UX Design

Considering a career as a UX Designer? We’ve got all the information you need to decide if this career is right for you, including job description, requirements, bootcamp information, and salary/job outlook.
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Last updated August 22, 2024

What is UX Design?

UX (User Experience) Design is the process of designing highly functional products, websites, mobile applications, and software with the user in mind. The focus of good UX design is to ensure the user experience is intuitive, easy, and relevant. A UX Designer’s “main goal is to continually measure and improve the usability of a product for its users by leveraging research,” explains Terry Million, Design Product Manager at Chegg Skills. 

The demand for UX Designers has never been greater as users and search engines expect a large number of high-quality applications across all devices, such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. Despite the growing need, UX Design is reported to be one of the most difficult roles to fill in the tech world. SaaS UX Designers are particularly in demand right now, which means higher salaries for UX Designers. As of May 2023, the average salary for a UX Designer was $98,540.

Types of UX Design Jobs

UX design bootcamp graduates can expect to get jobs like:

  • User Researcher
  • User Experience and Web Content Strategy Coordinator
  • User Experience Lead
  • UX Project Manager
  • Information Architect
  • UX Architect
  • UX Strategist
  • UX Engineer
  • User Experience Specialist
  • UX Consultant
  • Digital Experience Architect
  • UX Writer or Content Strategist
  • Interaction Design
  • Front End Designer
  • Product Designer

How to Learn UX Design

A UX bootcamp is most likely the fastest, most secure way to get a UX Designer job. Whether you want to take a user experience course online or attend an immersive UX/UI bootcamp, there’s a bootcamp for you, no matter your needs or experience level. Some bootcamps like Designlab and UX Design Institute strictly teach only user interface and user experience while others like CareerFoundry, Flatiron School, and General Assembly teach a wide variety of courses from Full Stack Development to UX Immersives.UX bootcamps range in duration from 9-28 weeks and cost anywhere from $3,000-$13,000. 

What Does a UX Designer Do?

UX Design encompasses every part of the process that involves how the user will interact with a product. UX Designers perform user research, card sorting, wireframing, and usability tests, as well as presenting design concepts, meeting with clients, and finding solutions. Some UX Designers specialize in only one portion of the process, while others might handle both UX and UI (which focuses solely on how an interface looks and “feels”). The UX Designer uses design thinking and is expected to understand the lifecycle of an application and how to develop and test prototypes. 

What Kind of Skills Does a UX Designer Need?

UX Design skills overlap with many positions in the tech industry. You’ll find shared or similar responsibilities with UI Designers and Product Managers. UX recruiters want to see prototypes, wireframes, and how you think. They want to be able to assume from your portfolio that you know the technologies necessary to do your job. They’ll also want to see that you have the soft skills to be empathetic with a user, collaborate with your team, and run user testing sessions.

Hard Skills Needed for a UX Designer

  • Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
  • HTML
  • CAS
  • CSS
  • Wireframing
  • Usability testing
  • Research
  • Prototyping tools such as InVision, Figma, or Sketch

Soft Skills Needed for a UX Designer

Soft skills are highly-valued and actively sought out when hiring a UX Designer. They want someone who can communicate effectively, work well on a team, and has a commitment to continuous learning. Here are the top soft skills recruiters want to see: 

  • Curiosity
  • Empathy 
  • Humility 
  • Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking 
  • Communication

Job Market and Salary Insights

UX Designer is an in-demand tech career path, with the overall employment of UX Designer estimated to grow by 16% over the next decade, which is much faster than the average of all other occupations, with 19,000 new jobs added annually.

The median annual salary for a UX Designer was $98,540 as of May 2023. This, of course, varies depending on the industry. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the  median salaries for UX Designers in the following industries:  

  • Finance and Insurance: $121,190
  • Computer systems design: $105,950
  • Advertising & PR: $71,930
  • Retail trade: $66,250

Of course, salary and career growth is also dependent on where you live (large cities and tech hubs tend to pay more), and how many years of experience you have. And while a college degree isn’t mandatory, some companies prefer to hire UX Designers with a degree in computer science or a related discipline.

FAQ Section

How do I know if UX design is for me?

It really depends on your skillset, talents, and aptitudes. If you’re interested in a tech career, UX Design might be a good choice if you’re a “people person,” you enjoy varied and interesting work, you work well with others, and enjoy solving problems. Consider taking a UX Design bootcamp to learn more about the position and if it’s right for you.

