Career comparison
UX designer vs. Graphic designer
UX designers earn more: a median of $104,000, $41,040 (65%) above graphic designers at $62,960.
UX designers have the stronger outlook: +6% projected growth through 2035, vs. −2%.
Getting in is faster for UX designers: about 14 months vs. 16 months for someone with a bachelor's in another field.
At a glance
| UX designer | Graphic designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $104,000 | $62,960 |
| Top 10% earn over | $201,550 | $104,910 |
| Growth to 2035 | +6% | −2% |
| Openings per year | 8,300 | 16,000 |
| Jobs today | 132,700 | 253,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Time to qualify* | 14 months | 16 months |
| Training cost* | $0–$16K | $0–$15K |
* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Pay
UX designer
Graphic designer
Switching from one to the other
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Getting in
UX designer
- Entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Required: No license; a portfolio of case studies is the gate
Graphic designer
- Entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Required: No license; portfolio is the gate
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
UX designer: 9% usually work over 40 hours a weekGraphic designer: 55% usually work over 40 hours a week
UX designer: core tasks
- Identify problems uncovered by testing or customer feedback, and correct problems or refer problems to appropriate personnel for correction.
- Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
- Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
- Perform Web site tests according to planned schedules, or after any Web site or product revision.
- Collaborate with web development professionals, such as front-end or back-end developers, to complete the full scope of Web development projects.
Graphic designer: core tasks
- Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
- Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
- Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
- Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
- Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
Skills: what carries over
Both rely on: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Listening, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving.
New for a UX designer moving to graphic designer: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
New for a graphic designer moving to UX designer: Programming, Monitoring.
Interests (Holland codes): UX designer: Investigative, Artistic, Conventional. Graphic designer: Artistic, Conventional, Enterprising.
Outlook to 2035, and AI
UX designer
+6%
faster than average · 8,300 openings a year
Productivity change - share decreases as improvements in design tools, including improvements in design capabilities of generative artificial intelligence (AI), enhance productivity of these workers.
Graphic designer
−2%
little or no change · 16,000 openings a year
Productivity change, capital/labor substitution - share decreases as new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), replace some workers and make other workers more efficient.
Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.
Questions people ask
Who makes more, a UX designer or a graphic designer?
UX designers earn more: a median of $104,000, $41,040 (65%) above graphic designers at $62,960.
Which has the better job outlook?
UX designers have the stronger outlook: +6% projected growth through 2035, vs. −2%.
How long does it take to become a graphic designer?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 16 months, with tuition of roughly $0 to $15,300. Required: No license; portfolio is the gate.
How long does it take to become a UX designer?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 14 months, with tuition of roughly $0 to $15,500. Required: No license; a portfolio of case studies is the gate.