The average salary for a user experience designer in the United States hovers around $114,000. The low end of the salary range is about $84,000 and the top range is $160,000.
Many factors can affect actual wages, such as location, industry, and overall market conditions. Another factor is the skill set of the user experience designer. The more unique the skills and expertise are, the more desirable the candidate will be. Highly qualified candidates, even those in the early stages of their careers, earn above-average salaries.
Wait—will UX designer salaries go down?
If you hear that UX designer salaries are declining—or that career options are now dead ends—don’t consider this information in a vacuum.
Today, many UX designers work in the technology industry. The industry has seen record layoffs over the past few years. This sends job seekers flooding the market and puts the ball firmly in the employer’s court.
Likewise, companies are generally tightening their belts in response to the challenging economic environment. This affects creative agencies—another source of high-paying UX design jobs. Less work also means layoffs.
This is all happening at the same time as there is an influx of new talent into the UX design pool. Many candidates have limited skills.
These factors—massive tech layoffs, dire economic conditions, and an influx of new job seekers—have combined to make the UX design field a more volatile and potentially lower-paying field. But is it really so?
The company is still recruiting for user experience designer positions and offers competitive salaries within the above range. It’s just harder to find these unicorns. When you do this, it can be equally challenging to make your voice heard amid the noise of thousands of other applicants.
Whether you are looking for an entry-level position e-commerce or other fields, to land a coveted UX designer position with an above-average salary—or at least get an interview—you need to stand out.
How to Maximize Your UX Designer Salary in 8 Steps
Today, getting noticed requires more than just sprucing up your resume with keywords in hopes of getting past recruiting software. If your goal is to earn an above-average salary as a junior UX designer, here are some strategies to get started now.
1. Reverse engineer the required UX design skills
A checklist like this is a great starting point in your quest for above-average UX design work, especially when you’re just starting out. But the real meat and potatoes are found in the actual, immediate work.
Look for companies hiring for open, entry-level UX design positions with salaries over $95,000. Why so high? Because companies offering positions below this cap typically look for different applicants and skills than companies offering higher salaries for entry-level positions.
A little tip. These ads tend to come from the same companies—those located in high-cost-of-living areas and/or with proven user experience. So start your search in coastal areas like Seattle, San Jose, or New York and look for companies with reputable names.
Once you land those jobs, it’s time to work backwards. Double-check the skills and responsibilities listed. Track this information in a spreadsheet or other document. You want to be able to quickly synthesize the data you collect.
Your goal is to identify trends and recurring themes. Understanding this information will help you structure your current experience to best meet these requirements. It will also help you pinpoint any gaps that may exist. You should focus on closing these gaps before sending your resume for these jobs.
2. Understand design theory and application
A few years ago, the market was hot and highly favored by job seekers. Even those with little to no experience and just starting out on the career ladder have a good chance of landing a high-paying user experience design position. In those days, knowing how to use simple design tools was enough and nothing more.
Today, this basic knowledge is not enough to pass the resume screening process. You have to demonstrate that you understand the “why” behind good design. This doesn’t mean you need a college degree in graphic design or information architecture. You won’t (although it probably won’t hurt).
If you lack basic knowledge of design theory and applications, there are certifications and courses that can help round out your expertise. this User Experience Certification Program Nielsen Norman Group is one of them. User experience-focused organizations, e.g. Interaction design basics Courses are also available, as well as a network of local meetups and online forums to help you build your professional network.
You should also read as much written information as possible. Books are an inexpensive investment and can remain on your bookshelf as a lifelong professional resource. Some to consider include:
Don’t limit yourself to books, though.
There are many great industry blogs and publications such as User experience magazine, UXPA Magazine, boxes and arrows (no longer active but has a great archive), user experience movement,etc. Some are free, some require membership, and some require a paid subscription. All of this provides valuable information for UX designers, especially those starting out.
3. Grasp industry trends
User experience design relies on proven principles about user behavior, but it is also closely tied to technological developments. The best way to stay on top of the latest developments is to join professional groups, join industry-specific communities, and follow top UX designers. This will keep you ahead of the curve when new trends and developments emerge.
