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What is UI, and why is it so super important?
UI stands for User Interface – this is anything the end user may interact with. From the touchpad of your computer to the buttons on a website, this is all UI.
UI developer jobs are about making this human-computer interaction as intuitive and efficient as possible. Which brings us to our next point:
Is UI Front-End or Back-End?
UI design and development are concerned with what the user sees and uses. That said, front-end development involves more than just UI. Front-end job positions include graphic designer, UI designer, UX (User Experience) designer, and front-end developer.
What Is the Difference Between UI and UX?
UX (User Experience) designer jobs are not concerned with the look of the interface; they are about designing the overall user journey. It is about mapping out the experience, not about visuals. As web developer Dan Miller put it:
“UI is the saddle, the stirrups, and the reins. UX is the feeling you get being able to ride the horse.”
UI designer jobs are about filling in the graphic and interactive elements in the UX product design. UI is a user-centered design approach that aims to provide both aesthetics and efficiency.
Different User Interface Careers
There are two leading roles in the domain of UI. While some jobs blur the line between the two positions, it comes in handy to know the difference.
UI designers work on the graphical user interface, crafting responsive design solutions for a beautiful and practical result. They need the creative streak of a graphic designer, along with a solid understanding of computer programming in languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
The average annual salary of UI designers in the US is $63,681. The pay range between everyone interviewed was $43k to $94k, including additional cash remuneration.
UI developers are tasked with the functional aspects of the user interface. They use research data to suggest improvements to application design, working closely with other developers and engineers on the project. UI development also involves doing test runs of the application and coming up with software updates to improve functionality.
UI engineer is a synonym for UI developer.
The average yearly salary for UI developer jobs is $82,199. The total pay range is between $59k and $130k for all UI engineers (and this includes bonuses and profit sharing).
With that in mind, let’s get to the point of the article. Read on to find everything you need to know about UI developer jobs in 2020:
How to make it from a complete beginner to junior UI developer.
UI developer salaries (and how you can boost yours).
What companies appreciate in the UI developers they hire.
The top locations for UI developer jobs.
Freelance UI developer jobs and opportunities.
From Zero to Top UI Jobs: Beginner’s Step-By-Step Guide
First things first, figure out where you stand. Do you already have some technical experience? It could be anything – from actual HTML and CSS practice to a programming class in college.
And speaking of college: are you in uni right now?
Choosing your degree?
Thinking of switching majors?
Already graduated?
The main UI developer requirements are:
Education – most employers prefer to hire UI developers with a bachelor’s in computer science or a related field.
Experience – and this does not have to be in the context of a job. Get experience as a UI developer intern by working on your own independent projects, or by contributing to open-source efforts.
Technical skills – you can’t go without HTML, CSS, and eventually, JavaScript – these are the bare basics. So are the Chrome developer tools, versioning (becoming an expert at Git), frameworks, and industry standards.
Non-technical skills – on most UI jobs, you will be the middleman between clients, UX, other developers, and the QA team. Excellent communication skills are a must.
Thus, your roadmap looks something like this:
Step 1: Get the Right Degree
A bachelor’s in any technical discipline is okay. From Computer Science and Information Technology to Networking and everything in-between. Further studies (a master’s or a Ph.D.) are typically not required, but they will give you an advantage. Some employers require fewer years of experience from candidates with post-graduate studies.
If you are still in college but not able to switch degrees, try to take as many tech-related classes as you can, especially ones related to web development. Graphic design is also a major perk in your UI developer resume, so consider some classes or even taking it as a minor.
Step 2: Dive Deeper Into UI-specific Skills
The primary UI-specific skills are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Get these basics right and build from there. There are plenty of courses online to consider – Coursera, Udemy, even Skillshare (though Skillshare classes won’t usually get you to a ‘I can work in this’ point).
Versioning using GitHub is not just a best practice. It will save your life. Take your time to master Git, and thank me later.
Learn about different tools and frameworks and figure out which ones are the most useful. During the time you master UI skills, learn by doing and implement things into your own projects. Not only will you get better faster, you will also have something to show to future employers.
Step 3: Get the Experience
This goes hand-in-hand with the “learning by doing” aspect of becoming a UI engineer. Build things – both from your own ideas and as part of open-source projects.
Don’t be discouraged by the sheer amount of code you will read in open source. It sounds outlandish, but even open-source ninjas with years of experience under their belts can miss things. You will pick up positive habits and best practices along the way (not to mention, you will have to work with others, which forces you to work on your soft skills).
And there you have it; this is the (short) answer to ‘how to become a UI developer’. Now, let’s look at what employers are seeking and what your day-to-day life will look like.
UI Developer: Comprehensive Job Description
Disclaimer: This is a general job description for this position. Every employer will have different criteria for hiring.
