The typical UX designer’s salary varies depending on several aspects, including your degree of expertise, the organization you work for, and where you work. In this short-minute read, I have covered all you need to know about UI/UX designers as well as answered the question of “How much does a UX Designer make”.
Perhaps you already believe you’re a good fit for a job in UX design, or you’ve looked into UX design certification. The next logical step is to ponder how much you can expect to make in your new position—especially before enrolling in a UX certification program or abandoning your existing work.
We’ve created this guide on how much you might make as a UX designer to assist give you a better sense of what to expect—or to let you dream about the possibilities for where a career in UX may lead you.
Salary Overview for UX Designers
Starting a new job may be an exciting but uncertain adventure. You may be unsure if you will be able to earn the income you seek or whether you will have long-term job stability with your UX design certification.
Fortunately, the demand for UX designers has been constantly expanding since the industry’s inception. According to McKinsey research, design-led organizations have higher revenue and overall success. As this reality gets more widely understood, so does the average UX designer’s salary.
According to Glassdoor, the average UX design income in the United States is $94,351.
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How much does the Salary of a UX designer vary depending on experience?
As with any career, as your experience and talents develop, so should your wage expectations. The following is a list of the median pay levels in the United States, as reported by Glassdoor.
- Intern UX Design: $83,131
- Junior UX Designer: $89,378
- UX Designer, Middleweight: $100,745
- Senior User Experience Designer: $110,953
- Senior UX Design Manager: $126,265
When contrasted with the national average yearly wage of $53,490, being a UX designer is even more appealing.
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The salary range for other UX-related positions
As additional specialties arise in the area, the diversity of responsibilities and wage expectations for each of them grows. We’ve previously looked at UX designer wages in-depth, so here’s a list of alternative positions you could be interested in as you gain specialized knowledge.
Unless otherwise specified, all averages are from Glassdoor.
UX Designer Salary
Companies that hire UX designers frequently expect them to have at least some UI expertise. We wish to underline that UX and UI are two separate professions and that the emphasis and skill set required by both merit this distinction!
However, you may distinguish yourself in the industry and potentially earn a greater income by acquiring equivalent knowledge in two sectors.
UX/UI designers earn an average of $77,824 a year in the United States.
UX writer salaries
Many UX designers wind up creating microcopy anyhow, so why not be paid for that particular expertise if you’re already good with words? UX writers employ a comparable methodology to UX designers, focusing on delivering consistent written material across the user journey. The average annual salary for UX writers in the United States is $74,568.
UX researcher Salaries
If you’re enthusiastic about user research and can imagine yourself devoting most of your work efforts to the initial few phases of the UX design process, you might want to try becoming a UX researcher.
UX researchers earn an average of $82,478 per year in the United States.
UX strategist Salaries
Finally, if you have solid business sense and the ability to engage successfully with a wide range of stakeholders, you might want to seek a job as a UX strategist. This position will put you at the crossroads of business and design, with a salary to match.
UX strategists earn an average of $135,495 a year in the United States.
Average UX designer salary by country
a) United States
Average Salary: $94,351
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a UX Designer in the United States is $94,351.
Within its boundaries, the United States features several thriving tech centers. Cities such as New York, Seattle, and San Francisco are well known for their prestigious design schools and the presence of industry-leading corporations such as IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Salaries also differ based on where you live in the United States.
b) Canada
Average salary: US$61,998
Local currency: CA$84,416
Canada has a diverse spectrum of UX design opportunities, with the majority located in Toronto and Vancouver. This country also has several renowned design firms and branches, such as Net Solutions, a 20-year-old firm with past big-name customers such as Yahoo, PayPal, and Microsoft.
c) Germany
Average salary: US$56,967
Local currency:€53,082
Munich has the most UX employment prospects, while Berlin is also an appealing alternative for UXers. Many large organizations (such as Mozilla, Google, and others) have offices in Berlin. The MOBX Conference, Europe’s annual mobile UX conference, is even held there.
d) United Kingdom
Average salary: US$65,956
Local currency:£53,356
There are several IT jobs available around the UK, but given London’s status as Europe’s startup center, many businesses are seeking the assistance of UX designers. London, the UK’s largest city, has its own Silicon Roundabout, where the need for UX designers is at its peak.
e) Australia
Average salary: US$41,233
Local currency: A$61,968
Although Sydney and Melbourne have the best pay rates for UX designers, there are many other thriving IT communities as well. Adelaide has a thriving UX sector, which means there are several chances for designers to work on meaningful and relevant projects.
f) New Zealand
Average salary: US$55,448
Local currency: NZ$91,500
Across the Tasman Sea, Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is undoubtedly a significant tech cluster with the highest UX designer wages in the area, but it also has a high cost of living.
g) France
Average salary: US$47,809
Local currency: €44,567
It doesn’t take a great detective to figure out which French city pays the most for UX design: Paris. Salary levels fall significantly outside of the City of Love, but so does the expense of living. Cities such as Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse may be more appealing.
h) South Africa
Average salary: US$35,655
Local currency: R698,328
In South Africa, the salary range for a UX designer ranges greatly, with major locations like Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town fetching the most.
i) China
Average salary: $135,927
Local currency: ¥960,000
Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai are apparent UX industry heavyweights. However, UX designers should keep an eye on Shenzhen, a rapidly expanding city that has been dubbed China’s top design hotspot. Shenzhen is expected to play a significant role in the UX industry during the next two decades.
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How to negotiate your first UX Salary
If you’re new to the UX design field, you might be wondering what kind of pay to expect when applying for your first job. You don’t want to set your expectations too high, but you also don’t want to ask for too little.
Your talents are valuable at all phases of your design career, so conduct some study, examine your auxiliary skills, and chat with people in the sector before your first interviews.
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Conduct your research
Doing some research into what other designers with comparable skill levels are making is the greatest approach to ensure you’re asking for a reasonable rate. Look for typical pay within the company you’re applying to, in the location where the post is situated, and how many years of experience you have.
Glassdoor, PayScale, Adzuna, and UX Designer Salaries are some simple search engine options for learning about UX designer pay rates.
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Expand your skillset
You don’t need a background in technology or design to succeed in UX! You may start a career in UX after working in graphic design, marketing, dancing, or teaching. It’s just an issue of understanding your transferrable talents and honing your technical abilities.
If you’re still getting your bearings in the realm of UX, consider enrolling in a certification course or boot camp that will provide you with the necessary skills (and portfolio!). Our guide to the finest UX design certification. is an excellent starting point.
The top UX design schools will assist you in developing a professional-level portfolio and in your career hunt.
Check out a free UX design short course or start reading as many UX-related books as you can get your hands on if you want to dip your toes in the water before committing money and time that a decent program might take.
(UX design blogs are another excellent source of information and tips on how to carry out various UX procedures.)
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Consider your supplementary abilities
Auxiliary talents are the additional abilities and characteristics you bring to the table in addition to your UX design competence. These are frequently abilities that complement or go hand in hand with your design expertise.
UX designers with some coding, analytics, team building, psychology, and research experience may frequently negotiate higher compensation since these skills make them more well-rounded and appealing candidates for the position. So search for ways to broaden your skill set.
Consider specialized training in UI design, voice user interface design, or even front-end development.
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Ask Questions
If you get the chance, ask other designers in the sector for an idea of what kind of income to expect. It may seem unusual to inquire about wages and pay rates among your coworkers, but you may be amazed at how fast they will respond with some advice.
Friends, classmates, and mentors provide valuable insights on expected pay rates.
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