Synonyms: User Researcher, Experience Researcher, Design Researcher, Product Researcher, UX Research Specialist

Table of Contents

• Quick Facts
• Day in the Life
• Common Characteristics
• How to Become a UX Researcher
• Specialties and Similar Career Paths
• Advice from Ava

Quick Facts

What UX Researchers do:

A User Experience (UX) Researcher studies user interactions with products through interviews and tests, analyzes the data to guide design decisions, and collaborates with design and development teams to create user-friendly solutions that improve satisfaction and usability.

Median income:

$117,500 annually or $56.49 per hour.

Lifestyle:

Flexible, remote work with a typical 9-5 schedule, with options for full-time, freelance, or contract roles. The work pace is medium, slowing down towards the end of the year and remaining steady from March through the fall.

Job outlook:

The job outlook for UX researchers is bright, with employment expected to grow by 19 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Education requirements:

Educational requirements for UX Research are flexible, welcoming applicants from any academic background, including those without degrees. While certification programs exist for entry into UX Research, they are not mandatory (see “How to Become a UX Researcher” below).

This is perfect for you if:

• You have a social, investigative, and conventional type of personality, as it requires strong interpersonal skills, curiosity for understanding user behavior, and excellent organizational skills for conducting and analyzing research
• You have strong listening skills, empathy, curiosity, and good organizational abilities, as these help you understand user experiences and conduct effective research
• You enjoy moderating interviews and getting new insights from research
• You find energy engaging in conversations and presenting your findings to improve products

If that sounds like you, definitely watch our interview with Ava Lamb to learn more about being a UX Researcher below!

Day in the Life

Schedule:

A typical day for a UX researcher usually follows a 9-5 schedule but it may vary. Tasks need to be completed on time, offering some flexibility in scheduling.

Setting:

Diverse settings, including full-time jobs, freelance gigs, or contracts, offering flexibility to match different lifestyles and preferences. While most UX researchers work remotely, some companies may prefer on-site or hybrid setups.

Tasks:

Conducting user tests and interviews, analyzing feedback, and presenting findings to stakeholders. They spend about 70% of their time on solo tasks like testing and data analysis and 30% on team collaboration.

Topics:

User psychology, usability principles, research methodologies like interviews and surveys, data analysis techniques, and understanding user behavior across different platforms and devices. 

Skills:

Qualitative and quantitative research methods, empathy to understand user needs, effective communication to present findings to stakeholders, critical thinking for data analysis, and the ability to collaborate with design and development teams to conduct insightful research that influences product design decisions.

Tools:

Zoom and Microsoft Teams for meetings and interviews, along with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and PowerPoint for documentation. They also utilize collaborative tools such as Miro and FigJam for note-taking and brainstorming, and Figma for sharing design-related links.

Common Characteristics

Natural Talents (strengths):

Strong listening skills, empathy, and curiosity, helping them understand user experiences deeply. Their organizational skills ensure efficient and effective interviews. These qualities allow them to uncover insights that inform user-centered design decisions.

Interests:

Exploring and understanding user behavior, interacting with and helping people through their research findings, uncovering insights, and improving user experiences through empirical research and collaboration.

Personality:

Analytical and social, which helps understand user behavior and preferences. They are good at empathizing with users and communicating their insights effectively.

Values:

User satisfaction and usability, evidence-based decision-making in design processes, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to create user-centric solutions.

*Terms used to describe interests and personality are based on the Holland Framework.

How to Become a UX Researcher

Education requirements:

There is no specific degree or certification mandatory to enter the field. However, having a combination of relevant education, skills, practical experience, and a strong portfolio is typically preferred by employers in the field.

Preferred majors:

The career in UX researching is relatively new so the field welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds. While academic research and psychology backgrounds are common, there’s no preferred major to start.

Specialties and Similar Career Paths

Advice from Ava

Job hunt tips to set yourself apart:

Aspiring UX researchers must acquire strong listening skills, empathy, and curiosity to understand users’ needs deeply. While a specific degree isn’t required, getting certifications can be beneficial for gaining foundational skills in UX research. 

Fastest way to get your foot in the door:

The quickest path to becoming a UX researcher involves self-education through books, blogs, and videos, while simultaneously building a portfolio that highlights relevant skills and independent projects. Networking with professionals in the field can also provide valuable opportunities to break into the industry.

Recommended resources:

For those interested in starting their career in UX research, there are many great resources available. Here are Ava’s recommendations:

Books:

1. Just Enough Research by Erika Hall
2. The Elements of User Experience by Jesse James Garrett
3. Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

Certification Programs:

1. General Assembly
2. Interaction Design Foundation

What Ava would tell her younger self if she was just getting started:

“If I was getting started in this, I would say, congrats, because you found a really, really cool job that’s fun, interesting, pays a lot, has good benefits and excellent work-life balance to boot. So have fun and enjoy! It is a great industry to be a part of.”

Watch the full interview with Ava:

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