If you’ve been exploring website design or digital interfaces, you’ve probably come across the terms UX and UI used frequently—and often interchangeably. However, these are two distinct roles with unique responsibilities. In 2025, both User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design present exciting opportunities, blending creativity, technology, and user-centered problem-solving. This guide will break down the key differences between UX and UI design, explore their career paths, and help you decide which path may be best for beginners, especially if you’re considering a career change into tech.
What’s the Difference Between UX and UI Design?
UX Design: Understanding the User Experience
User experience (UX) refers to your entire interaction with a product, including how you feel about the interaction. While UI can certainly impact UX, the two are distinct, as are the roles that user experience designers and user interface designers play. UX design focuses on creating seamless, user-friendly experiences. It involves user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing to ensure that digital products meet users’ needs effectively.
Key Elements of UX Design
- User Research: Gathering data through interviews, surveys, and usability tests.
- Wireframing and Prototyping: Sketching and building models of digital interfaces.
- Usability Testing: Observing users to refine designs.
UI Design: Crafting the Visual Interface
A user interface (UI) is the part of a website, application, or device you interact with. It includes screens, buttons, toggles, icons, navigation menus, and other visual elements.
Key Elements of UI Design
- Visual Design: Creating aesthetically pleasing interfaces.
- Interactive Design: Ensuring intuitive navigation and user interaction.
- Design Tools: Mastery of tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD.
What Do UX and UI Designers Do?
UX Designers: From Research to Implementation
UX designers don’t just sit behind screens—they’re constantly learning from users, solving problems, and refining designs. They collaborate with developers and stakeholders to ensure products aren’t just functional, but delightful to use.
Daily Tasks of a UX Designer
- Conducting user interviews and surveys.
- Creating personas and journey maps.
- Designing wireframes and interactive prototypes.
- Collaborating with developers and stakeholders.
UI Designers: Bringing Designs to Life
UI designers take the ideas from UX designers and bring them to life with color, typography, and interactive elements. They ensure that every screen is visually appealing and user-friendly.
Daily Tasks of a UI Designer
- Designing visual elements like buttons, icons, and menus.
- Creating responsive designs for various devices.
- Collaborating with UX designers and developers.
What Are UX and UI Designer Salaries?
Let’s be real—one of the biggest questions when switching careers is: Will this pay the bills? The answer is yes.
According to Glassdoor, UX designers in 2025 earn an average base salary of $82,849 annually, while UI designers earn around $79,000. Even entry-level UX designers can start at around $70,000, with senior roles reaching $120,000 or more!
UX or UI—What Job Is Right for You?
UX Design: Best for Analytical Problem-Solvers
If you love figuring out how things work, helping people, and making things better, UX design could be your calling. Many career changers from customer service, retail, food service, or other hands-on jobs find UX design a natural fit because it’s all about understanding people and solving problems.
Common Entry-Level UX Titles:
- Junior UX Designer
- Interaction Designer
- Visual Designer
- Information Architect
- Product Designer
UI Design: Best for Creative Visual Thinkers
If you have an eye for design, enjoy working with colors and typography, and love creating visually stunning work, UI design might be your perfect match.
Common Entry-Level UI Titles:
- Junior UI Designer
- Visual Interface Designer
- UI Developer
- Interaction Designer (UI focus)
Should I Learn UI or UX First?
UX design is one of the most accessible careers in tech—you don’t need to code, and many of your existing skills, like problem-solving, communication, or customer service, are directly transferable.
It’s also a popular choice for career changers because it overlaps with many other fields, such as research and visual design. In fact, being a career changer is often seen as an advantage in UX design, as it enhances your ability to empathize with users and advocate for their needs!
1. The Demand for UX Designers Is Growing
UX design isn’t just a trend—it’s a growing field with opportunities in tech, finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 16% growth for digital designers from 2022 to 2023—much faster than average. Why? Companies across various sectors, from startups to large enterprises, recognize that exceptional user experience is crucial for retaining customers and staying competitive. This surge in demand means UX professionals are highly sought after in diverse industries such as healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and more.
2. No Degree Requirements
Many UX roles emphasize skills and portfolios over formal education, making it accessible to career changers. In fact, having a non-tech background can be an asset, as it enhances your ability to empathize with the end-user and advocate for their needs.
3. You Have Several Job Opportunities – Freelance and Full-Time
A career in UX design opens up many job opportunities across various employment types and industries. Whether you’re looking for full-time positions or freelance gigs, the demand for UX designers is strong. Many companies recognize the value of excellent user experience and constantly seek skilled UX professionals. Full-time roles provide stability and the chance to work closely with interdisciplinary teams, while freelancing offers flexibility to manage your schedule and choose projects that align with your interests.
4. UX Design is Remote-Friendly
The flexibility of remote work in UX design has significantly increased, especially as more companies adopt remote or hybrid work models. Much of your work involves research, prototyping, and collaboration, all of which can be effectively managed online. Tools like Slack, FigJam, Adobe XD, Miro, and project management platforms keep remote UX teams connected and collaborative, regardless of location.
5. No Prior Experience Required to Build a UX Portfolio
You don’t need prior experience to build a UX portfolio. Take on personal projects like redesigning websites or apps, and document your process. Create case studies that highlight your problem-solving, research, and design skills. Volunteer for nonprofits or collaborate on open-source projects. Continuous learning through courses and sharing your work online can boost your credibility and help you stand out to employers.
Steps to Start Your UX Design Career
- Learn the Basics: Begin with online courses to understand UX fundamentals.
- Build a Portfolio: Showcase your projects, case studies, and research.
- Network with Professionals: Join LinkedIn groups, attend webinars, and participate in forums.
- Seek Internships: Gain hands-on experience through internships or volunteering.
- Stay Updated: Follow industry trends, read UX blogs, and attend workshops.
If you’re thinking a UX design qualification will tie you to the tech industry for the rest of your life, think again!
Today, almost every industry has an online presence; this means they need UX designers to facilitate a positive user experience. In fact, most companies recognize that good UX = good business—making UX design one of the most hired digital roles in the world. Beyond the tech industry, you’ll find job ads for UX designers in education, finance, non-profit organizations, healthcare, government, media, and sustainability (to name a few).
Merit America’s UX Design Career Track offers the opportunity to earn your Google UX Design Certificate, access a network of peer support, receive 1:1 career coaching, benefit from dedicated placement support, and much more—all with $0 upfront costs.