Some of the best professional groups for UX designers include User Experience Professional Association (User Experience Council), AIGA: Professional Design Association,as well as Interaction design basics. All offer professional development resources and communities to join.
have Disharmonious channel and Reddit There are also subgroups dedicated to user experience design. Join these events to gain peer advice, trends and trade industry knowledge.
Shadowing leading UX design professionals is another way to keep your finger on the pulse of the industry. people like David Dylan Thomas, Stephen Krueger and Eileen O Just a handful of people who regularly write about UX design and their observations on where the industry is headed next.
4. Improve your technical skills
As a UX designer, the deeper your technical knowledge, the more versatile you will be. Your versatility, among other factors, will help you get to the top of the interviewer’s shortlist.
Artificial intelligence is not going away anytime soon. No matter how you feel, it’s smart to learn how to apply generative AI to your skillset. View courses LinkedIn Learning and other introductory resources.
Gain practical knowledge of the tools that UX designers tend to use. You don’t have to be a professional with tools like Adobe HD, Figma, or Sketch, but familiarity with them is essential. The more design tools you know, the more attractive you will be to more future employers.
Learn basic coding skills. You don’t have to be a web developer, but you may need to work with these professionals at some point in your design career. You may never write a line of code in your life, but you will have the vocabulary and knowledge to communicate with developers during the product development process. Check out online learning platforms such as Coursera and Udemy Academywhere a combination of free and paid courses can help you get started.
5. Don’t forget soft skills
As a user experience designer, an important part of your career success is your ability to interact with people in a positive way. Designers wear many hats, from researcher Leave it to the project manager to initiate the initiative. They also work with internal and external groups.
The ability to communicate clearly is just one of basic skills You need to succeed. Problem solving, leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking are also skills you must master if you want to land a high-paying job as a user experience designer.
You may already be an expert in this field, but if not, here’s good news. Soft skills can be learned through practice. have course Giving you the basics. You can then put this knowledge into practice. Join a professional organization, volunteer, or become more involved in extracurricular activities at your current workplace or school.
Prove your soft skills acumen to prospective employers and you’ll often be moved to the top of the shortlist and earn a salary that reflects your abilities.
6. Think beyond the tech giants
The temptation to land a well-paying job at Amazon, Meta, or Google is hard to resist. But competition for these positions is fierce and your chances of success are slim. As more and more companies move away from fully remote work, you’re often required to live in an area with a higher cost of living.
It pays to think outside the box when applying for a job. If you’re not restricted by geography, consider looking away from the coast. The annual salary of $96,000 in the Midwest is much higher than in Seattle or New York City.
If you have a background in a professional field such as healthcare, education, or law, you could bring your expertise to a niche user experience design role at a company in that industry. Combining your design knowledge with industry-specific expertise is not something every UX designer can do. The more unique your skills are, the higher your salary will be.
7. Gain some experience
If you’re a junior designer just starting out, finding a high-paying job may feel impossible. One way to overcome the novice hurdle is to build a portfolio that showcases your skills.
The work you present can come from a variety of sources. When you’re first starting out, the “where” isn’t as important as the “how.” You can volunteer, share projects you’ve completed at school, and design in your own free time.
You can even take on lower-paying UX design roles to build your portfolio and hone your skills. Think of this as a stepping stone to your ultimate goal.
The result is a portfolio of design jobs you can share with your dream employer when you land an interview for a six-figure position.
8. Network, network, network
Today, with thousands of applications for every job posting, the chances of getting a job (or even an interview) simply by submitting a resume are slim. Networking has always been the most effective way to identify opportunities and stand out.
have Slack community dedicated to user experience designwebsites such as Dribbling Here you can interact with other designers and browse job boards and even User Experience LinkedIn Group You can join.
The key is to present yourself, develop professional relationships, and let people see your work. No matter what industry you’re in, this is a proven way to find a new job.
