How to Become an UX Researcher / Designer
Conduct user research and design intuitive, accessible digital interfaces that meet user needs and business goals. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $104,000 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$104,000/yr
Middle half
$73,290 to $158,820
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
9,100
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- User Research
- Wireframing and Prototyping
- Usability Testing
- Information Architecture
- Visual Design
Helpful certifications
- Google UX Design Certificate
- Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification
- Interaction Design Foundation
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
85/100
Work-life balance
75/100
Stress level
28/100
Satisfaction
80/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an UX Researcher / Designer make?
The median pay for an UX Researcher / Designer is $104,000 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $73,290 and $158,820 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an UX Researcher / Designer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, Psychology, Information Science, Communication Design, and Cognitive Science.
Is UX Researcher / Designer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 9,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an UX Researcher / Designer use most?
Common skills for this role are User Research, Wireframing and Prototyping, Usability Testing, Information Architecture, and Visual Design.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).