Product Designer Salary [+ Resources to Advance]

Understanding the salary landscape for product designers is crucial whether you’re entering the field or looking to advance your career.

In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of typical product designer salaries, explore factors that can influence earnings, and share valuable resources to help you progress in your career.

Let’s get started!

TL;DR

• A product designer is a professional responsible for creating user-friendly and visually appealing designs for products, particularly in digital applications like software and websites.
• Product designers play a crucial role in creating user-friendly and visually appealing digital products. Their salaries vary based on experience, industry, and location, with certain companies offering higher compensation.
• Here’s an example of product designers’ salary by experience level:
  • Junior Product Designer: Typically earns around $72,277 per year.
  • Mid-level Product Designer: The average salary is approximately $98,676 per year.
  • Senior Product Designer: Generally earns about $129,579 per year.
• To excel as a product designer, adopting key practices can significantly enhance your design process and the quality of your work.
  • Empathize with users
  • Collaborate effectively
  • Iterate based on feedback
  • Stay updated with trends
  • Develop strong communication skills
  • Focus on accessibility
  • Maintain consistency
• Looking into tools for product designers? Userpilot is an all-in-one product platform with engagement features and powerful analytics capabilities. Book a demo to see it in action!

UX/UI Design and Research Teams Can Use Userpilot to:

• Recruit Users for Usability Tests with Usage Analytics and Segmentation
• Collect User Feedback with In-App Surveys
• Understand Product Usage with Product Analytics

Get a Demo

• 14 Day Trial
• No Credit Card Required

What is a product designer?

A product designer is a professional responsible for creating user-friendly and visually appealing designs for products, particularly in digital applications like software and websites.

They focus on the overall user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), ensuring that the product is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Product designers collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and stakeholders, to align design goals with business objectives.

Key tasks include conducting user research, developing wireframes and prototypes, and iterating on designs based on user feedback and testing.

Product designer’s main responsibilities

A product designer plays a vital role in the SaaS industry, focusing on creating user-friendly and visually appealing software products.

They collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the design meets user needs and business objectives.

Here are the main responsibilities and duties:

• Conduct User Research: Gather insights on user needs, behaviors, and pain points through surveys, interviews, and usability testing.
• Create Wireframes and Prototypes: Develop wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes to visualize design solutions and iterate based on feedback.
• Design User Interfaces: Craft intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces for web and mobile applications, ensuring a seamless user experience.
• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams: Work closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to define and implement innovative design solutions that align with product goals.
• Maintain Design Systems: Create and manage design systems and component libraries to ensure consistency and efficiency across all products.
• Conduct Usability Testing: Test designs with users to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments to improve usability and user satisfaction.
• Stay Updated with Design Trends: Keep abreast of the latest design trends, tools, and technologies to ensure the products are modern and competitive.
• Advocate for User-Centric Design: Promote user-centered design principles and best practices within the organization to ensure all products meet high usability standards.
• Iterate on Designs: Continuously refine and improve designs based on user feedback, analytics, and changing business requirements.
• Document Design Processes: Maintain clear documentation of design processes, decisions, and guidelines to ensure transparency and consistency.

These responsibilities ensure that a product designer effectively contributes to creating exceptional SaaS products that meet both user needs and business goals.

How much does a product designer make?

Product designers play a crucial role in creating user-friendly and visually appealing digital products.

Their salaries vary based on experience, industry, and location, with certain companies offering higher compensation.

Salary by Experience Level

• Junior Product Designer: Typically earns around $72,277 per year.
• Mid-level Product Designer: The average salary is approximately $98,676 per year.
• Senior Product Designer: Generally earns about $129,579 per year.

Salary by Industry

• Technology: Product designers in the tech industry can earn between $90,000 and $140,000 per year, depending on the company’s size and location.
• Finance: Product designers in financial technology (FinTech) often see salaries ranging from $80,000 to $130,000 annually.
• Healthcare: Salaries typically range from $75,000 to $125,000 per year in the healthcare industry.
• Retail: Product designers in the retail sector might earn between $70,000 and $110,000 annually.

Salary by Location

• San Francisco, CA: Average salaries range from $81,000 to $200,000 per year.
• New York, NY: Salaries typically range from $64,000 to $168,000 per year.
• Seattle, WA: Product designers earn between $68,000 and $157,000 annually.
• Toronto, Canada: Salaries range from CA$51,000 to CA$108,000 per year.
• London, UK: Average salaries range from £23,000 to £93,000 annually.