How do you start a career in UX Design?

To become a UX Designer you’ll need to learn the skills, thinking patterns, and tools needed to complete the design process from start to finish. You’ll also need to build a convincing portfolio to get a UX job. A reputable UX/UI bootcamp may be the quickest way to move into a UX design career. The possibilities are nearly endless for this growing field!

Is UX Design a good career?

UX Design is an excellent career path to pursue. The need for UX Designers has increased over the last few years, and is now estimated to grow by 16% over the next decade due to our dependence on digital technology and need for a positive user experience. In addition to great pay and flexible work environments, UX Designers are needed by nearly every industry across the globe, such as healthcare, media, manufacturing, marketing, and even the government. It’s also a good path for a career changer, as transferable skills are valued in the UX Design field.

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      CodeX Academy offers full time and part time Front End Developer, Full-Stack Developer, and Full-Stack Engineer bootcamps. CodeX Academy Developer programs are designed by a veteran full stack software engineer with more than 30 years of development experience. All CodeX Academy bootcamp students will have 24/7 community chat access and internship opportunities. CodeX Academy students receive career assistance, and will have access to a 12-24 week, professional internship.


      Duo Xu
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      ID Bootcamps offers multiple bootcamp options including Programming and Full Stack Web Development, Data Science and Machine Learning, Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking, DevOps, Development of Mobile Applications (iOS and Android), and UX/UI Design and Product Management. All ID Bootcamps may be taken as full-time (12 weeks) or part-time (36 weeks). Students may choose to take any bootcamp either online or in Madrid, Spain. Remote bootcamp classes take place over live stream. 

    3. openclassrooms-logo
      13 Reviews
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      OpenClassrooms offers part-time, online, 12-month mentored courses in digital skills like full-stack and mobile development, product management, and UX design. Students will engage in a learning experience centered around professional projects because OpenClassrooms believes that project-driven work is the fastest way to become proficient in technical skills. Projects offer hands-on experience so that students can hit the ground running when they start a new job. Students are also equipped with mentors, who are dedicated professionals and experts in their field, to help coach them to achieve their goals throughout the course. Mentors and students connect via weekly video conference sessions.


      Mehedi Hasan
      Student • Course: Front-End Developer • Online

      Verified Via LinkedIn

      “Great Experience, Learned a lot, An Institute that really cares for its students”

      As long as you commit yourself, you'll learn SO so much.  - Great environment.  - Courses are organized and well structured and mentors wow. They are eager to help students. - You will hav...

    4. path-unbound-logo
      11 Reviews
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      Path Unbound is a design school that helps students learn UX/UI, visual, and brand design one-on-one with expert instructors and launch their design careers within six months. Path Unbound School of UI/UX Design is a 6-8 months self-guided, comprehensive online learning program where students work with dedicated instructors to build a strong foundation in visual design and the UX process that culminates to creating standout portfolio projects. Students have the opportunity to be paired up with startup clients as part of their portfolio building process. Path Unbound School of Visual Design follows the same timeline as School of UI/UX Design, but is designed for students who are pursuing careers in branding, visual and graphic design.


      Gabriella Magamas
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    5. xccelerate-logo
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      Xccelerate is a Hong Kong-based immersive coding, data science/machine learning, and UX bootcamp providing 6 to 16-week part-time and full-time courses. Xccelerate was founded with the mission to bridge the talent gap in Hong Kong, China. With its education-to-employment model, Xccelerate uses a flipped classroom pedagogy to intensively train students from all backgrounds, and place them in high impact roles. The curriculum encourages students to listen, apply their skills, and ask questions. All courses are moderated by in-person instructors who are available to guide students’ learning. Courses are held at naked Hub, Asia's network of premium co-working spaces which have an emphasis on sustainable design and wellbeing.


      Ray
      Ray
      Graduate • Course: Data Science & Machine Learning (Part-Time) • Hong Kong

      Verified Via GitHub

      “Like Minded People”

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      XR Terra offers 12-week AR & VR Developer and Visual Design bootcamps in Boston and online. For the online bootcamp option, students will spend 7 hours per week in live virtual classes, and an additional 5 hours on self-study and projects. XR Terra bootcamps are intensive and project-based with real industry projects. 


