In South Africa, the average user experience designer salary is R27,000 per month. User experience designers (UX) are responsible for improving the user experience by making it simple for customers to interact with applications and software. Because we live in the digital age, UX designers are in high demand right now.
UX designers are compensated for their efforts with a performance bonus. According to Salary Expert, the average bonus for a UX designer is R19,378.00 per year. The annual bonus for UX designers ranges from R10,000.00 to R51,000.00.
The bonus of a UX designer is determined by the employer. According to Salary Explorer, 55% of UX designers in South Africa received a bonus in 2021, while 45% did not. UX designers who received bonuses reported receiving bonuses ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
According to Payscale, the majority of UX Designers in South Africa are women. Females account for 63.8% of UX designers in South Africa, while males account for 36.2%. Males earn the most, with an average salary of R28,000.00, while females earn 7% less.
Aside from the gender of employees, other factors influence the salary of a UX designer in South Africa. Here are the factors that influence a UX designer’s salary in South Africa.
Factors that influence the salary of a User Experience designer in South Africa
Employer
A User Experience designer’s employer can help them get a better salary. Employer contributions can also be made to a variety of policies that a company can set up on behalf of its employees, such as a pension fund.
Bonuses are another benefit that an employer can provide to a UX designer. Bonuses can account for up to 6% of a UX designer’s salary and should not be overlooked. The employer may also use other performance-based incentives as part of remuneration.
Education level
The salary of a UX designer is heavily influenced by their level of experience. In South Africa, a UX designer with a diploma earns an average monthly salary of R20,300.00. UX designers with a Bachelor’s degree earn an average monthly salary of R27,200.00.
User Experience designers with a Bachelor’s degree earn 34% more than those with only a diploma. Those with a master’s degree in the field earn the highest average salary, with R41,800.00 per month on average.
A UX designer with a master’s degree earns 53% more than a UX designer with a bachelor’s degree. This shows how the salary of a UX designer rises as their level of education rises.
City of Employment
The city where a UX designer is employed plays a role in determining their salary. Here are the highest paying cities for UX designers according to Indeed.com.
| # | City | Salary |
| 1 | Century City, Western Cape | R48,196.00 |
| 2 | Johannesburg North, Gauteng | R35,885.00 |
| 3 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R33,992.00 |
| 4 | Sandton, Gauteng | R32,921.00 |
| 5 | Centurion, Gauteng | R32,743.00 |
| 6 | Northern Suburbs, Western Cape | R32,418.00 |
| 7 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R32,227.00 |
A user experience designer’s salary is also influenced by the level of experience that one possesses. We look at the influence that a level of experience has on UX designer’s salaries below.
Salary of a user experience designer based on their level of experience in the field
Salary of a UX designer with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2023
A UX designer with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R15,800.00 per month on average. Entry-level UX designers earn the least in this group, and these are UX designers with no prior work experience.
A UX designer with 0 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R13,300.00. UX designers with 2 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R17,800.00.
Salary of a UX designer with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2023ย
A UX designer with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R20,300.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 29% increase over the average salary of UX designers with 0 to 2 years of experience.
UX designers with 5 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R19,100.00. UX designers with 3 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R25,550.00.
Salary of a UX designer with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2023
A UX designer with 6 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn R28,000.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 38% increase over the average salary of UX designers with 3 to 5 years of experience.
UX designers with 10 years of experience and a master’s degree in the field earn the most, with an average monthly salary of R31,600.00. The lowest-paid UX designers in this category have 6 years of experience and earn an average monthly salary of R26,740.00.
Salary of a UX designer with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2023
A UX designer with 11 to 15 years of experience can expect to earn R34,600.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 24% increase over the average salary of UX designers with 6 to 10 years of experience.
UX designers with 15 years of experience are the highest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R35,950.00. The lowest-paid UX designers in this category have 11 years of experience and earn an average monthly salary of R32,000.00.
Salary of a UX designer with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2023
A UX designer with 16 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn R37,100.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 7% increase over the average salary of UX designers with 11 to 15 years of experience.
UX designers with 20+ years of experience earn an average monthly salary of R39,600.00. UX designers with a master’s degree and 20+ years of experience can earn up to R42,300 per month.
Conclusion
A UX designer’s salary increases by 11% over a 20-month cycle, which is higher than the South African average for all professions. Staying in the field for a longer period of time and obtaining more certifications can significantly increase one’s salary.