Highest Paying Companies

• Meta (Facebook): Known for offering high salaries, with product designers earning between $150,000 and $250,000 annually.
• Stripe: Provides competitive compensation, often ranging from $140,000 to $230,000 per year.
• Pinterest: Product designers at Pinterest can earn between $130,000 and $220,000 annually.
• LinkedIn: Offers salaries typically ranging from $120,000 to $210,000 per year.

These figures highlight the significant variation in salaries based on experience, industry, and location, providing a comprehensive overview for aspiring and current product designers.

For more detailed and updated information, visiting specific salary websites like Glassdoor and PayScale is recommended.

Product designer career path

A career in product design typically involves progressing through various roles that build on each other in terms of responsibility, expertise, and leadership.

Here’s a typical career progression for a product designer, from junior roles to senior leadership positions:

• Junior Product Designer – Assists senior designers, creates basic design components, and supports user research. Focus on learning design tools, building a strong portfolio, and seeking feedback to improve your skills.
• Product Designer – Involved in designing product interfaces, conducting usability tests, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Take on more complex projects, deepen your understanding of UX principles, and start leading smaller design initiatives.
• Senior Product Designer – Leads major design projects, mentors junior designers, and plays a key role in strategic design decisions. Enhance leadership skills, contribute to design systems, and build strong relationships with product managers and developers.
• Lead Product Designer – Oversees the design team, ensures design consistency across projects, and aligns design goals with business objectives. Develop project management skills, drive innovation within the team, and engage in high-level strategic planning.
• Product Design Manager – Manages the design team, coordinates design projects, and ensures alignment with business goals and user needs. Enhance leadership and managerial skills, stay updated with industry trends, and focus on optimizing team performance and design processes.
• Senior Product Design Manager – Manages larger design teams, oversees multiple projects, and plays a critical role in company-wide design strategy. Develop a vision for the design department, influence company design culture, and mentor upcoming leaders within the team.
• Director of Product Design – Sets the overall design direction for the company, collaborates with top executives, and ensures the design vision aligns with the company’s mission. Focus on strategic leadership, expand your influence across departments, and drive the company’s design innovation.
• VP of Product Design – Responsible for the entire design organization, driving design excellence and contributing to the overall business strategy. Strengthen executive leadership skills, maintain a forward-thinking design vision, and foster a culture of creativity and innovation.
• Chief Design Officer (CDO) – Top-level executive overseeing all design aspects of the company, ensuring cohesive design strategy across all products and services. Focus on visionary leadership, drive company-wide design integration, and champion design as a core business value.

Each step in this career path builds on the previous one, emphasizing continuous learning, leadership, and strategic thinking to progress to higher levels of responsibility and influence in the field of product design.

Best practices to be a great product designer

To excel as a product designer, adopting key practices can significantly enhance your design process and the quality of your work.

• Empathize with Users: Invest time in understanding the users’ needs, behaviors, and pain points. Conducting thorough user research and usability testing ensures that your designs are user-centric and solve real problems effectively.
• Collaborate Effectively: Foster strong collaboration with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and stakeholders. Open communication ensures that design goals align with business objectives and technical constraints, resulting in cohesive and successful products.
• Iterate Based on Feedback: Embrace an iterative design process. Regularly test your designs with users, gather feedback, and make necessary improvements. This approach helps in refining the user experience and achieving optimal design solutions.
• Stay Updated with Trends: Keep abreast of the latest design trends, tools, and technologies. Continuous learning allows you to bring fresh ideas and innovative solutions to your projects, keeping your designs modern and competitive.
• Develop Strong Communication Skills: Clearly articulate your design concepts, decisions, and rationale to team members and stakeholders. Effective communication fosters better understanding, alignment, and collaboration, leading to more successful design outcomes.
• Focus on Accessibility: Ensure that your designs are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Incorporate accessibility guidelines and best practices to create inclusive products that provide a good user experience for everyone.
• Maintain Consistency: Create and adhere to design systems and style guides. Consistency in design elements such as typography, colors, and layouts helps in building a cohesive and professional product experience.

By integrating these best practices into your daily workflow, you can enhance your effectiveness as a product designer and contribute to creating exceptional user experiences.

Best resources for product designers

To stay ahead in the dynamic field of product design, leveraging a variety of resources is crucial.

Here are some top recommendations for books, webinars, podcasts, and blogs that every product designer should explore.

Best books for product designers

Reading books by industry experts can provide deep insights and practical knowledge about product design and management.

