Let’s face it, no one likes talking about money. It can feel pretty awkward, right?
However, the problem with not talking about money is that it can lead many of us to accepting (or even requesting!) salaries which do not reflect our true worth. As a relatively new field, this is still frequently the case for both junior and experienced UX designers.
In this article, we’re going to help you uncover your earning potential as a UX designer. We want to arm you with the hard facts on how much UX designers get paid at different levels and in different locations so that when you land your next role in UX design, you’ll have the confidence to ask for no less than what you’re worth.
Here’s what we will cover:
Are you ready to start earning what you should be earning?! Then let’s get started!
What’s the job market for UX designers?
For those looking to future-proof their careers, UX design is one of the fastest-growing industries to choose from. And with the meteoric rise in tablet and smartphone sales, it’s hardly surprising–after all, each interaction is informed or at least influenced by a UX design team. When we consider that technology in virtual reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, and Web 3.0 is also becoming mainstream, the need for specialized skills in UX is only going to become more acute.
The demand for UX skills is already being pointed to in employment and labor statistics. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, UX design jobs in the States will grow 8% over the next year, while CNN Money expects demand for UX designers to grow by 18% in the decade between 2015 and 2025. Back in 2020, LinkedIn had already pinpointed UX design as one of its top 5 in-demand skills, while Google rates UX design skills so highly that the latest iteration of its algorithm includes Google Page Experience, which potentially downgrades the ranking of a site if its user experience is not up to scratch.
For those starting out in the field, there’s more good news: Glassdoor cited the role of the UX designer in its top 25 highest paying entry level jobs in 2019, in fact placing it at number six in that list. Whatever your skill level, education, or experience, from an employability perspective, now is a great time to get into UX design.
Average UX designer salary by country (high and low)
If you’re hoping to forge a long lasting and rewarding career in UX design, having some research-backed data on the sort of salary you can expect to take home as a professional in the field will help you make an informed decision about which jobs, companies, and workstyles to pursue.
To help you with these, we’ve listed the average salaries of UX designers for a range of different countries, so you can see how much you can expect to earn where you are. We’ll also be providing a short rundown of the cost of living for each of these locations, so you can quickly gauge your budget and disposable income should you take up a post in that area.
USA
Average UX designer salary for the USA:
Low: US$69,600
High: US$114,300
(Source: Glassdoor)
Cost of living in the USA:
The cost of living for a single person in the USA averages $38,266 per year. However, in a country this size, it’s important to bear in mind the varying cost of living from state to state. With a gallon of milk costing just $0.93 in Illinois, and $4.69 in Hawaii, if you’re considering relocating for a job, you’ll need to research carefully the exact cost of living for your desired location before agreeing to a salary.
Canada
Average UX designer salary for Canada:
Low: CA$50,000
High: CA$101,800
(Source: Glassdoor)
Cost of living in Canada:
Similar to the US, the cost of living in Canada varies in different provinces and territories. Monthly rent for a single bedroom apartment in Quebec City comes in on average at CA$714 per month, while Vancouver residents can expect to pay CA$2,176 for the equivalent living arrangements. Average living expenses for a single person (without rent) in Toronto come in at CA$1,242.83.
Germany
Average UX designer salary in Germany:
Low: €34,500
High: €70,000
(Source: Glassdoor)
Cost of living in Germany:
While living expenses in Germany are on average lower than those in the US or Canada, aside from rent money, a single person will still need an additional €803 per month to cover their costs.
The Netherlands
Average UX designer salary in The Netherlands:
Low: €30,000
High:€ 75,000
(Source: Glassdoor)
Cost of living in The Netherlands:
The Netherlands is actually more expensive than Germany in terms of living costs, with a single person’s estimated monthly costs at €905.72 without rent. UX designer salaries start slightly lower than Germany’s too, but also go higher at the top end.
UK
Average UX designer salary in the UK:
Low: £30,600
High: £65,700
(Source: Jobted)
Cost of living in the UK:
In the UK, the cost of living can be very high, especially in major cities like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. As a single person, the estimated cost of living per month here is £651 without rent.
