living
Mumbai is expensive. HRA, travel, living costs are all higher than many other smaller cities. So salaries tend to be adjusted upward for this reality. The data confirms that Mumbai tends to have higher payouts relative to smaller cities. GeeksforGeeks+1
4. Skills & tools you know
If you know widely-used UI/UX tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, prototyping, usability testing, interaction design) and can show work, that will help. Basic knowledge is not enough; showing how you helped improve an experience counts.
5. Role & job title
“UI UX Designer” can mean many things. Some roles might focus only on UI, some only on UX, and some both. The more responsibilities (research, testing, user-flows, interaction design), the higher the pay. Also whether the role is “junior”, “intern”, “trainee” or “designer” makes a difference.
Breakdown: What to expect month-by-month / year-by-year
Here’s a rough breakdown of salary progression for freshers and early career in UI UX in Mumbai for 2024:
Experience level | Typical salary range (per annum) | Monthly take-home approx* |
Fresh (0-1 year) | ₹3 - 5 lakhs | ~ ₹25,000 to ₹40,000 before taxes/benefits |
Early (1-2 years) | ₹5 - 7 lakhs | ~ ₹40,000 to ₹55,000 |
With solid portfolio (2+ years) | ₹7 - 9+ lakhs | ~ ₹55,000+ |
* Monthly figure is approximate and does not account for taxes, benefits, or company-specific extras.
Let’s tie it back: as a fresher in Mumbai your starting salary will likely be near the lower band (₹3 - 5 lakhs), unless you bring extra stuff (internship, strong design project, niche tool knowledge) then you could push into ₹5 - 6 lakhs or higher.
Tips to get a better salary as a fresher UI UX Designer in Mumbai
Build a strong portfolio: Showcase at least 2-3 good UI/UX projects, even if self-initiated. Highlight process: research → wireframes → prototypes → testing → final design.
Internships count: Even a 3-6 month internship or freelance gig looks good. Recruiters see you’ve done something real.
Learn the tools: Be comfortable in Figma/Sketch/Adobe XD, and show interaction animations, usability thinking.
Understand user-experience, not just visuals: Knowing why you choose a design is often more important than how it looks.
Negotiate smartly: When you get an offer, know what range freshers are getting (see above) and be realistic but confident.
Choose company wisely: Smaller agencies may offer lower salary but more learning; bigger companies may pay more but expect more. For salary growth early on, pick a place where you can learn and take on meaningful work.
Upskill continuously: Short courses, workshops, keeping up with latest trends (motion UI, micro-interactions, accessibility) add value.
Highlight location realities: Living in Mumbai is expensive — sometimes you can discuss cost-of-living in context (carefully) when negotiating.
Final thoughts on UI UX Designer Salary in Mumbai for Freshers
If you are looking at UI UX Designer Salary in Mumbai for Freshers in 2026, here’s the takeaway:
Expect somewhere around ₹3 - 5 lakhs per annum as a base starting point for many freshers.
With a good portfolio, relevant tools know-how, internships/side projects you can push into ₹5 - 6 lakhs or more.
Your salary will grow quickly if you transition from fresher to an early designer with 1-2 years of experience.
Focus less on just the number and more on the learning you’ll get in the first job—because the experience you build will matter more than the first salary figure.
In Mumbai specifically you might see slightly higher salaries compared to smaller cities because of higher cost of living and more competition/demand