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User Experience Researcher Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

ClifyX

UX Researcher

San Jose, CA · On-site

Position : UX Researcher Location: Seattle, WA/San Jose, CA(Hybrid Onsite) Duration: 12+ Months Contract G8 UX Researcher, AI + Quantitative Specialist

Cypress HCM

UX Researcher

Mountain View, CA · On-site

UX Researcher We are looking for a UX Researcher II who will be responsible for joining a cross-disciplinary team of product managers, designers, user researchers, writers, and software engineers to ...

JBCPlatform

User Experience Researcher

Foster City, CA · On-site

$50 - $58/hr

User Experience Researcher Job Location: Foster City, CA Duration: ~12 Months The Pay rate is commensurate with experience and is an estimated range provided by WorkGenius. UX Researcher, Internal ...

Apex Informatics

UX Researcher

Mountain View, CA · On-site

UX Researcher Onsite in MTV Workflow Requirement: Speech is looking for a Qualitative UXR to help manage a monthly usability session, from recruiting to reading out the final report, and all steps in ...

Photon

UX Researcher | Onsite

San Francisco, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The UX Researcher is responsible for uncovering deep user insights that inspire and inform creative direction, concept development, and innovation. This role focuses on exploratory and generative ...

Photon

UX Researcher | Onsite

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The UX Researcher is responsible for uncovering deep user insights that inspire and inform creative direction, concept development, and innovation. This role focuses on exploratory and generative ...

Geico

Senior UX Researcher

San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

$109K - $172K/yr

As a UX Researcher, you will have a critical role in shaping the user experience of our products and services by utilizing insightful research and data-driven insights. This position is a hybrid role ...

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All JobsUser Experience Researcher JobsUser Experience Researcher Jobs in California

User Experience Researcher information

See California salary details

$29.6K

$111.6K

$162.3K

How much do user experience researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for user experience researcher in California is $111,621.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,100.00 and $152,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a user experience researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a User Experience Researcher, you need a strong understanding of research methodologies, human-centered design principles, and often a background in psychology, HCI, or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as usability testing platforms, survey software, and data analysis tools like SPSS or Excel is typically required. Excellent communication, empathy, and analytical thinking help researchers connect with users and translate findings into actionable insights. These skills are crucial for creating user-friendly products that meet real user needs and drive business success.

What is the difference between User Experience Researcher vs UX Designer?

AspectUser Experience ResearcherUX Designer
Primary FocusGathering user insights, conducting research, understanding user needsDesigning user interfaces, creating wireframes, developing visual layouts
Skills & CredentialsResearch methods, data analysis, user interviews, surveysDesign tools, prototyping, visual design, user flows
Work EnvironmentResearch teams, usability labs, user testing sessionsDesign teams, collaboration with developers and product managers
GoalsIdentify user needs, inform design decisions, improve user satisfactionCreate engaging, intuitive interfaces that meet user needs

While both roles focus on enhancing user experience, the User Experience Researcher primarily conducts research to gather insights about users, whereas the UX Designer focuses on creating the visual and interactive aspects of products. Both roles often collaborate closely to ensure the final product aligns with user needs and expectations.

What is a user experience researcher?

User Experience (UX) Researchers are professionals who study how users interact with products, services, or systems to understand their needs, behaviors, and challenges. They use a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as interviews, usability tests, and surveys, to gather insights about users. The findings from their research help design teams create more effective, user-friendly products. UX Researchers play a crucial role in ensuring that products meet user needs and provide a positive experience. Their work often involves close collaboration with designers, developers, and product managers.

What does a user experience researcher do?

A user experience researcher works in various industries to understand the interaction between a product or service and the targeted audience. In this position, your duties are to research user behavior, identify customers’ needs, and provide an analysis to improve the user experience (UX). You may use surveys, interviews, and other methods to test audience interaction and gather information. You then develop reports on how to improve a product or service to make it more user-friendly. Your responsibilities are to help a company understand what motivates consumers to choose a specific item or service and how to market these goods in a way that will increase sales.