      Daniel Sisson
      Graduate • Course: AR & VR Developer • Online

      Verified Via LinkedIn

      “New identity obtained”

      I've been slowly teaching myself to code over the years. Then slowly learning game development online with a Udemy course. This last fall I decided to really commit to being a builder in the coming...

    7. talent-garden-logo
      10 Reviews
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      Talent Garden is a European digital skills academy and founding partner of a global edtech group that offers training in data, marketing, design, coding and business. Talent Garden provides individuals and organizations with the knowledge, spaces and resources needed to transform and thrive within the innovation ecosystem. They offer diverse learning experiences with online, offline and hybrid courses, corporate programs and events and a network of campuses that hosts a vibrant community of digital and tech professionals.

    8. gomycode-logo
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      GOMYCODE is an online tech training provider offering online or in-person, full-time or part-time bootcamps covering topics like design (20 weeks), DevOps (12 weeks), full stack JavaScript development (20 weeks), digital marketing (20 weeks), and data science (20 weeks). GOMYCODE is dedicated to serving students across Africa and the Middle East. GOMYCODE also offers intro courses for students interested in learning foundational skills before committing to a bootcamp.

    9. binar-academy-logo
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      Binar Academy is an Indonesia-based tech training provider offering 16-week, part-time, online bootcamps covering topics like data science, web development, UX/UI design, and QA testing. Binar Academy was founded in 2017 with the mission to advance Indonesia’s technology ecosystem and close the education gap. The programs are designed to provide learners with first-hand exposure to the real world while shaping them into leaders with strong character and capabilities for the global stage.


      Refdi Wiedaya
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      Verified Via LinkedIn

      “Exceptional”

      I've known Binar Academy from a friend, and this is my first Online and Boothcamp experience ever, so at first I have my own doubts. But after finishing my course, I can confidently say overall it ...

    10. ux-classroom-logo
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      UX Classroom is a training provider offering 16-week, part-time, online user experience (UX) design bootcamps covering topics like UX fundamentals, design theory, mobile design, responsive web design, user interface (UI), and UX research. Students will graduate with a portfolio of projects to show potential employers. UX Classroom is designed for students with no experience and beginners are welcome to apply. Contact the bootcamp to schedule an admissions meeting. UX Classroom is designed to help students land UX roles after graduation. Career assistance is  included in the curriculum with services like CV and cover letter assistance, interview prep, and portfolio building. UX Classroom is committed to providing affordable education to European citizens. Tuition may be paid in installments to reduce upfront cost.


      Анна Сезон
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      Verified Via LinkedIn

      “Amazing course!”

      Всем привет! Я работаю в графическом дизайне более 8 лет и заинтересовалась веб-дизайном и ИТ. Я наткнулся на рекламу бесплатных марафонов от GOIT, и мне понравился уровень общения с участниками, з...

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      “Great Community!”

      They have a continuous follow up during and after classes, activities and connections with companies where you get different opportunities. 

    13. cei-escuela-de-diseño-logo
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    14. codebound-logo
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      Pavan Kumar
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    18. perpetual-education-logo
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      Perpetual Education is an educational consultancy that offers a 36-week Design for The Web (DFTW) program. The DFTW program includes one-on-one, full-time coaching and full access to Perpetual Education's library of internal learning resources. In the DFTW program, students will explore multiple paths (visual design, coding, UX), so they can discover where their true strengths and passions lie. Students work on real projects, often with actual clients, and gain insights from over a decade of industry experience. This hands-on approach ensures that students are not just learning theory, but also applying it in ways that prepare them for the challenges of the workplace. Perpetual Education also offers coaching sessions for groups of 8-15 students. 


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      This program is a bit different from most. I hesitate to call it a "bootcamp" as the curriculum and mentorship is presented in an almost academic-quality manner. From the production and planning of...

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    20. startup-campus-logo
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      Startup Campus is an Indonesia-based tech training provider offering 16-week, part-time, online bootcamps covering topics like Data Science, UX/UI Design, and AI. Students will also learn soft skills to help them function in a team setting. Startup Campus offers lifetime access to students after graduation. 


      Alina Rusyda Hariadi
      Graduate • Course: UX/UI Design • Online

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      “Super practical diploma programs”

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    24. umuzi-academy-logo
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      I am a Data scientist at Umuzi and I must say my journey here has been amazing. the academy is amazing, I remember the first day I came here to write a test, I was praying to make it in because the...

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