Here is a detailed look at what your life as a UI professional will look like. Of course, responsibilities also vary depending on seniority. Still, here are the main activities your job will entail:
Day-to-day Life as a User Interface Programmer/Designer
UI developers, being the more ‘technical’ side of user interface creation, work on the backbone of an effective user interface. Their daily activities include:
Working on project planning – setting objectives, tracking progress, taking customer feedback into account, continuously making sure you are on track (this applies mostly to senior positions, but is still valid for all UI developers)
Development work – generating well-crafted and functional designs (with an emphasis on functionality).
Collaboration – you will usually work as a part of a cross-functional team along with other software design professionals, specialized in different domains. Daily, you’ll have to meet up, talk through things, and make sure everybody is on the same page and making progress.
While some UI developer jobs are available from home, most of them are 9-to-5 office jobs. You usually get a set amount of hours to work from your home office. It’s similar for UI designers, though they do tend to have more freelance opportunities.
For UI designers, everyday activities include:
Coming up with design solutions – first, you need to understand the problem that you’re trying to solve, which could involve meetings with clients, working with research data, or a little bit of each. Then, of course, a designer’s job is to create a functional layout that makes the human-computer interaction a smooth and pleasant process.
Prototyping – this is an essential step at the beginning of any design process.
Touchpoints with developers – as beautiful as your designs may be, they also need to work for the user flow. Checkpoints with the dev team are essential and a daily activity for most designers.
If you are interested in UI design jobs, I highly recommend checking out Kyle Markell’s article on his day-to-day life on the job. It gives you an insider’s look into the industry, along with some tips and tricks for success.
Areas of Expertise
For a UI developer, the more lateral skills you have, the better. Granted, as a UI programmer, you won’t typically need Adobe Illustrator. However, understanding the basics of user-centered design will help you put yourself in the shoes of the graphic designer and hopefully work better with them.
The key competencies you need for success are:
Programming languages for UI developers – HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Web and mobile application building platforms like Angular
Versioning – Git or another version control system
Responsive web design (RWD)
Client-facing frameworks like Bootstrap
UI Developer Career Paths
So you become a junior UI developer…
Where can you go from here?
One option is, of course, moving up the corporate ladder. A senior UI developer salary isn’t the only perk of this path. There is always something new to learn, and becoming an expert makes you an invaluable talent for your company.
If you’re afraid of getting bored, though, consider transitioning into full-stack development, adding UX expertise under your belt, or getting certified in Scrum and working as a SCRUM master.
In terms of career growth, UI isn’t a one-track sort of field. Since front-end development is such a broad discipline, there are plenty of paths for you to take. On the flip side, however, this also means you will have to constantly catch up and keep yourself updated if you want to stay competitive in the labor market.
UI Developer Salary Range
Any career in tech is a well-paid one, right? Sure, but some skills can boost your pay. Also, depending on your expertise, seniority level, and location remuneration will vary a lot.
Starting with the basics, an average annual salary for a UI engineer is $82,199. This translates to a gross hourly rate of $38.
But this is still low-balling.
Most UI developer jobs come with excellent benefits (85% of professionals receive medical benefits, 78% – dental, and 68% – vision) and additional cash compensation. The average bonus for the position is $4,034 plus an additional $3,600 of profit sharing.
Add up all of this, and your total UI developer salary can easily reach six figures. According to PayScale, the full pay range for this role is between $58,806 and $129,962.
But there is more:
UI Developer Salaries Growth
How can you earn more?
Get more experience
Get the right skills
Your pay range will change a lot as you move to more senior positions. Some companies actually say on the job posting ‘salary depending on experience’. As you transition into bigger projects and positions with more responsibility, it is only natural that your pay will also change.
The average entry-level UI developer salary is $74,418, while a late-career employee can earn upward of $152,500 as a base pay!
Want to boost your junior UI developer salary? Here are the skills that will statistically result in a juicier paycheck:
React – this JavaScript library helps you create interfaces, as well as applications, and it’s one of the most popular tools among developers. Mastering you can increase your pay by 31%!
Web Development – having front-end developer skills will boost your earnings by 12%, while in-depth HTML5 and CSS knowledge will increase them by 18% and 15% respectively.
Finally, location matters:
Best Paid UI Developer Jobs in the USA
UI developer jobs in California are arguably some of the best in the country. Developers in San Francisco made a whopping 40% above the national average for the position! It makes sense, Silicon Valley companies pay well.
The same goes for jobs in Seattle, Washington, where you will get paid 18% more than in other places.
Keep in mind, however, that this information comes from people who have submitted their salary information to PayScale. It mostly reflects office jobs, while the situation with freelance is a whole different topic. Speaking of which, let’s look at that:
Remote UI Developer Jobs
What UI developer jobs are available from home? Actually, most of them. Companies are becoming aware that people can be productive in their home office, too. In most UI positions, you will get a set amount of time per month that you can use for home office.
That said, these are still not remote UI developer jobs per se. Instead, they are 9-to-5 jobs with the option of a ‘day to myself’ every now and then.