Australia
Average UX designer salary in Australia:
Low: AU$90,000
High: AU$140,600
(Source: Talent)
Cost of living in Australia:
While Sydney is among the top 10 most expensive cities in the world to live in–a one-bedroom apartment in Sydney will set you back around $450 to $550 a week–the cost of living across Australia does vary hugely. An average single person’s monthly expenses in Brisbane are AU$1,383 without rent, and similarly in Melbourne (AU$1,351).
Poland
Average UX designer salary in Poland:
Low: 54,540zł
High: 143,772zł
(Source: Glassdoor)
Cost of living in Poland:
The cost of living in Poland is on average 44.22% lower than in the United States, with monthly costs (without rent) for a single person coming in at around 2,409zł.
China
Average UX designer salary in China:
Low: ¥126,000
High: ¥297,000
(Source: Glassdoor)
Cost of living in China:
The cost of living in China is considered to be relatively low, and said to be on average 38.63% lower than in the United States. However, as is so often the case, if you choose to live in a modern metropolis such as Beijing or Shanghai, you’ll be paying almost twice the amount in rent as what you would in a smaller city such as Qingdao, Dalian or Jinan.
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UX designer salaries by company
While building on your salary research, it can be useful to have an idea of what some major players are willing to pay for their junior, mid-level, and senior UX designers. Here’s a rundown of what some of the tech heavyweights are offering.
According to the comparison website, Comparably, a US-based UX designer at Google can expect to earn a salary of $139,508 per year, made up of a base salary of $108,778 and a $30,730 bonus. UX designer salaries at Google start at $70,000 and reach $195,000.
Meta
UX designers in the US employed by Meta earn on average $118,745 per year, while senior UX designers at the company can earn on average up to $183,000 per year. Junior UXers can expect a salary closer to $90,000 when joining the company.
At its US headquarters, Twitter’s UX designers earn on average $120,750 annually, which includes a base salary of $111,250 with a $9,500 bonus. For more junior UX designer positions, salaries at Twitter start at around $84,000, going up to $140,000 for more senior UX positions.
Amazon
The average salary for a UX designer at online shopping giant Amazon is $153,126 annually, which includes a base salary of $107,326 with a $45,800 bonus. Salaries for junior UX designers at the company begin at $97,792, while senior UX designers can reach a salary of up to $198,000 per year.
Salaries for other UX-related roles
Now that you know what salaries are available for junior, mid-career, and senior UX designers, and the differences in salary between locations and companies, let’s take a look at some of the other positions out there for talented individuals with UX skills, knowledge, and experience.
UI designer salary
Although frequently confused with UX design, UI design (User Interface design) is the study and design of user interfaces, with a sharp focus on the user’s visual experience. Working frequently with computer or smartphone interfaces, in addition to other machines and software, the goal of the UI designer is to create interfaces that are enjoyable and intuitive for users, as well as visually pleasing.
Average salaries for UI designers
United States: $79,077
United Kingdom: £45,000
Germany: €43,342
UX writer salary
An integral part of the product design team, the UX writer’s role is to research, strategize, and craft copy that guides the user through an app or website with as little friction and as much delight as possible. As the focus on the user’s experience in product development has increased, so too has the realization that a dedicated role is needed for navigational and product copy to ensure this element of the user’s interaction with a brand is fully optimized.
Average salaries for UX writers
United States: $117,153
United Kingdom: $52,000
Germany: €66,986
UX researcher salary
The role of the UX researcher is to gather data from a product’s users to gain insights into designing or improving a product’s usability, usefulness, or delightfulness. They do this via techniques such as interviews, surveys, usability testing, card sorting, and field studies.
Average salaries for UX researcher
United States: $88,647
United Kingdom: £55,621
Germany: €49,407
UX strategist salary
A UX strategist is responsible for providing insights on the user’s experience with the product which go towards informing crucial company and brand decisions. The UX strategist acts as a link between the UX designer/team and the product management team, working to align business and design decisions.
