How to Become a UX/UI designer in New York

New York is one of the top cities for UX/UI designers. In addition to ranking first in the United States when it comes to the number of UX/UI design job openings, it offers some of the most competitive salaries and opportunities for growth.

One of New York City’s strengths is that it isn’t dominated by a single company or industry—it’s home to more than a dozen major industries, ranging from finance to healthcare, trade, real estate, media, publishing, manufacturing, consumer tech, e-commerce, and fitness. The sheer size and diversity of the city—both in terms of population and business sectors—means that there is no shortage of products and services being made and used. It also means that there’s an enormous need for designers to help build and improve those products and services.

Whether it’s New York media giants like Bloomberg or Condé Nast, transportation services like the NYC MTA, financial organizations like Capital One or Plaid, e-commerce platforms such as Etsy or Rent the Runway or fitness companies such as Peloton or Equinox, companies large and small increasingly understand that UX/UI design is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s a basic requirement to ensure that their products and services remain competitive.

This is why the demand for designers who can build platforms and apps that factor in user experiences and interactions has grown so much over the past ten years and continues to surge in a city like New York. UX/UI designers themselves are being recognized for their valuable contributions—UX designer salaries frequently exceed $100,000; both startups and legacy companies are on UX designer hiring sprees; and those in UX/UI design roles are finally getting a seat at the upper management table.

How to become a UX/UI designer in New York

There’s no set path to becoming a UX/UI designer in New York, but below are some proven tips to get you closer toward that dream UX/UI design job.

1. Design skills. Regardless of the city or industry in which you choose to work, if you want a career in UX/UI design, you’ll need to equip yourself with some foundational skills such as creating wireframes, user flows, site maps, and high fidelity prototypes; incorporating user research and feedback into graphic design, visual design, and interaction design; performing user testing and being an advocate for the user; proficiency with design tools such as Figma and Photoshop; and collaborating with stakeholders such as product managers and a larger design team. While many of these skills can be self-taught, introductory design courses and in-depth UX design bootcamps are a great way to fast-track your learning, get you up to speed on design process best practices, and help you build a job-scoring portfolio.
2. Practice, practice, practice. Find opportunities to apply user-centric design principles to projects. UX/UI design is a visual field, so create your own sketches, mockups, and storyboards for how a website, platform, or app can be improved; identify usability problems that can be resolved through UX research and brainstorm possible solutions using design thinking. Even if you have to create your own opportunities through personal projects or unsolicited redesigns, this will give you the chance to practice your skills and show a potential hiring manager your passion and enthusiasm for the craft. 
3. Show that you think about the user. In a city like New York that has so many different types of industries, UX design at a fitness hardware company like Peloton will look different from UX design at a fintech startup like Simon. When applying to a UX design job, consider the specific experiences and needs of the user and the goals of the product or service. Show that you can both understand an organization’s mission and be an advocate for the user. 
4. Do the hustle. If there’s one city that rewards ambitious self-starters, it’s New York. Even though there are many UX/UI design opportunities, there’s still fierce competition for positions at the top companies in each category. This is why it’s important to build a CV that shows potential hiring managers that you’re self-motivated and unafraid to take risks. Many UX/UI designers in New York start off as freelancers or contractors before they land a full-time role, and it’s not uncommon for designers to proactively reach out to the companies they want to work for to offer their services. Freelancing is an effective way to get your foot in the door, build experience, and show hiring managers that you’re not one to wait around for an opportunity. 

What kind of UX/UI design jobs are available in New York?

In addition to having the most number of UX/UI design job openings in the country, New York City offers the most diverse range of opportunities. The city is uniquely positioned as a hub for multiple industries, all of which are actively hiring designers with expertise in digital experiences, user experience design, and user interface design.

The types of UX/UI roles available also span the experience gamut. For example, New York companies HelloFresh, Public Goods, and Macy’s all recently posted job listings for junior UX designers (1-3 years of experience), while companies such as Peloton, ZocDoc, and the Meredith Corporation sought UX designers with at least 5+ years of experience. 

Many Silicon Valley technology companies have a significant outpost in New York City, most major advertising, public relations, and branding agencies have their headquarters in the surrounding region, and the city remains fertile ground for startups of all sizes—all of this means that there are opportunities for UX/UI designers to rise through the ranks, choose from organizations ranging from seed-round startups to publicly traded companies, and find new ways to challenge themselves. 

What companies are hiring UX/UI designers in New York?

More than a dozen major industries–from finance and tech to the media and the arts–have a significant presence in New York City. Some New York-based companies (or companies with NY outposts) that are hiring UX/UI designers include:

• Etsy
• Rent the Runway
• Peloton
• HelloFresh
• Vimeo
• Deloitte
• Capital One
• JP Morgan Chase & Co.
• Equinox
• Verizon
• Macy’s
• Squarespace
• Frame.io
• Google
• Rockstar Games
• Amazon
• Sirius XM
• Clear
• Meredith Media
• ZocDoc

UX/UI designer salary in New York

UX/UI designers in New York City make four percent above the national U.S. average, according to Glassdoor. 

Entry-level UX/UI designers in New York City earn an average base salary of around $78,110, with cash and stock bonuses that can range between $2,000-17,000.

Senior-level UX/UI designers in New York City earn an average base salary of around $104,614, with cash and stock bonuses that can range between $2,000-21,000.

UX/UI designer networking opportunities in New York

There are many casual and formal UX/UI design groups and conferences held in New York City where designers can network, share career and collaboration opportunities, and post listings for UX designer jobs. Some of those groups include:

• Interaction Design Foundation’s New York City Chapter
• New York City User Experience Professional Association
• Adobe’s 99u Conference
• User Experience HQ NYC Meetup
• UX Content Design NYC Meetup
• NYC UX Design Meetup
• Tech Up for Women Conference and Expo

How to land an entry-level UX design job in New York

Many entry-level UX/UI design jobs in New York require candidates to know at least the basics of design—from familiarity with tools such as Sketch and Figma to knowing how to apply design thinking to solve a problem. These skills can be learned without any prior design or technical experience.

Springboard’s Introduction to Design offers a four-week crash course in the fundamentals needed to launch a career in UX/UI design. In addition to covering design tools, principles, and research, the course matches students with a dedicated industry expert mentor who offers both instruction and guidance on the best path into a career in UX/UI design. 

Ready to switch careers to UI/UX Design?

Springboard offers a comprehensive UI/UX design bootcamp. No design background required—all you need is an eye for good visual design and the ability to empathize with your user. In the course, you’ll work on substantial design projects and complete a real-world externship with an industry client. After nine months, you’ll graduate with a UI/UX design mindset and a portfolio to show for it.

Check out Springboard's UI/UX Design Career Track to see if you qualify.

Not sure if UI/UX design is the right career for you?

Springboard now offers an Introduction to Design course. Learn what designers do on the job by working through a project with 1-on-1 mentorship from an industry expert. Topics covered include design tools, research, sketching, designing in high fidelity, and wireframing.

Check out Springboard’s Introduction to Design Course—enrollments are open to all!