UX researcher

UX (user experience) researchers study user needs, behaviours and preferences to improve digital products and services

You will use various research techniques, such as surveys, user interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, card sorting and tree testing, to collect and analyse information on users and their behaviours.

These insights will inform product teams and designers who can then design websites that enhance user experience, accessibility and overall satisfaction.

You will be involved at all stages of the design process from gathering and analysing information to understand your target users, to evaluating the final digital product or service to ensure it meets the users' needs.

UX researcher roles cross over with related roles such as UX analyst, UX designer and UX architect.

Responsibilities

UX researchers put users at the centre of a design. To understand them better, you will use a range of research methods, including:

• quantitative - analysing numerical data to identify trends and patterns in user behaviour
• qualitative - analysing user feedback and observational studies to identify user needs, motivations and pain points.

As a UX researcher, you'll typically need to:

• gather information about project requirements and work with other members of the UX research team, UX designers and product managers to establish priorities
• plan and conduct user research studies, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, to understand user behaviours, motivations and trends
• analyse research data to provide actionable insights
• map user journeys (user flows) and create UX personas to help better understand your target users
• present research findings to senior leadership, product teams, the UX teams and other key stakeholders to help shape design decisions
• conduct user testing to help UX designers create a prototype and again to identify any usability issues before the product or service is launched
• work closely with cross-functional teams that may include UX designers, product managers, developers and other stakeholders
• ensure research findings are actioned by designers and developers
• evaluate and review websites and other digital services from a user's perspective, including those of competitors, to continuously improve the user experience
• use your research to champion inclusive digital practices and ensure accessible services that work for all users
• keep up to date with UX research best practices and ensure that these are followed by the UX research and wider team
• (with experience) mentor junior members of the UX research team.

Salary

• Starting salaries for UX researchers are in the region of £20,000 to £25,000, rising to around £35,000 with experience.
• Salaries for mid-weight UX researchers typically range from around £35,000 to £50,000, depending on the sector you work in and your experience. This can rise to between £40,000 and £60,000 for senior UX researchers.
• Lead UX researchers can earn in the region of £60,000 to £80,00, rising to over £100,000 for some head of research roles.

Salaries vary depending on your location, the sector you work in, and size and type of employer. Sectors such as finance, technology and telecommunications, and consultancy, for example, tend to have higher salaries.

Other factors affecting salary include your experience, skills and responsibilities.

Day rates typically range from around £300 to £800 depending on your experience and the sector you're working in.

Income data from Intelligent People, specialist UX and product design recruiter. Figures are intended as a guide only. 

Working hours

You'll generally work regular office hours from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, but there may be some weekend and evening work to meet deadlines.

Short-term contracts, part-time work and freelance opportunities are available.

There may be opportunities for hybrid working.

What to expect

• Work is usually office based.
• Jobs are available throughout the UK and there are also some opportunities abroad.
• The dress code tends to be relaxed and informal, with the focus instead being on creating work to the expected standard and delivering it on time.
• User experience is a growing area, with an increasing number of roles being created for graduates.
• You may have to travel to attend client meetings or to conduct user research.

Qualifications

Entry with a degree is common and useful subjects include:

• anthropology
• computing science
• digital marketing and communications
• human-computer interaction
• information science
• product design
• psychology
• social science
• web design and development.

You can also become a UX researcher without a degree if you have equivalent on-the-job experience.

It's important to have experience with technology and an understanding of research methodologies.

Employers look for a strong portfolio with examples of your work from past projects. It could include case studies or projects where you've used a range of research methods, for example. Your portfolio could be online or in PDF format and should support you talking through the UX process during an interview.

There are some opportunities with large companies to join a UX graduate training scheme. These may cover all areas of the user experience, including UX research and design.

You could also start in a related role in areas such as UX design, data analytics, market research or customer experience and then move into a UX research position.

