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Job outlook for user experience architects in the United States
User experience architect job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected user experience architect job growth rate is 21% from 2018-2028.
About 284,100 new jobs for user experience architects are projected over the next decade.
User experience architect salaries have increased 10% for user experience architects in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,894 user experience architects currently employed in the United States.
There are 89,962 active user experience architect job openings in the US.
The average user experience architect salary is $104,763.
Are user experience architect jobs in demand?
User experience architect job and salary trends over time
User experience architect jobs over time
User experience architect job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,894 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,926 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 10,271 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 8,939 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 8,630 | 0.00% |
Average user experience architect salary over time
User experience architect salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $104,763 | $50.37 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $101,312 | $48.71 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $99,018 | $47.60 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $97,269 | $46.76 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $95,635 | $45.98 | +1.9% |
User experience architect jobs by state
Most common states for user experience architects
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 219 | 32% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 153 | 20% |
| 3 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 585 | 19% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,321 | 18% |
| 5 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,983 | 15% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 818 | 15% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 204 | 15% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 146 | 15% |
| 9 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,506 | 14% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 804 | 14% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 513 | 14% |
| 12 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 145 | 14% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,355 | 13% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,184 | 13% |
| 15 | Alaska | 739,795 | 94 | 13% |
| 16 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 205 | 12% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 70 | 12% |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,431 | 11% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 216 | 11% |
| 20 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 2,905 | 10% |
Most common cities for user experience architects
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 2 | 7% | $81,503 |
| 2 | Juneau | 2 | 6% | $84,820 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $87,847 |
| 4 | Dover | 2 | 5% | $93,137 |
| 5 | Tallahassee | 3 | 2% | $82,447 |
| 6 | Hartford | 2 | 2% | $91,826 |
| 7 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $93,627 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 7 | 1% | $90,079 |
| 9 | Denver | 4 | 1% | $79,979 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge | 3 | 1% | $83,674 |
| 11 | Des Moines | 2 | 1% | $89,046 |
| 12 | Little Rock | 2 | 1% | $82,656 |
| 13 | Montgomery | 2 | 1% | $76,002 |
| 14 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $114,179 |
| 15 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $89,919 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $80,181 |
| 17 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $90,780 |
| 18 | New York | 2 | 0% | $112,227 |
User Experience Architect job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of user experience architect experts
University of Florida
Boise State University
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
SUNY at Buffalo
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
University Of Nevada, Las Vegas
Bradley University
University of Kansas
Seminole State College of Florida
Rochester Institute of Technology
What general advice would you give to a User Experience Architect?
Rebecca Dolgas: 2. The ability to implement VR, AR, and AI capabilities. Clients are coming to expect photorealistic renderings and to be able to walk through their space virtually. Having the skill set to implement these tools will be crucial in keeping clients informed and pleased with your work.
What User Experience Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca Dolgas: 3. Be aware of your strengths and don't be afraid to negotiate. If you have multi-faceted skillsets make sure they are known. For example if you do well maintaining your own social media make a point that you would like to assist with marketing in a smaller firm. A great Marywood specific example is how closely interiors and architecture learn together. Being able to have a collaborative spirit and bring both disciplines together can be invaluable. If you can show your interdisciplinary skill set, it will make you more valuable and thus able to negotiate for a better salary.
What general advice would you give to a User Experience Architect?
Martin Gold FAIA: The most widespread complaint from people in the field is that it consumes ones attention, requires long hours, and relative to other professions, such as medicine, law, accounting, or engineering, the pay is lower on a per hour basis. On the other hand, architecture is more of an art than other professions and offers opportunities for creative people to have prosperous careers. The famous French architect Le Corbusier would say, architecture is a way of life.
What general advice would you give to a User Experience Architect?
Kristin Snopkowski: Within a degree in Anthropology, there are a wide variety of career opportunities. This can be both a benefit and a challenge - it allows you to pursue many different careers and if you find you don't like one particular job, there are a lot of other areas of employment that you would be qualified for, but at the same time, it makes it harder to decide which employment opportunities to pursue. Further, the onus is on you to explain how your anthropology degree prepares you for a particular job, given that many people do not know or understand the skills gained with a degree in anthropology.
What User Experience Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristin Snopkowski: We know that the world is becoming more data driven, so developing skills in quantitative and qualitative methods will likely give you an advantage when it comes to applying for jobs. Anthropologists have always been good at qualitative methodologies and combining it with quantitative methods makes you a particularly attractive applicant. The recent AI revolution also means that key skills like critical thinking, oral and written communication, and teamwork are going to be some of the most important skills that cannot be replaced by an AI bot.
What will help User Experience Architects increase their earning potential?
Kristin Snopkowski: There are some areas of anthropology that have better monetary compensation than others. The field of User Experience is a particularly high paying area for anthropology majors, which utilizes qualitative methods to help companies develop products and services that better respond to human needs. Within archaeology, many students opt to pursue a master's degree to maximize their compensation and gain advancement opportunities.
What User Experience Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Grant Mosey Ph.D.: I would advise architecture students to be as flexible as possible. While NAAB accredited schools award 6,000 to 7,000 professional degrees per year, NCARB states that fewer than 3,500 architects reach licensure each year. This suggests that many of those educated as architects are actually finding work in allied subjects. I know of many graduates who are set to become architects who end up becoming real estate professionals, construction professionals, policy-makers, academics, and more. Even for those dead set on architectural practice, these opportunities in adjacent fields can open doors to more design-focused practice.
What will help User Experience Architects increase their earning potential?
