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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    UX Design Schools
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    1. treehouse-logo
      1 Review
      6 Courses
      5.0

      About This School

      Treehouse Techdegrees are 6 to 12 month online courses where students can learn the skills they need to get an entry-level development job. Students can choose from Front End Web Development, Full Stack JavaScript, Java Web Development, Python Web Development, iOS Development, and Android Development programs Students will work through 12 projects, and can participate in office hours and project reviews from Treehouse mentors.


      christopheralan88
      christopheralan88
      Student • Online

      Verified Via GitHub

      “Great”

      Treehouse caters to a large audience.  They make many of their materials available to everyone without having to pay.  This is great for anyone on a tight budget or who just wants to get their feet...

    2. technology-&-media-school-logo
      1 Review
      3 Courses
      5.0

      About This School

      Technology & Media School is a New York City bootcamp that offers full-time, in-person programs in computer programming, financial technology, digital marketing, and web design. With its robust, intensive curriculum, most courses require about one year to complete except the digital marketing course which wraps up after 11 weeks. Primary languages learned are C, C++, Java, and Python. Technology & Media School is an affiliate of IONIS Schools, founded in 2009 and whose mission is to encourage learning through applicable, real-life projects. 

    3. irrational-labs-logo
      1 Review
      1 Course
      5.0

      About This School

      Irrational Labs offers an 8-week, online Behavioral Design bootcamp, teaching the same techniques and frameworks they share with their consulting clients like Google, Lyft, and more. The bootcamp curriculum covers how to use behavioral science to boost your KPIs, enhance customer experience, and build effective products from the ground up. 


      Rob
      Student • Online

      Verified Via LinkedIn

      “Behavioral Design Bootcamp”

      I thought the course was fascinating. I've read some Behavioral Economics content in the past, but this was a great introduction to the practical application of Behavioral Science. Really enjoyed t...

    4. designerup-logo
      1 Review
      1 Course
      5.0

      About This School

      DesignerUp offers a self-paced, online Product Design (UI/UX) Bootcamp designed to be completed in 12 to 24 weeks. The curriculum covers business and product strategy, IA and user interaction design, usability principles, MVP design, mindful design and workflow optimization. As part of the bootcamp cost students receive access to our student community and additional resources. Students will finish the bootcamp with an original case study and portfolio.DesignerUp is open to students of all skill levels. Students will meet with their instructor for a 1:1 session at the beginning of the bootcamp to develop a customized learning plan and space tailored for individual needs.DesignerUp students will receive career guidance, including community networking and support. Students will receive a digital certificate upon bootcamp completion.


    5. About This School

      Institute of Product Leadership is an Asian technical skills provider that offers online programs in product management, product leadership, data science, design, strategy & leadership. Institute of Product Leadership also offers online certificate courses and accredited degree programs. The institute was founded in 2012 with a singular mission of creating 10,000 product leaders in the country. The organization has since designed and delivered programs in collaboration with various institutes, universities, corporations, and senior working professionals to help them make career transitions into Product Leadership. The institute has developed a community of over 3,300+ successful alumni leading the product, data, and design teams across the world.

    6. socratech-logo
      1 Review
      1 Course
      5.0

      About This School

      SocraTech is a Spain-based tech training provider offering a 16-week, part-time, live online Full Stack Developer bootcamp. The Full Stack Developer bootcamp covers topics like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, responsive web design, Node.js, React, MySQL, and SCRUM. Class sizes are limited to ensure quality of education. SocraTech also offers short, online courses covering UX Design, QA, and AI.


      Euge Pozo
      Graduate • Course: Full Stack Developer • Online

      Verified Via LinkedIn

      “¡¡¡Una experiencia increible!!!”

      Estudié el bootcamp Full Stack Web Developer hace un año y medio y llevo un año y medio trabajando como desarrolladora front en la industria, cuando antes era profesora y no tenía ni idea de progra...

    7. tech-joy-academy-logo
      1 Review
      1 Course
      5.0

      About This School

      Tech Joy Academy is an online training provider offering a 12-week, part-time, online Interdisciplinary Internship for AI & Data Science. The Interdisciplinary Internship for AI & Data Science covers topics like Python, AWS, full stack development, mobile development, AI, DevOps, and QA testing. Students will master the basics and have a chance to try different disciplines in tech before choosing a specific focus for their internship.


