The job of the user experience (UX) researcher is growing in importance, specialization, and demand, just like the salary. User experience research aims to uncover user behaviors, needs, and motivations to create valuable products and services.
To create products that meet user needs (while also delighting them), you must first understand who your consumer is and their needs. These techniques can significantly impact a company’s bottom line when used effectively.
UX researchers do in-depth research on target users to collect and analyze data to aid in the product design. This article will examine what UX researchers do, how they do it, and how much they make.
Table of contents
- What Does A User Experience Researcher Do?
- How Much Does A UX Researcher Make?
- What Influences A UX Researcher’s Salary?
- What Are The Skills That Affect UX Researcher Salaries
- What Are The UX Researchers’ Salaries By Title?
- What Are The UX Researchers’ Salaries By Experience Level?
- What Are The UX Researchers’ Salaries By Location?
- What Are The Benefits, Perks, And Bonuses Of A UX Researcher?
- What Companies Are The Popular Employers For UX Researchers?
- FAQ’s
- Conclusion
- Reference
- Recommendations
What Does A User Experience Researcher Do?
The goal of a UX researcher (or a “user researcher” or “design researcher”) is to uncover human insights to influence design implementation.
According to a recent IBM job posting, as a design researcher, you’ll “help generate actionable and relevant data-driven insights that represent the voice of various consumers.”
You’ll work with people from the development, design, and marketing teams to assess existing and future user research needs to improve product specification and achieve business objectives.”
The following are some of the everyday tasks and responsibilities of a UX researcher:
- Research Planning and Recruitment
- Data Collection
- Data Analysis
- Presentation of Insights
- Strategy
These are only a few of the duties that fall under the umbrella of UX research. As a UX researcher, your ultimate goal is to create a picture of your target consumers based on their needs, wants, motivations, and pain points.
These revelations allow the rest of the design team to produce user-friendly products based on actual customer feedback rather than your assumptions.
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How Much Does A UX Researcher Make?
In the United States, UX researchers earn between $88,505 and $134,000 on average, based on experience, geography, abilities, and other criteria.
According to several salary aggregate websites, a UX researcher’s typical salary in the United States ranges from $88,505 to $134,782. As of June 2022, the following are the average base wages for UX researchers in the United States:
| Payscale | ZipRecruiter | Robert Half | Salary.com | Glassdoor |
| $88,505 | $106,834 | $92,250 | $81,827 (median) | $108,788 |
What Influences A UX Researcher’s Salary?
A UX researcher’s salary depends on the experience, location, expertise, and additional compensation after the base wage.
What Are The Skills That Affect UX Researcher Salaries
Many factors influence a UX Researcher’s salary. The most common abilities and their impact on pay are listed below:
- Design
- Product Development
- Strategy
- Product Management
- Client Interaction
What Are The UX Researchers’ Salaries By Title?
Salary increases usually depend on the amount of experience and job title. An associate UX researcher, for example, earns less than a mid or senior-level UX researcher. The “Associate” indicates an early-career role. So, the more experience you get, the more likely you are to be trusted with increased duties, paving the way for promotions and higher pay.
| Title | Average base salary in the US (Glassdoor, as of November 2021) |
| Associate UX researcher | $91,172 |
| Junior UX researcher | $127,927 |
| UX researcher | $134,782 |
| Senior UX researcher | $134,223 |
| Lead UX researcher | $152,509 |
What Are The UX Researchers’ Salaries By Experience Level?
Based on 104 salaries, an entry-level UX Researcher with less than one year of experience can expect an average salary of $70,150 (including tips, bonus, and overtime pay).
And from 1,222 salaries, an early career UX Researcher with 1-4 years of experience gets an average total salary of $82,939 annually.
According to 418 salaries, the average total income for a mid-career UX Researcher with 5-9 years of experience is $106,459 per year.
And, according to 120 salaries, an experienced UX Researcher with 10-19 years of experience gets an average total salary of $120,334 per year. Employees with a long career (20 years or more) get average total compensation of $130,955.
What Are The UX Researchers’ Salaries By Location?
So, we know that certain cities have higher living costs than others. Companies in pricey areas can give a wage that represents the disparity to compensate for the increased cost of living and attract top employees.
Here’s a sample of what you might find in various large and medium-sized cities across the United States.
| City | Average base salary (Glassdoor) |
| San Francisco, CA | $144,327 |
| New York, NY | $142,954 |
| Seattle, WA | $141,821 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $130,572 |
| Austin, TX | $123,113 |
| Washington, DC | $113,510 |
| Madison, WI | $109,606 |
| Des Moines, IO | $107,504 |
| Saint Louis, MO | $90,193 |
| Chicago, IL | $86,389 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $85,462 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $65,961 |
What Are The Benefits, Perks, And Bonuses Of A UX Researcher?
A benefits package and some perks usually accompany your pay in the United States. Health insurance paid vacation days, stock options, parental leave, gym reimbursements, transportation subsidies, and the ability to work from home are just a few examples.
Most times, a less-than-desirable pay can be augmented with a benefits package that saves you money on your commute or perks that allow you to live the lifestyle you want.
If you’ve been unsuccessful in negotiating a higher income, you might be able to negotiate a more comprehensive benefits package.
Some businesses may also offer incentives at various times throughout the year. Individual, team or company-wide achievement might be the basis for these awards. Though it’s challenging to forecast ahead of time, you might inquire with a hiring manager about the company’s bonus policy.
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What Companies Are The Popular Employers For UX Researchers?
Google, Inc., Facebook Inc., and Microsoft Corp. are among the top responders for the job title UX Researcher. The highest reported salaries are at Facebook Inc, which pays an average of $128,559.
Google, Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. are two other organizations that pay well for this position, with salaries of roughly $123,699 and $121,350, respectively.
The FranklinCovey Company pays the least, about $65,820 per year. AnswerLab and International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. pay $99,090 and $106,327 on the bottom end of the range.
FAQ’s
UX researchers make around $88,000 to $134,000 on average in the US, depending on experience, location, skills, and other factors.
A UX researcher’s salary depends on the experience, location, expertise, and additional compensation after the base wage.
Survey Design skills are said to pay higher than the average salaries. And User Experience (UX) Design, Research Analysis, Usability Testing, and User Research are examples of skills that pay less than the market rate.
So, we know that certain cities have higher living costs than others. These cities pay the UX researchers the highest salaries:
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Seattle, WA
Los Angeles, CA
Austin, TX
Conclusion
UX is a burgeoning area, and the user experience researcher’s work is becoming increasingly important. To become a well-paid UX researcher, you must first acquire the necessary skills and information and understand how to perform UX research like a professional.
Also, it would help if you also surrounded yourself with colleagues in the area from whom you can learn.
Overall, knowing client demands cannot be overstated, and user experience researchers will play an increasingly important role in the future of design.
Reference
Recommendations