Grant Mosey Ph.D.: Familiarity with Building Information Modeling software like Revit is already all but a requirement to find professional work. Increasingly, firms are also looking for those who are capable of using visual programming like Grasshopper or Dynamo not only to generate forms but to optimize their workflow. In addition to those, professionals should familiarize themselves with modeling programs including SketchUp and Rhino and visualization platforms like VRay, Enscape, and Twin Motion. Soft skills like being personable and being able to present ideas extemporaneously will never go out of style.
What User Experience Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Elaine Chow AIA, RA, NCARB: Architecture licensure will help maximize salary potential, as well as pursuing other certifications such as LEED, CPHC, WELL, etc. Be your own advocate and request regular/annual reviews that allow you to highlight accomplishments and value you bring to your employer. If specialization appeals to you, there are opportunities to market yourself as an expert in a specific subject area.
What general advice would you give to a User Experience Architect?
Alfredo Fernandez-Gonzalez: It is important for recent graduates to recognize that Architecture is no longer limited to the physical realm, as transformative technologies are providing interesting career opportunities in the digital realm as well. This rapidly evolving context offers many opportunities and new directions for the discipline and remaining (or becoming!) current in new developments in computing power, digital visuals, manufacturing technologies, and robotics, are ways in which a recent graduate can secure a good paying job.
Dak Kopec Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator, BA Interior Architecture and Design and Master of Design ProgramUniversity Of Nevada, Las Vegas
School of Architecture
What experience really stands out on User Experience Architect resumes?
Dak Kopec Ph.D.: Experience in the areas where one intends to practice. If someone wants to work in hospitality design, an employer will see what kind of experience they have. This is why selecting one's internship location is so important.
Many employers are also looking to see how well the Interior Designer can think outside the box and develop innovative design ideas.
An area of specialized knowledge that will complement the existing design team. Most firms are looking for future leaders.
Heather Ford
User Experience Design Program Head, Artist and DesignerBradley University
Interactive Media Department
What soft skills should all User Experience Architects possess?
Heather Ford: Empathy, communication, adaptability, passion, and open-mindedness are essential. A successful designer understands the goals of their users and makes sure their needs are being met for the project. Students need to realize that working solely as the only designer on the project is rare, so communication is also essential. Learning tools such as Slack while in college will help with this endeavor. The industry evolves, so making sure you are open-minded and adaptable is key.
What hard/technical skills are most important for User Experience Architects?
Heather Ford: Mainly from the transition of so many companies working partially or fully remotely, Miro, Zoom/Microsoft Teams, and Figma are the most prevalent technical skills for UX designers. Adobe Creative Cloud, WordPress, Marvel, Webflow, User Testing, Google Forms, Sketch, and Microsoft 365 are other essential software and platforms.
What skills will help User Experience Architects earn the most?
Heather Ford: Learning to work on a team and experience in the workplace will help you transition and support more opportunities after graduation in the field.
What skills stand out on User Experience Architect resumes?
Heather Ford: There are many do's and don'ts to resumes. However, gone are the days of making an ornate graphical resume for a UX job. I also inform students that they don't have to put everything and cram it into one page. Sometimes students have a lot of experience, and they want to share that on their resume. Students need to have an overview that summarizes their skills, education, and knowledge and then provide an additional CV that details their expertise or leads the employer to their website with that information.
What soft skills should all User Experience Architects possess?
Hannah Park: I can't empathize with the importance of soft skills enough. Especially for entry-level positions, soft skills can sometimes be more significant than design skills. Team working has been an important soft skills than ever for designers. I understand many students prefer to work individually. However, one can't say 'I have excellent teamwork skills' without having enough team-based design portfolio. Besides, mindfulness is also such a great soft skill that I would like to promote. Be mindful of yourself, your colleagues, and your users. :)
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on User Experience Architects?
Hannah Park: The pandemic has been impacting the design industry in a wide range of ways. Some areas of visual communication design may have even more limited job opportunities than others due to the pandemic. I tell my students that the job market doesn't work like Olympics as there isn't a silver medal. I suggest making customized application materials for several companies rather than using the same materials to apply to 100 different companies. Applicants should prove why they will be good fits for the particular companies.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for User Experience Architects?
Hannah Park: I recommend design courses that involve real design opportunities with real clients because then the students can also build their professional design experience while learning design skills. Also, design research classes will help students to:
1.Make evidence-based design decisions.
2.Strengthen people-centered design skills.
3.Present their design process better.
Christy Graves
Professor/Program ManagerSeminole State College of Florida
School of Engineering, Design and Construction
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for User Experience Architects in the next 3-5 years?
Christy Graves: BIM (building information modeling) technology will continue to become more important in the architectural engineering technology profession.
What experience really stands out on User Experience Architect resumes?
Christy Graves: Software skills, such as AutoCAD and Revit.
Clyde Eiríkur Hull
Professor of Strategic ManagementRochester Institute of Technology
Saunders College of Business
What type of skills will young User Experience Architects need?
Clyde Eiríkur Hull: Graduates entering the workforce now and in the future will need to be comfortable in a digital workplace. Working digitally, whether in an established company or as a digital entrepreneur, was a growing trend before the pandemic, but it was pushing against a lot of inertia. That inertia has switched. Anything that works better, for the employer, digitally instead of in person is going to stay. Even if you aren't working remotely, you'll deal with many people who are. Graduates will need to be more capable of independent work, whether in virtual teams or on their own. But at the same time, interpersonal skills are going to become more important. People aren't interacting as much as they did, so their human skills are rusting. Anyone with polished interpersonal skills is going to stand out more.
How do you envision technology impacting User Experience Architects in the next 5 years?
Clyde Eiríkur Hull: Architecture is being hit with virtual reality and augmented reality. Anything you can design now can be built in virtual reality for modeling. But the trend toward digital work is going to impact architectural designs for a long time to come. How will future homes be designed when many residents plan to work from home? How will professional buildings be impacted? Those are questions that architects are answering right now.