      Danielle Arnett
      Graduate • Course: Interdisciplinary Internship for AI & Data Science • Online

      Verified Via LinkedIn

      “Such a valuable experience!”

      Tech Joy was the second bootcamp I enrolled in.  I was looking for a job and not having much luck, so I decided to try it because it included an internship.  It was worth every penny!  I was able t...

    8. designwings-logo
      1 Review
      1 Course
      5.0

      About This School

      Designwings is a tech training provider based in India offering a 24-week, online, part-time UX/UI Design bootcamp. The UX/UI Design bootcamp covers topics like design theory, testing methodologies, product design, UX research, Figma, and user research. Students will complete real-life client projects with expert designers.

    9. edit-logo
      1 Review
      2 Courses
      4.0

      About This School

      EDIT offers part-time, 3-to 6-month courses in web development, digital marketing, UX/UI design, and mobile development in Porto and Lisbon, Portugal and Madrid, Spain. EDIT provides students with individual and group projects, case study analysis, workshops, and inside knowledge from tutors, guest speakers, and renowned professionals in the web and digital industry. EDIT focuses on the needs of the job market, aiming to give students a modern and competitive education.

    10. usf-bootcamps-by-springboard-logo
      1 Review
      5 Courses
      1.0

      About This School

      University of South Florida (USF) offers a 36-week, online UI/UX Design bootcamp and a 24-week, online Cybersecurity bootcamp. USF bootcamp students are free to work at their own pace and may complete the bootcamps sooner by putting in additional weekly hours. 

    11. ixperience-logo
      0 Reviews
      6 Courses

      About This School

      iXperience is a credit-bearing, study-abroad career accelerator program for university students based in Cape Town, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, and Berlin, in partnership with the University of Virginia. iXperience offers a 6-week iX learn and intern program, which combines blended learning courses with interning experiences taught by industry experts in full stack coding, data science, visual design, product management, management consulting, cloud computing, digital marketing, or investment finance. The program begins with a week of Global Studies, followed by two weeks of classroom learning, and finishing up with three weeks of work experience at a local company with support from teaching staff. Class sizes are limited to 25 students with help from hands-on teaching assistants to ensure that complex concepts are grasped. Outside of class, students can explore their host city, with planned excursions like food tours, surfing, diving, hiking, sailing, and cultural immersions. Modern accommodation is provided and located near vibrant restaurants, cafes and public transport.

    12. oc-digital-workshops-logo
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      1 Course

      About This School

      OC Digital Workshops offers a part-time, 7-week digital marketing and design course in Irvine, California. Through hands-on, project-based learning, the course covers the latest strategies in big picture digital marketing, marketing campaigns, Google Analytics, SEO, paid search, Facebook advertising, social media marketing, email marketing, UX, and more. OC Digital Workshops can help grow a company with employee training, teach practical job skills, or help students explore a career change.

    13. immune-technology-institute-logo
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      6 Courses

      About This School

      IMMUNE Technology Institute is a technological center in Madrid, Spain that offers a three-year Computer Entrepreneurship Program, and 12- and 18-week intensive bootcamps in programming and web development, data science, cybersecurity, DevOps & cloud computing, and UX/UI design. The programs can be completed online or in-person at IMMUNE's campus in the tech and financial hub of Madrid. IMMUNE students will receive hands-on training and collaboration with corporate partners. IMMUNE also offers masters and executive management programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Architecture & DevOps Management.


    14. About This School

      The Valley Business & Tech School is a training provider offering online and in person, part-time  Master programs in Full Stack Web Development (30 weeks), UI/UX Design (24 weeks), Digital Project Management (16 weeks), and Data Science, AI, & Big Data Analytics (40 weeks) to students in Spain, Chile, Colombia, and the Canary Islands. Students will complete real world projects to give them hands-on experience in the topics they cover. The Valley Business & Tech School also offers specialization programs and online microlearning programs for people who are looking to upskill. 

    15. digital-science-academy-logo
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      Digital Science Academy is a part-time game design bootcamp in Fort Worth, Texas. The year-long program is designed with working people in mind and teaches students to build game engines and interactive media using languages and tools like C++, Microsoft’s Visual Studio, Open Graphics Library (OpenGL), Blender 3-D, Lua, GLM, and Git version-control. Digital Science Academy was established in 2012 and uses a “flipped classroom” approach to teach game development.

