APEX

UX Designer

Research what users actually need, then design clear interfaces and flows that ship.

← Back to map
stretch pathchallenging88 live opportunities

Fit

64

Time to qualify

9 mo

cost ~$800

Local salary

$72k – $102k

remote up to $125k

Why this path fits you

Explainable signals from your profile.

  • Your research and stakeholder skills transfer directly into UX research.
  • Mission-aligned design teams hire candidates with story-driven case studies.

Market Value Radar · UX Designer

Austin, TX

moderate confidenceUpdated Apr 8, 2026
Local market$72k – $102k
Remote benchmark$80k – $125k
National benchmark$78k – $118k

Entry

$60k – $80k

Mid

$90k – $120k

Senior

$120k – $165k

Total comp

$82k – $130k

Hourly equivalent

$35–$56/hr

Cost-of-living

Index 102 (US avg = 100)

5-yr growth

+6%

Beyond base: Equity heavily depends on company stage.

Estimate, not a guarantee. Salary ranges are estimates, not guarantees. Compensation varies by employer, experience, benefits, negotiation, and market conditions. Mock data sources: Mock O*NET extract, Mock public job posting sample.

Skill map

38% overlap with your current profile.

You already have

  • Stakeholder interviews
  • Empathy
  • Communication

Skills to add

  • Figma
  • Visual design fundamentals
  • User research methods
  • Portfolio of 3+ case studies

30-day plan

Lay the foundation.

  1. 1Begin Google UX Design certificate
  2. 2Pick 1 nonprofit + scope a redesign brief
  3. 3Learn Figma basics (auto-layout, components)

90-day plan

Ship and apply.

  1. 1Ship 1 polished portfolio case study
  2. 2Run 5 real user interviews
  3. 3Get critique from 2 working designers

One-year growth projection

With 3 strong case studies you could compete for $70k–$95k junior roles, especially in mission-driven product.

Projection is a planning aid, not a guarantee. Actual outcomes depend on market, employer, and effort.

Matched opportunities

Hand-picked for the UX Designer path.

All opportunities →
  • Mentorship

    ADPList UX Mentor Match

    ADPList · Online · Remote-friendly

    70

    Fit

    Why this: Free 1:1 mentorship; great for honest feedback before committing to the UX pivot.

    30–45 min sessionsFreeUX Designer