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The differences between software designers and user experience designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a software designer, becoming a user experience designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a software designer has an average salary of $107,449, which is higher than the $91,159 average annual salary of a user experience designer.
The top three skills for a software designer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for a user experience designer are sketch, UI, and user research.
| Software Designer | User Experience Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,449 | $91,159 |
| Hourly rate | $51.66 | $43.83 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 313,443 | 52,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 39 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
Software designers transform customers' requirements into services. They analyze customers' needs, conduct negotiations, and create designs based on that data. They typically work with teams of programmers. They are also responsible for creating project documentation.
A User Experience (UX) designer is an individual who measures and optimizes applications to improve the experience of end-users. His/Her or her duties and responsibilities include considering a design's human-computer interaction element, defining interaction models, and working with creative directors and designers. The key skills for UX designers include strong mathematical and problem-solving skills and excellent information technology and programming skills. Having a bachelor's degree in a design or computing-related subject is an advantage to qualify for the UX designer position.
Software designers and user experience designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Designer | User Experience Designer | |
| Average salary | $107,449 | $91,159 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $144,000 | Between $65,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Globant | BitGo |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a software designer and a user experience designer in terms of educational background:
| Software Designer | User Experience Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between software designers' and user experience designers' demographics:
| Software Designer | User Experience Designer | |
| Average age | 39 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 13% |