UX Designer Job Description and Salary Outlook

UX Designer Job Description and Salary Outlook UX Designer Job Description and Salary Outlook User experience designer is one of the most in-demand creative industry jobs right now. Here’s the scoop on the typical UX designer job description, education and skills requirements, as well as UX designer salary benchmarks. As both mobile and web development continue to boom and the lines between design and technology increasingly blur, the demand for user experience (UX) designers remains robust. It’s a hot area and many creative professionals seems to realize this. According to The Creative Group’s Creative Workplace survey, web and UX design was cited as the top area creative professionals want to develop their skills. But sometimes it’s not clear where the UX designer job description begins and ends, especially when it’s lumped in with user interface, interaction design and other design and development functions. In a nutshell, the UX designer is responsible for how a product or website feels. The UX designer’s job is to zero in on users’ underlying emotional and functional needs - then help execute on those discoveries to create an enjoyable experience. So what does that look like day to day? Read on for details about a UX designer job description, as well as an overview of UX designer salary projections. Search our open UX designer jobs now! UX designer salary benchmarks Job candidates often have the upper hand when it comes to UX designer salary negotiations because demand for their skills is high. So what kind of average starting salary can UX designers now command? According to the 2019 Creative Group Salary Guide, the midpoint salary for UX designers is $93,500.   GET THE SALARY GUIDE Duties and expectations The UX designer creates satisfying or compelling experiences for users of a product, often drawing on results from user research and workflow analysis. Generally, UX designers need to possess strong creative, technical and problem-solving skills. The UX design role may involve psychology, storytelling and computer science as well. Areas of focus may include content, controls, visual design and development, information architecture, user research, branding and customer/technical support. What does a UX designer do? Responsibilities often include: Consulting with clients to understand their goals and explaining research results Conducting usability testing Creating wireframes, storyboards, sitemaps and screen flows Creating product prototypes Developing personas and usage scenarios Analyzing user feedback and activity, and iterating to enhance the user experience Assisting with content development Conducting competitor and customer analysis UX designers must have a solid understanding of graphic design and web technologies, and of wireframing tools such as Axure RP and Balsamiq. A good grasp of design programs and tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks and InVision is also necessary. UX designers must have the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and a willingness to keep their skills and industry knowledge current. They frequently work with user interface designers, web developers and graphic designers. Professional experience and skills UX designers are expected to be self-directed but also collaborative. They must possess superb communication, time-management and process-management skills. Keen problem-solving and organizational abilities are necessary among other soft skills. Creativity, passion and attention to detail are also keys to success in this field. Always play up the aforementioned strengths when interviewing for UX roles. UX designers are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in visual design, communications, computer science or psychology. Previous design experience is often required. Wondering about a UX designer salary? Use our Salary Calculator to find out what a UX designer can earn in your city.