Luckily, truly freelance UI developer jobs are also available. Keep an eye on the UI developer jobs near me section in our directory as well as dedicated freelance platforms like Upwork.
A final word of warning:
While freelancing can doubtless set you free, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Not the least of those is productivity, as a lot of remote workers struggle to keep up the same pace as the people in the office.
Even more importantly, freelancing limits your networking opportunities, and it might mean that you are less likely to receive a raise.
Thankfully, this one has a remedy.
Make sure you work on an online presence and brand for yourself by interacting, participating in open-source projects, and keeping up an active GitHub account. All of these will expose you to new career opportunities, and they will also make you a better developer.
UI Developer: Education Requirements
While experience can pretty much make up for any lack of formal education (in terms of the skills you learn), most companies still prefer college graduates.
Why?
Out of HR habit, sure, but also because formal education is still one of the best certifications for your skills. A degree in Computer Science, Programming, Software Development, or even a remote tech field like Computer Networks guarantees that you have a solid tech foundation.
The same goes for the time spent as a UI developer intern or on work placement. When you are deciding your degree, opt for a program that focuses on practice. Hands-on experience does more than just spice up your UI developer resumé; it also teaches you practical skills that you couldn’t get in a classroom.
Certification Options
If you are already past college, however, certain certifications will help your resumé stand out (and teach you fundamental things about the field):
The Microsoft Developer Certifications should be your first choice. The MTA: HTML5 App Development Fundamentals is an entry-level credential that proves you are updated and knowledgeable about the latest best practices.
Moving up the difficulty scale, you have the MCSA: Web Applications certificate. Useful on its own, this is also a prerequisite for taking the MCSD: App Builder. The latter is for experienced UI developers (Microsoft suggests at least 2-3 years of experience) and proves you can develop web and mobile solutions using Microsoft technologies.
UI Developer Technical Skills
What technical skills do UI developers need?
As a UI programmer, your job is much more tech-focused than, say, the one of a UI designer. Here are the key skills that you couldn’t go without are:
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Version control systems (Git experience)
Frameworks and tools for development – React, Angular, Vue, Ember, and jQuery (expertise in at least one of these is must; learn React, and you are likely to get a higher salary, too)
Front-end frameworks: Bootstrap or Foundation.
What is more, any additional tech skills you can learn will only help you do your work better (and improve your job prospects). Learning about usability engineering, software design, and the visuals makes you a better communicator with other members of your team, aiding you to create a three-dimensional user interface and a smooth-working end product.
These additional skills will also come in useful if you decide to switch to other web developer jobs.
Non-technical Skills
You can’t overstate the importance of people skills in UI developer jobs. But how do you make them noticeable to future employers?
Granted, they become obvious in the interview stage.
But what about before that?
The key is in the numbers. Show your impact by including facts and figures – i.e. “presented to over 50 other employees during weekly meetings”. Make sure you include all relevant experience, too. Even if what you did was an internship or a volunteering service, if it shows hiring managers valuable skills, it’s worth mentioning. Even for lateral skills like your creative streak!
UI Developer Jobs in 2020: Are They Still Worth It?
Front-end developer jobs are here to stay. Sure, it’s a challenging field to be in – things change quickly, and you have to stay on top of your game. But isn’t that true for all tech-related positions… or all lucrative jobs as a whole? Keep learning, keep developing yourself, and you will find plenty of cool UI developer career paths before you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are UI Developers in Demand?
User interface developer job openings are definitely on the rise. UI experts enjoy high salaries, generous benefits, and a job where it’s hard to get bored (but you also have to keep learning every day).
How Do I Become a UI Developer?
You start by developing essential skills like HTML, CSS, and eventually moving to JavaScript.
Learning about frameworks and tools and becoming proficient in using them is your next step. Aim to learn by doing and keep working on projects (both open source and ones for your portfolio). Reading other people’s code will help you pick up their good habits and get you accustomed to working with other developers.
What Are the Skills Required for UI Developer?
The primary UI developer skills are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript mastery. With these three, you can work as a front-end developer, translating code into a graphical interface. Additional tools (that are used in most companies) include React, Angular, and Bootstrap.
Complement these with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Learning about other people’s area of expertise (be it graphic design or QA) will help you collaborate in cross-functional teams. Companies know that this makes the decision-making process smoother, and this is why they favor candidates with lateral skills.
What Is the Difference Between UI Designer and UI Developer?
UI designers are concerned with the visual aspect of user interface, while developers focus on functionality. Often, you will find yourself doing a bit of both, especially if you are not working in a big company. In principle, however, UI design is a much more visual-heavy job that requires graphic design skills like Adobe Illustrator.
How Much Do UI Developers Make?
The average UI developer salary is $82,199. However, experience, specific skills (React.js, for example), and your location can change that number a lot. In terms of additional cash compensation, UI developer jobs receive on average a bonus of $4,034 and $3,600 of profit sharing.
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