User researcher
User researchers collect, analyse and test data to design websites, software and applications based on user needs.
- Starter salary£34,000 a year
- Experienced£68,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As a user researcher you would:
- plan and design user research testing sessions
- recruit users for testing, run sessions and gather feedback
- get an understanding of users' needs, motivations and any problems with a service or product
- identify new product and design ideas from research results
- work as part of a larger product development team
- help colleagues understand user behaviours
- present user insights to project stakeholders at all levels
Working environment
You could work in an office, at a client's business, at events or from home.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of English language
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to work well with others
- to be flexible and open to change
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a user researcher
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
- a graduate training scheme
University
You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
- psychology
- human computer interaction (HCI)
- digital marketing
- product design
- graphic design
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Digital User Experience (UX) Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
This will take around 4 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
Volunteering
If you're working in an organisation that conducts user research, you could get work experience by volunteering to help in research sessions and user interviews. This would be useful, especially if you do not have a degree.
You can also get involved in the online user experience (UX) community for advice and tips, and to find a mentor to help you.
Direct application
You can apply directly to user research or digital design companies, or go through a specialist agency.
To apply, you'll need experience in:
- user-centred design practices
- running user research sessions in person and online
- different user research methods
- presenting user research findings in different formats
Other routes
You could apply for a place on a user research or marketing company's graduate training scheme if you have a degree, for example in digital marketing or product design.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could move into a management role and supervise a team of user researchers. You could also work on larger, more complicated projects as a head of user experience or research.
You could also become a:
- business analyst
- product or service designer
- SEO specialist
Career tips
It will be useful if you have experience of working in agile project development.
You can find further information on what a user researcher does at the Government Digital Service .
It will also help if you have a portfolio to show examples of your work to employers.
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