The demand for UX Designers is on the rise, and it’s no surprise why. They play a critical role in shaping how we experience websites and apps, blending creativity and technical know-how to design user-friendly products that truly connect with people. Best of all, it’s a career that not only challenges you but also pays off financially.
With our new UX Designer career path, you’ll master the tools and techniques needed to design digital products that truly enhance user experiences. You’ll also get to build real-world projects that you can use to break into the UX field. The best part? This career path is perfect for beginners with no coding knowledge. You’ll learn HTML and CSS basics, then focus on design thinking, research, prototyping, and using tools like Figma.
In this guide, we’ll break down the average UX Designer’s salary, explore factors that impact earnings, and introduce you to other exciting roles in the UX field. Plus, we’ll share tips on how you can start your own UX design journey.
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What does a UX Designer do?
UX Designers figure out the best way for users to interact with a product. Codecademy Product Designer Taylor Green compares the role to that of an architect’s. “A UX person is like an architect who comes up with a plan and concept for a structure, then works with builders to bring it to life,” she said.
This involves a wide range of tasks, and their responsibilities vary depending on the company they work for but generally include:
- Conducting user research
- Building prototypes
- Overseeing user testing
- Creating wireframes
This requires a mix of both hard and soft skills. You’ll need to have a firm grasp of prototyping with Figma, as well as basic front-end coding with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also need to be able to tap into interpersonal skills — like curiosity, empathy, and collaboration — to understand users’ problems and come up with effective solutions.
UX Designer salary
UX Designers are key to building a successful product, so their skills are highly valued. On average, UX Designers in the U.S. earn $93,287 annually, according to recent data from BuiltIn.
But while these averages serve as a good benchmark, a UX Designer’s salary will also depend on their location, experience, and (of course) the company they work for.
Location
Salary expectations vary between different cities to align with the area’s cost of living. But this isn’t always straightforward to parse — $100,000 in Georgia might go further than $120,000 in New York, for example.
BuiltIn provides a breakdown of the highest-paying cities for UX Designers. They include:
- Colorado Springs, CO: $165,000
- San Francisco, CA: $131,655
- Seattle, WA: $107,040
- Princeton-Trenton, NJ: $101,000
- New York, NY: $100,131
- Boston, MA: $98,799
- Sacramento, CA: $96,843
- Baltimore, MD: $96,625
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: $95,667
Experience
As with most careers, UX Designers can expect to earn more the further they are into their careers. The average salary for an entry-level UX Designer is $71,919, per BuiltIn. Once you have between 1 and 3 years of experience, UX Designers can earn an average of $81,144. A UX Designer with upwards of 7 years of experience, on the other hand, earns an average of $112,817.
Comparing UX Designer salaries by seniority shows a similar progression, with Senior UX Designers earning $122,269, and Lead UX Designers earning $176,000 according to Glassdoor.
Other roles in UX
As we mentioned, UX design includes a variety of sub-dimensions like user research, prototyping, and testing. UX Designer is a generalist title for professionals who may perform any (or all) of the associated responsibilities, but other roles in UX demand high salaries as well. For example:
- User Interface (UI) Designers help design a product’s appearance, including color schemes, buttons, and layout. According to Indeed, UI Designers earn an average base salary of $84,956.
- UX Researchers conduct surveys and interviews with users to identify their goals, problems, and motivations. Their insights help inform the rest of the UX design team, and they average $105,767.
- UX Writers are responsible for the product’s text, like error messages, instructions, and documentation. ZipRecruiter estimates their average salary at $81,001.
- UX Strategists integrate user and business needs into the company strategy and product roadmap. On average, they earn $139,867.
How to become a UX Designer
UX Design is a great career for creative and analytical minds alike — combining the best of both worlds as you help build quality products that make people’s lives easier. And as the figures above show, it can be quite lucrative.
Interested in a career in UX design? We’ll help guide you along your way. First check out these blog posts:
UX Designers play a crucial role in creating intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing digital products, and the demand for their skills is only growing. That’s why our new UX Designer career path is perfect for beginners looking to break into tech or anyone excited about shaping better digital experiences. Plus, you’ll build real projects and a portfolio case study to showcase your skills, all without needing any prior experience or coding knowledge.
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This blog was originally published in October 2022 and has been updated to include recent salary data and additional career paths.
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