Hybrid hiring patterns reshape salary bands: San Francisco flattens, remote bands tighten

Tech · 5 min read

Since 2024, many Bay Area firms have capped local cost-of-living adjustments and instead introduced geo-banded compensation frameworks that place San Francisco at a smaller premium than historical norms. At the same time, remote bands—particularly for the U.S. and Western Europe—have tightened, reducing variance in offers for the same role across cities.

That has meant fewer headline-grabbing offers in SF but more predictable, banded pay for remote hires: mid-level product designers remote in the U.S. now often see base ranges of $95k–$140k, while SF on-site ranges are $110k–$160k. Employers justify the compression as a tool to manage equity and create clearer paths to promotion through standardized leveling.

Design leaders report mixed reactions: retention improved in some distributed teams thanks to perceived fairness, but companies still lose senior design talent seeking top-of-market pay—often to late-stage startups or specialized consultancies. For candidates, negotiating total comp, bonuses, and equity has become as important as base salary.