• “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman – This classic book offers deep insights into the principles of good design and human-centered design.
• “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” by Nir Eyal – Explores the psychology behind user habits and how to create products that keep users engaged.
• “Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams” by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden – Provides practical advice on integrating UX design with Agile methodologies.
• “Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love” by Marty Cagan – A comprehensive guide on product management and creating products that delight customers.
• “Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days” by Jake Knapp – A step-by-step guide to solving problems and testing ideas quickly.

Best webinars for product designers

Participating in webinars can offer real-time learning and insights from industry experts.

• Userpilot Webinars – Focused on user onboarding, engagement, and product growth.
• Nielsen Norman Group Webinars – Expert insights on various UX topics, including usability, user research, and interaction design.
• UX Design Institute Webinars – Covers UX design principles, methodologies, and career advice.
• Adobe XD Webinars – Tutorials and deep dives into design tools and best practices using Adobe XD.
• InVision Webinars – Discussions with industry experts on design, collaboration, and product management.

Best blogs for product designers

Following blogs can help you stay updated on the latest trends, tips, and best practices in product design and management.

• Userpilot Blog – Insights on user onboarding, product growth, and UX design.
• Nielsen Norman Group Blog – In-depth articles on usability, user experience, and design research.
• Smashing Magazine – Covers a wide range of topics, including UX design, web development, and product management.
• UX Collective – Community-driven platform with articles on UX design, product design, and industry trends.
• IDEO Blog – Shares stories and insights from one of the leading design firms.

These resources provide valuable knowledge and practical advice, helping you stay current and excel in your role as a Product Designer.

Best podcasts for product designers

Listening to podcasts is a convenient way to stay informed and inspired by industry leaders while on the go.

• “The Design Better Podcast” by InVision – Interviews with design leaders discussing the craft and business of design.
• “High Resolution” – In-depth conversations with design leaders from top companies.
• “The UX Podcast” – Discusses UX design, strategy, and how to integrate UX into business practices.
• “Product to Product” – A podcast for product people, by product people, covering various aspects of product management and design.
• “Product Love” – Focuses on product management and features interviews with product leaders.

Best tools for product designers

Leveraging the right tools can greatly enhance productivity, creativity, and collaboration.

Here are ten essential tools for various aspects of product design:

• Best tool for User Onboarding and Engagement – Userpilot: Userpilot helps product designers create personalized in-app experiences and effective onboarding processes, improving user engagement and retention.
• Best tool for Project Management – Monday: Monday.com offers a visual and flexible platform for managing projects and tasks, aiding teams in efficient collaboration and keeping projects on schedule.
• Best tool for Product Management – Jira Software: Jira Software is a robust tool for tracking and managing development tasks, sprints, and releases, ensuring seamless collaboration between designers and developers.
• Best tool for Customer Experience – Zendesk: Zendesk provides comprehensive customer support solutions, enabling teams to manage customer inquiries, feedback, and support tickets effectively.
• Best tool for Customer Success – ClientSuccess: ClientSuccess helps manage and measure customer relationships, ensuring customers achieve their desired outcomes with the product.
• Best tool for UX/UI Design – Figma: Figma is a cloud-based design tool that allows for real-time collaboration, making it ideal for teams working together on UX/UI design projects.
• Best tool for UX/UI Design – Sketch: Sketch is a vector graphics editor focused on digital design, offering a wide range of plugins and integrations to streamline the design process.
• Best tool for UX/UI Design – InVision Studio: InVision Studio provides advanced prototyping and animation capabilities, enabling designers to create interactive and high-fidelity prototypes.
• Best tool for UX/UI Design – Adobe XD: Adobe XD is a powerful design and prototyping tool that offers seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, enhancing the overall design workflow.
• Best tool for Data Analytics – Tableau: Tableau provides powerful data visualization capabilities, allowing teams to analyze and present data in an intuitive and visually appealing way.

These tools collectively enable product designers to create user-centric designs, manage projects efficiently, and collaborate effectively with their teams.

UX/UI Design and Research Teams Can Use Userpilot to:

• Recruit Users for Usability Tests with Usage Analytics and Segmentation
• Collect User Feedback with In-App Surveys
• Understand Product Usage with Product Analytics

Get a Demo

• 14 Day Trial
• No Credit Card Required

Conclusion

Now that you have a better understanding of the salary range for a product designer position, you can take steps to improve your earning potential.

Consider pursuing relevant certifications, developing your skillset, or negotiating effectively during the job offer stage.

Looking into tools for product designers? Userpilot is an all-in-one product platform with engagement features and powerful analytics capabilities. Book a demo to see it in action!