How do user experience researchers typically collaborate with designers and product managers throughout a product development cycle?

User Experience Researchers work closely with designers and product managers from the early ideation phase through to product launch. They conduct user studies to identify pain points and needs, then share actionable insights with the design team to inform wireframes and prototypes. Throughout development, they facilitate communication between stakeholders by presenting findings, leading workshops, and ensuring user feedback is integrated into product decisions. This cross-functional partnership helps create user-centric solutions and fosters continuous improvement.
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User Experience Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various User Experience Researcher job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 4% Temporary, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 74% In-person, 22% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,621 per year, or $53.7 per hour.

User Experience Researcher

Futurewave Systems

San Dimas, CA • Remote

Contractor

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

Company Description

Founded in 2006, Futurewave Systems is a minority owned boutique, STAFFING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROVIDER headquartered in Atlanta, GA. We are a GLOBAL NETWORK of proven industry professionals demonstrating the fastest fulfillment rate of high tech professionals for Fortune 500 Companies. 

Job Description
  1. The User Researcher works closely with UX Designers and Project Stakeholders to propose and conduct user research activities consisting of Strategic and Tactical studies.
  2. The User researcher is responsible for coordinating, planning, executing, and reporting on User Experience Research activities across numerous ADP products, services and platforms.
  3. These activities include, but are not limited to task-based testing, card sorting, surveys, focus groups, 1:1 interviews, task analysis, field and crowd sourcing, remote moderated testing, remote unmoderated testing, prototype testing, persona creation/evolution/weighting, recruiting, etc. across platforms and user groups for complex web and mobile applications.
  4. This individual, working closely with stakeholders, identifies the appropriate user experience research methods/activities for each project and is responsible for designing, planning, conducting, and communicating results of related research studies at all organizational levels with the highest quality.
  5. The User Researcher also investigates and evaluates User Experience Research trends in the industry and communicates recommendations to the enterprise team aimed at enhancing UX processes, incorporating new or innovative ideas, increasing research velocity/value/efficacy and/or recommending new methodologies and tools as appropriate.
  6. This individual acts as an internal UX Research consultant, providing expert guidance on user experience research to Development, Product Management and other stakeholders in order to ensure data driven / informed design.
  7. The User Researcher works in a multidisciplinary environment, and in a collaborative fashion, on user experience research activities throughout the software development lifecycle of applications with numerous research initiatives occurring concurrently.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Strong background in user experience research with software, web, B2B, B2C, and/or mobile applications leveraging usability techniques that include some or all of the following: iterative/formative discovery, remote usability testing, heuristic evaluation, task analysis, surveys, focus groups, persona definition, field research, crowd-sourcing, etc.

Experience with Morae, Qualtrics, Usuara, and /or iRise Studio and other research or prototyping tools is highly desirable. Knowledge and experience in Information Architecture, User Interface Design and Visual Design along with related best practices is also desirable. Experience and past success performing UX Research within an Agile SDLC is preferred. 

Qualifications

Advanced degree in HF/HCI or a related discipline or equivalent experience required.

5-8 years of experience working in the user experience research field within a fast-paced software development environment

Skills Matrix:

Task based testing

Card-sorting

Surveys

Focus groups

1:1 interviews

Task analysis

Field and crowd sourcing

Remote Moderated Testing

Remote un-moderated testing

Prototype Testing

Persona creation/evolution/weighting

Recruiting, etc. across platforms and user groups for complex web and mobile applications

Tools:

user experience research with software, web, B2B, B2C, and/or mobile applications

Highly Desired:

Morae, Qualtrics, Usuara, and /or iRise Studio and other research or prototyping tools

Experience and past success performing UX Research within an Agile SDLC is preferred

Additional Information

6+ Months Contract 

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