With more companies prioritizing digital products and customer satisfaction, user experience (UX) designers are in high demand across industries like retail, finance, healthcare and technology. If you're wondering whether UX design is a good career choice in 2025, this guide breaks down what UX designers do, how much they earn, what skills are in demand and how the field is changing.
What UX Designers Do—And What They Earn in 2025
UX designer 101: What does a UX designer do?
UX design is about creating digital products that are easy to use and enjoyable. Put another way, a UX designer is responsible for the overall feel and ease when interacting with a product. Their tasks include:
Conducting user research and usability testing—UX designers start by learning about people’s needs and frustrations. This might involve interviews, surveys or watching how someone navigates an app to spot sticking points. For example, a designer working on a travel website might discover through usability testing that users struggle to find a hotel’s cancellation policy.
Creating wireframes, prototypes and user flows—Once they understand the user, designers sketch out ideas to show how a product should work. These rough drafts (wireframes) often lead to clickable prototypes that simulate the experience.
Making improvements based on feedback and analytics—Once a product or feature is live, designers look at how it’s performing—where users are getting stuck, which buttons aren’t being clicked or where people drop off altogether. Based on this feedback, they go back and make changes to improve the experience. For example, if users consistently abandon a checkout page, the designer might simplify the steps or relocate key information to a more prominent location.
Want to stand out to employers? Check out these 6 tips to create a digital portfolio that showcases your UX design skills.
Key skills and tools every UX designer needs
What skills do UX designers need? It’s not just about creative flair. Top UX professionals blend design sense with analytical thinking.
Essential soft skills for UX design
The best UX designers approach their work with empathy and a sense of curiosity. They’re always asking how they can make things clearer, easier or more helpful for the people using their product.
For example, a designer working on a hospital’s patient portal might interview patients and staff to find out what’s confusing or frustrating. They could discover that booking an appointment takes too many steps or that key information is buried in the menu. Based on those findings, the designer would sketch out new ideas and test them with real users.
Top technical skills for UX design
Most UX professionals rely on tools like Figma, Adobe XD or Sketch to design interfaces. For testing, platforms such as Maze or Optimal Workshop help them gather feedback quickly. Remote collaboration tools like Miro and FigJam support brainstorming and user journey mapping. And increasingly, designers are experimenting with AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT, Adobe Firefly or Midjourney to speed up concepting and content creation.
UX designer salary ranges in 2025
If you're early in your UX career, you might earn around $95,000 a year, according to the 2025 Salary Guide From Robert Half. More experienced designers tend to earn closer to $115,000, while seasoned professionals with a strong track record can make upwards of $140,000.
For context, here's how UX designer salaries compare to related design roles you might also be considering:
Visual designer: $76,000 – $113,250
Graphic designer: $52,000 – $79,500
Package designer: $55,750 – $82,750
Career path and related roles
Wondering where UX can take you? Here's a typical progression:
Entry-Level UX Designer (0–2 yrs): Learn wireframing, prototyping and research basics
Mid-Level UX Designer (3–5 yrs): Take full responsibility for features or product areas, collaborate cross-functionally with design and marketing teams
Senior UX Designer (5+ yrs): Lead strategy, mentor others, specialize in areas like mobile or accessibility
UX Lead/Manager: Oversee design systems, shape user vision, manage a team
Director of UX or Head of Experience: Set user experience strategy at the organizational level
What is a UX/UI designer?
Sometimes you’ll see job ads looking for a UX/UI designer—someone who handles both the user experience and the user interface (UI). In other words, they not only plan how something should work but also design how it should look. This hybrid role is especially common at startups or smaller companies where design teams are lean.
The advantage? You get to own the full design journey, from research and wireframing to visual design and front-end tweaks. But it can also be a lot to manage. You’ll need strong time management skills and the ability to switch between big-picture thinking and fine visual details.
A UX/UI designer working to enhance a fitness app might start by talking to users to understand why engagement has dropped off. Depending on what they learn, they might then sketch out a simpler, more motivating daily check-in flow and refine the visuals to feel more inviting. If they have front-end coding skills, they might even build a working prototype for quick testing.
Contract or permanent? How UX designers work today
UX designer jobs come in many shapes. Depending on the size and scope of the organization, a company may have just one or two UX designers in their marketing department, or an entire team dedicated to the user experience function. Permanent UX design roles offer stability, benefits and long-term project ownership, while contract positions often pay well, offer variety and can be tied to product cycles. A Robert Half survey found that 77% of marketing and creative managers plan to hire contract professionals in 2025, highlighting the value of positioning yourself as flexible, project-ready design talent.
What’s next? Emerging trends in UX design
UX designers work in a fast-changing field. One major shift in recent years is the use of AI-assisted tools like Adobe Firefly and Midjourney, which are helping designers move faster, from early prototypes to copy and visual suggestions. These tools don’t replace creative thinking, but they can definitely speed things up.
Data is also becoming a bigger part of the job. Today’s UX professionals are often expected to understand how users interact with a product by reviewing analytics—tools that show patterns in user behavior, like which pages people visit most or where they tend to drop off. They might also run A/B tests, which involve comparing two different versions of a page or feature to see which performs better.
Finally, UX roles are becoming more collaborative. Designers often work closely with product teams, marketers and customer experience specialists to shape a consistent experience.
Conclusion: Is UX design a good career in 2025?
Absolutely! With salaries rising, flexible work options and demand across sectors, UX design is a smart path for those who enjoy solving problems and improving digital experiences. Whether you're just starting out or planning your next move, there’s never been a better time to explore this field.