    16. Guarantees Job

      About This School

      Texas A&M University Skills Bootcamp offers remote, immersive 12-week bootcamps in Sales Professional, Customer Success, Ecommerce Specialist, Product Management, Project Management, Digital Marketing, and UX/UI Design. Students will learn through expert-led live sessions that focus on real-world learning. Texas A&M University Skills Bootcamp students receive career coaching. If bootcamp students do not find a job within six months of graduation, they will receive a full tuition refund. All bootcamp students will receive a Certificate of Achievement upon completion. 

    17. code-avengers-logo
      0 Reviews
      3 Courses

      About This School

      Code Avengers offers online, self-paced computer programming and enterprise skills training. Code Avengers Pro helps students learn the skills they need to build a career as a Web Developer, Software Engineer, or Web Designer in 6 months. Code Avenger students receive 1:1 mentorship.

    18. ydev-academy-logo
      0 Reviews
      8 Courses

      About This School

      YDev Academy offers Full Stack Software Development (24 week),  IT-Ops (20 week), Data Science (12 week), Product Management (8 week), and Design (8 week) bootcamps designed to equip Africa’s emerging workforce with in-demand technology skills. All Ydev Academy bootcamps combine online and in-person learning in Nigeria. Weekend class schedules are available. 

    19. masters-design-lab-logo
      0 Reviews
      3 Courses

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      Masters Design Lab offers a Graphic Design Full Program (104 weeks) and a Digital Product Design bootcamp (52 weeks). Both bootcamps are online with live classes in cohorts of up to 30 students. Masters Design Lab bootcamps utilize real world and studio-type projects to facilitate learning along with continuous feedback and mentoring throughout the bootcamp duration. 

    20. talent-sumo-logo
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      4 Courses

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      Talent Sumo offers 6-week online Data Science, Product/Operations, Engineering and Design, and Marketing and Sales bootcamps. All Talent Sumo bootcamps are mentor-led with unlimited text support and students may learn on a schedule that suits their availability. 

    21. svc-seattle-logo
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      About This School

      SVC Seattle offers live, online User Experience and Content Design certificate bootcamps that take 50 weeks to complete. Classes are delivered via Zoom and take place on nights and weekends. 

    22. academy-xi-logo
      0 Reviews
      3 Courses

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      Academy Xi offers online UI/UX Design, Software Engineering, Front-End Web Development, Digital Marketing, Data Analytics, and Digital Product Management bootcamps. Academy Xi students may choose to complete the bootcamps in full-time, part-time, or self-paced formats. Students who choose the Elevate course format experience a cohort-based bootcamp with live lectures and access to a dedicated support team. Elevate-format bootcamps are 12 weeks part-time or 16 weeks full-time.

    23. codeacademy-logo
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      CodeAcademy offers bootcamp programs in Artificial Intelligence (32 weeks), Data Science - Advanced (28 weeks), Digital Marketing - Advanced  (16 weeks), Front End - Advanced (32 weeks), Full Stack - Advanced (28 weeks), Full Stack - Beginner (8 weeks), and Web Design UX/UI - Advanced (16 weeks) bootcamps. CodeAcademy bootcamps are offered online or in-person in Klaipeda or Vilnius, Lithuania. CodeAcademy’s online bootcamps consist of live course sessions conducted via the Microsoft Teams platform. 


    24. About This School

      Community College of Vermont offers 12-week, online, full-time career bootcamps in Software Development and UX/UI Design bootcamps. Learning for both Community College of Vermont bootcamps is centered on hands-on projects, labs, and exercises. Bootcamp students will work on a capstone project with a client, and will demo this project on a Demo Day to friends, families, and potential employers.  

    25. rookieup-logo
      0 Reviews
      3 Courses

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      RookieUp offers three levels of 8-week, design mentorship bootcamps: Learning, Building, and Launching. Instead of a set curriculum, RookieUp pairs students with mentors for personalized assistance with portfolio-building and achievement of career goals. RookieUp students can select the mentor of their choice from a curated list according to students’ goals. RookieUp students will also work with their own personal student advisor.     

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