United States: $114,481
United Kingdom: £83,907
UX design facilitator salary
A UX design facilitator plans, guides, motivates, and manages a group with the intention of helping them to solve a problem or achieve a specific goal through the adoption of specific user-centric processes and methodology. The job title UX design facilitator is still relatively new, which can make finding specific UX design facilitation roles challenging. However, facilitation job descriptions can frequently be found under terms such as Agile Coach, Workshop Moderator, Design Thinking Facilitator, or Business Design and Strategy Facilitator.
Salaries for Agile Coaches:
United States: $142,883
United Kingdom: £77,669
Germany: €80,205
Information architect salary
An information architect aims to create a positive user experience with an app or on a website by planning, organizing, and designing the structure of the information displayed. Concerned with improving understanding, navigation, and usability, the information architect will do this through the labeling and categorizing of content.
United States: $98,148
United Kingdom: £67,583
Germany: €57,391
Usability analyst salary
With the aim of increasing user satisfaction with a product, a user analyst evaluates user interactions, conducts studies, presents findings, and makes recommendations.
United States: $94,712
United Kingdom: £34,966
Germany: €66,045
UX architect salary
A UX architect is needed to provide a high-level overview of a product, website, or design and to use their specialized knowledge, combined with user testing and research, to improve the structure and flow of content to improve the user experience.
United States: $97,099
United Kingdom: £47,940
UX/UI developer salary
A UX or UI developer typically creates prototypes (using their frontend development skills) which closely mimic the real application or website. They work closely with the UX and UI teams to make the visual elements of a site work coherently and smoothly.
United States: $85,830
United Kingdom: £85,000
What salary can you expect as a freelance UX designer?
Working freelance as a UX designer brings with it a considerable amount of variety and autonomy as, unlike in-house, you’re not tied to one client or company. Over time, you’ll build up valuable skills and experience solving a wide range of problems for different products and services, and eventually you’ll be able to focus on working on projects or for clients which are of special interest to you.
Your salary when working freelance will depend on a number of factors, such as your location, specialities, demand for your services, number of years you’ve been working in the field, and the types of clients you’ll be working for. Staying ahead of developments in the field and the latest digital tools will be vital to demonstrating your professionalism and passion, which in addition to experience and positive client testimonials will enable you to charge more over time.
Average freelance UX designer salary:
United States: $99,778
United Kingdom: £71,500
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How to negotiate your first UX salary
If you’re just starting out in UX design, it can be tricky knowing how much to expect on your first pay slip. Before you enter salary negotiations, be sure to do your research.
Some tips:
- Find out the average pay for junior or entry-level UX positions in your area
- See what the company is paying its current employees by using a site like Glassdoor
- Compare salaries for junior UX designers in large corporations and startups in your area
- Speak to any former colleagues or peers who have worked in the field about their salary expectations
- Don’t dismiss any previous work experience you’ve already built up. Project management, graphic design, facilitation, UI design, or web development skills could significantly boost your earning potential in this role
What is the highest salary a UX designer can expect?
As we have seen, the salaries for senior UX designers employed by major tech players such as Google, Twitter, Meta, and Amazon can reach around $200,000 per year and it certainly tends to be the case that those in the tech sector offer considerably higher salaries than their non-tech counterparts. Location will also be a defining factor here, with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Denmark, the USA, and Luxembourg paying the highest average global salaries.
How to improve your salary as a UX designer
Once you’re established in your UX design career, you may feel like there’s just one, albeit slow, recipe to earning more money in the field, that is by building on your experience and getting promoted. However, there are a number of other methods you can put into practice right now which will enable you to boost your salary.
We’ve put together a three-point video explaining exactly how you can get a better salary in UX design, but put simply, here’s what you have to do:
- Become an absolute master at what you do. This certainly isn’t the easiest route to a larger pay packet, but it is a sure-fire way to boost your earnings.
- Move away from execution and focus instead on strategy. UX designers who can work on big picture thinking are increasingly valued by companies.
- Learn some complementary skills. You may have transferable skills from a previous career, or you’re able to do some extra curricular learning in your free time; however you do it, laying on additional hard skills amplifies your earning potential significantly. Consider learning facilitation skills, coding, or project management to complement your UX design skills.
