UX Designer
Design how users navigate apps and websites, working with product and engineering teams to improve usability.
This UK ux designer career guide covers what the role involves day to day, typical salary at each stage, the usual entry route, the skills employers expect, and related careers worth comparing.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £28,000 - £38,000
- Mid-career salary
- £45,000 - £65,000
- Senior salary
- £70,000 - £100,000+
- Work environment
- Office or remote, collaborative
- Time to entry
- 1 - 2 years
- Degree required
- Not required, portfolio matters most
- Category
- Design and Creative
What a UX Designer does
Design how users navigate apps and websites, working with product and engineering teams to improve usability.
- Product Designer - Own the full design of a product feature end-to-end.
- UX Researcher - Run interviews and tests to understand what users need.
- UI Designer - Focus on the visual layer - look, feel, and components.
- Service Designer - Design end-to-end experiences across digital and physical touchpoints.
How to become a UX Designer
- Look up UX Designer roles on LinkedIn or Indeed and read 5 real job ads
- Talk to someone already working as a UX Designer - even a 15-minute call helps
- Find one beginner course or qualification used by people in this role
- Build one small piece of evidence you've explored this (project, shadowing, short course)
- Apply to one entry-level role or related opportunity within the next month
Key skills
- Figma
- User research
- Visual thinking
- Communication