It's also possible to do a Level 6 Digital user experience (UX) professional apprenticeship, which combines paid work with part-time study for a BA or BSc Digital User Experience. You'll need to be working in a digital role such as user researcher or interaction designer and have the support of your employer to apply.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• quantitative and qualitative research skills
• data analysis skills
• written and verbal communication skills to present your research findings and the reasons behind your research decisions
• teamworking and interpersonal skills for working with cross-functional teams and key stakeholders
• project management skills to ensure projects are delivered on time
• the ability to influence and persuade others
• a creative approach to problem solving
• data-informed decision-making skills and the ability to work on your own initiative
• the ability to prioritise your work and meet competing deadlines
• planning and organisation skills
• the ability to work well under pressure
• attention to detail
• a flexible approach to work
• IT skills.

Work experience

Some of the degrees relevant for a career in UX include a year in industry or a work placement, which is a great way to build up experience and a network of contacts. Internships and summer placements, either during your degree or afterwards, are also available.

You'll need to get some work experience, especially if your degree is not related to the role of UX researcher. Other ways to develop experience include volunteering at user research sessions to gain an understanding of how the UX research process works.

Get involved in extracurricular projects, such as 'hackathons' or company competitions, and work alongside fellow students with different specialisms to you. Attend meet-ups, conferences and workshops for the UX community.

Sending targeted speculative applications to companies asking for work experience or work shadowing opportunities can be a useful way to find out more about the role and to build up contacts.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

UX is a growth area, with UX researchers working in virtually every industry. Typical employers include:

• banks, financial services and fintech companies
• design agencies
• digital marketing agencies
• government (Government Digital Service)
• the media
• the NHS and other healthcare providers
• retailers (e-commerce)
• technology and telecommunications companies
• universities
• web development agencies.

Positions exist in the public and private sector, multinational companies and SMEs.

With experience, there are opportunities to work as a freelancer on a range of projects across different sectors.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Bubble jobs
• CWJobs
• UX Jobs Board
• Women In Tech

Specialist recruitment agencies also advertise jobs.

You can identify people working in the UX field and build contacts through LinkedIn. Find out more about opportunities through social media and follow thought leaders on platforms such as X and YouTube.

Professional development

Most of your training will be on the job, learning from more experienced colleagues, doing independent research and taking bespoke online courses. You will largely be responsible for your own career development, although structured training programmes may be available on graduate training schemes.

There are a variety of short courses and professional certifications available from a range of providers. These include:

• Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) - provides a range of courses on subjects such as user research methods, survey design and usability testing. By completing a series of five courses (and exams), you can earn their UX Certification.
• UX Design Institute - offers the Professional Certificate in User Research, as well as the Professional Diploma in UX Design, which covers the whole UX design process from research to interaction design to prototyping. Their courses are university credit rated.
• Interaction Design Foundation (IDF) - offers a range of UX-related courses from beginner through to professional.
• BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT) - offers a User Experience (UX) Design Certification - Foundation Certificate, which includes an element of UX research.

Short courses in tools such as Optimal Workshop, Lookback and SPSS may also be useful.

You could also choose to do a Masters degree in areas such as human-computer interaction or UX design. Search postgraduate courses in human-computer interaction and user experience design.

When choosing any course, do your research to make sure it meets your career aims and covers the skills you want to develop.

It's useful to join a relevant professional body such as the BCS or the User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA) International to access resources, events and networking opportunities.

Other ways to keep your skills and knowledge up to date include attending conferences, such as the annual UX London Conference, connecting with other UX researchers on LinkedIn and social media sites, and listening to industry podcasts.

Career prospects

UX researchers starting their careers may begin in a junior, trainee or graduate UX role. As you gain experience and skills, you can move into the role of UX researcher.

With further experience, you could progress to the role of senior UX researcher, lead UX researcher and then head of UX research. Progression will depend on your knowledge and skills in the role, so it's important to keep up to date with UX research best practices and research tools.

As you progress, you will work on larger and more complex projects and may have responsibility for training and mentoring junior staff. As well as management and leadership duties, you will also take on a more strategic role. You may need to move role to improve your career prospects, particularly if working for a small firm, where you may be the only UX specialist.

It can also be possible to move into related roles such as UX design or data analysis. Experienced UX researchers may move into consultancy and work on a freelance basis.