If you are a UI/UX aspirant, you need to know that this career path is maybe the most rewarding career of the decade. UI/UX design has turned into an important job in recent digital development because the demand for user-friendly and intuitive design is now higher than ever.
Since technology is in a continuous development process, the need for skilled designers is now at the next level, and brands are looking for designers who are trained in UI and UX to make their websites and apps impressive.
The answer to this question is very simple: a career in UI/UX design is the best choice for those who have creativity and problem-solving skills and want a financial reward from that.
Due to the recent high demand for talent in this industry, many companies now understand the importance of a good and skilled UI/UX designer who can create websites and apps focused on the user experience.
Now, more and more companies are looking for designers who have strong portfolios and a complex set of skills to be able to outshine their competitors with the best websites and apps that are based on user interface design and create a perfect user experience.
The UI/UX designer's salary varies based on many factors, and while the demand for talented designers is very high, it’s important to take into consideration several factors that can have a significant impact on the overall UX/UI salary.
1. The experience level
The experience level is probably the most important factor that might influence the UX Design Salary and UI salary. Similar to other careers, the UI and UX industry is divided into experience categories.
- Entry-Level Designers - it’s essential to know that in UI/UX design, those who are just starting their career will usually earn less money but will still have a good amount of money compared with other industries. In this step, some designers might be limited in their responsibilities for different tasks, and they will likely be guided by seniors.
- Mid-Level Designers - after a few years of experience, designers tend to take on more complex projects to extend their capabilities. In this step, many designers are working to create the perfect portfolio to gain more visibility that shows their experience.
- Senior Designers - Senior designers can usually demand a higher UI and UX design salary if they have more experience and responsibilities. So, for example, a senior in UI/UX design who leads teams and can manage big and complex projects is very likely to have a high UX/UI salary.
2. The location
Here, the location plays a vital role in influencing the UI designer's salary along with the UX designer's salary. Generally, the salary depends on the cost of living and the demand for talented designers in a specific region.
- High-paying regions - big cities focusing on the tech industry, such as San Francisco, New York, London, and others, tend to offer higher salaries to attract some of the best designers. But it’s important to know that in these regions, the competition is intense, and more importantly, many companies are willing to spend more on top UI/UX designers.
- Remote work and global opportunities - remote work has opened more doors for designers who can work remotely for various companies across the globe. This offers the opportunity to earn higher salaries regardless of their location.
3. Industry
Also, the industry is very important because it can influence the overall UI designer salary and UX designer salary. Keep in mind that some sectors can see the design market as valuable and others as less valuable. For example, in tech-heavy industries, user experience is an essential skill for success.
- The tech industry - it’s not a surprise that the tech industry is offering probably the highest UX/UI salary, especially in areas such as the Saas, e-commerce, and also fintech. Keep in mind that in these industries, many companies are looking for the best UI and UX designers to create the best websites and apps.
- Healthcare, Finance, and Startups - in these industries has a high demand for clear and efficient products, which can influence the overall salary revenue.
4. Skillset and Specialities
Many designers earn their UX/UI salary based on the skillset that they have, and those designers that have a wider range of skills and capabilities usually have a higher salary.
For example, designers who know how to work with Figma, Adobe XD, and other complex prototyping tools have more chances to find a job with a good UX design salary and UI salary in the market.
Also, coding skills have an important impact, and if someone who works in UI/UX design is also a front-end developer abilities such as HTML, CSS, or JavaScript have more chances to a better salary.
5. Freelancing and Full-time employment
UI/UX designers who tend to freelance usually have more potential to earn more on a project compared with full-time employees, but this also comes with less job security and maybe fewer benefits.
Freelancers that have solid portfolios and frequent clients can have some premium fees for those short-term and high-impact projects. So, this flexibility can lead to higher earnings in UI designer salaries and UX designer salaries.
On the other hand, designers who are employed full-time have more benefits such as job security and career progression, which can result in a continuous increase in salary over time.
In high-tech regions such as North America, Western Europe, and Australia salaries in UI/UX design can be very high due to the intense competition that exists for the top talents.
In North America, especially in San Francisco and New York, are the highest salaries worldwide, and an average UI designer earns here a revenue of between $70,000 to $120,000 per year compared with a UX designer, which has a UX designer salary between $80,000 to $130,000 annually.
In Canada, usually, salaries are competitive but a little bit lower, and a UI/UX design salary is somewhere between $60,000 and $100,000 per year based on the level of experience.
In Europe, things are a little bit different, and major cities like London, Berlin, and Amsterdam also have a high UI designer salary and a UX designer salary. In the UK, the average salary for UI designers is between $45,000 and $85,000 compared with UX designers, who usually make between $52,000 and $97,000. The same is true for Germany and the Netherlands, which have similar salary trends for senior-level designers between $70,000 and $105,000.
Both UI and UX designers indeed have an important role in product development but UX designers tend to earn more money than those designers who are focusing just on the user interface of a website or an app.
This is happening in most cases because the UX design implies more strategic thinking and a user research experience, which can significantly impact a product's success. However, the product in question will not be complete without a UI designer to create the perfect interface. So, both jobs are important because they work together to deliver the best creation of a website or an app.
We at uinkits understand the importance of great user experiences and creating amazing UI designs. That’s why we’ve developed a Figma UI Kit with design components that include these essential UI elements that enable you to design intuitive and user-friendly interfaces effortlessly.
“You press the button, we do the rest.” – Kodak.
Inspired by this iconic tagline from Kodak, we believe in simplifying the design process for you. Our Figma UI Kit, uinkits, is a complete design system with UI components that allows you, as a UI UX designer, to create your products as quickly as pressing a button.
Our design system includes UI components, icons, variables, cards, buttons and everything you need for your design process. All you have to do is take your UI design component needed, and you’re ready to use it in your designs!
