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User Research Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Cypress HCM

UX Researcher

Mountain View, CA

UX Researcher We are looking for a UX Researcher II who will be responsible for joining a cross ... We use an iterative research and design approach in the lab and thus the ideal candidate will feel ...

Harvey

Senior or Staff User Researcher

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$158K - $264K/yr

We are looking for a seasoned strategic User Researcher to to join our research function. You are a ... You are comfortable with AI technologies and excited to build research and insight tooling to ...

Gallup

Senior User Researcher

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $135K/yr

Influence the future of CliftonStrengths through research that anchors what we build and why. As a senior user researcher at Gallup, you'll drive evidence-based product decisions across the ...

Gallup

Senior User Researcher

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $135K/yr

Influence the future of CliftonStrengths through research that anchors what we build and why. As a senior user researcher at Gallup, you'll drive evidence-based product decisions across the ...

Pantar Solutions inc

UX/UI Designer

Burbank, CA · On-site

User Research and Design Thinking: - Assist in framing research goals and objectives. - Deeply empathize with users while conducting primary user research to uncover unmet needs, pain points and ...

Saransh Inc

UI/UX Engineer (10+ yrs)

Woodland Hills, CA · On-site

$99K - $123K/yr

Conduct user research and usability testing to gather insights and validate design concepts. * Collaborate with product managers and developers to understand requirements and translate them into user ...

Plaud

User Researcher

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Execute research programs end-to-end: design the study plan, recruit participants, conduct in-context sessions (contextual inquiry, ergonomic evaluation, form factor assessment), synthesize findings ...

TP-Link Systems Inc.

UX/UI Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$105K - $115K/yr

Responsibilities User Research & Insights: * Conduct in-depth user research to understand user needs, behaviors, and motivations * Analyze user feedback and research findings to inform design ...

Hyundai Motor Company

User Insight Specialist

Irvine, CA · On-site

$90K - $155K/yr

Additionally, the User Insight Researcher would lead regular UX sprint events with a cross-functional consortium of a wide range of SMEs in Hyundai Moter Group (HMG), defining a clear goal for each ...

Hyundai Motor Company

User Insight Specialist

Irvine, CA · On-site

$90K - $155K/yr

Additionally, the User Insight Researcher would lead regular UX sprint events with a cross-functional consortium of a wide range of SMEs in Hyundai Moter Group (HMG), defining a clear goal for each ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsUser Research JobsUser Research Jobs in California

User Research information

See California salary details

$29.6K

$111.6K

$162.3K

How much do user research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for user research 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 is user research?

User research is the process of understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through observation techniques, interviews, and other feedback methodologies. It helps product teams design better products by focusing on real user problems and preferences. User researchers gather and analyze data to inform the design and development process, ensuring that products are useful, usable, and valuable to the intended audience.

What is user research?

User research, sometimes referred to as user experience or UX research, aims to understand human needs, motivations, and behavior. In this field, you use a variety of task analysis, observation techniques, and other feedback methodologies to perform your research. You typically work on product design and testing of different elements to contribute to the development of products and services. You may use a variety of data sources at all levels of product development to help the user experience team ensure that a product is fun, intuitive, and accessible.

How do user researchers typically collaborate with product and design teams during a project?

User researchers work closely with product managers and designers throughout all stages of a project. Early on, they help define research questions and identify user needs, often participating in brainstorming sessions. During the design phase, they conduct usability tests and share findings to inform design decisions. Regular communication, workshops, and presenting actionable insights ensure that research outcomes are directly integrated into product improvements. This collaborative process helps maintain a user-centered approach and fosters strong cross-functional teamwork.

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

To thrive as a User Researcher, you need strong analytical skills, experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods, and a background in psychology, human-computer interaction, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like usability testing platforms, survey software (e.g., Qualtrics), and data analysis tools is typically required. Excellent communication, empathy, and collaboration skills help you effectively convey insights and advocate for user needs. These abilities ensure research findings drive informed design decisions and create user-centered products.

What is the difference between User Research vs User Experience Designer?

AspectUser ResearchUser Experience Designer
Primary FocusUnderstanding user needs, behaviors, and motivations through research methodsDesigning and improving the overall user experience, including interface and interaction design
Required SkillsQualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, user interviewsWireframing, prototyping, visual design, usability testing
Work EnvironmentResearch teams, UX departments, product teamsDesign teams, product teams, UX departments
Common UsageConducting user studies, surveys, interviewsCreating wireframes, prototypes, user flows

While both roles focus on improving user satisfaction, User Research primarily involves gathering insights about users, whereas User Experience Designers apply those insights to create and refine the overall user interface and experience.

How do I become a user researcher?

To become a user researcher, you typically need a background in psychology, human-computer interaction, or a related field, along with skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Gaining experience through internships, building a portfolio of research projects, and learning tools like UserTesting or Optimal Workshop can be helpful. Many roles also value strong communication skills and familiarity with design or product development processes.

What is a user research job?

A user research job involves studying how users interact with products or services to gather insights that inform design and development. Professionals in this role conduct interviews, usability tests, and analyze data using tools like surveys and analytics platforms to improve user experience.
More about User Research jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of User Research jobs in California?

The most popular types of User Research jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to User Research jobs in California?

For User Research jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching User Research jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for User Research jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for User Research jobs?

Cities in California with the most User Research job openings:

User Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various User Research job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 3% Temporary, and 16% Contract. Highlights an 92% In-person, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,621 per year, or $53.7 per hour.

Reliability User Research Engineering Manager

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 15 hours ago

Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

At Apple, we don't just follow industry standards, we push beyond them. The Reliability organization evaluates how well every Apple product holds up to the demands of real-world use. The Reliability Labs User Research team studies how people interact with our hardware products in these tough scenarios. We turn those findings into the specs, test strategies, and design success criteria that engineers and designers depend on across Apple's entire product lineup.
In this role, you'll collaborate with diverse hardware teams to ensure our products are not only durable and reliable, but also built to exceed expectations-and our research is where that work begins. We run in-person studies and surveys to understand user and device behavior.
If you're energized by leading talented researchers and turning research insights into better, more durable products, we'd love to hear from you.
Description
As the User Research Engineering Manager, you'll lead a team of researchers with expertise spanning mechanical engineering, materials science, human factors, and statistics. You'll set research strategy and grow your team, delivering clear, actionable insights that inform critical decisions across Apple Hardware, products used by millions around the world.
As a leader of this group, you will guide your team through every stage of their research-coaching, owning the hard calls, and stepping in when your technical expertise is needed. The result is clear and data-backed guidance that directly shapes how Apple designs and validates its products.
This role sits at the intersection of multiple disciplines, requiring you to collaborate with highly technical cross-functional partners, adapt quickly to new domains, and balance a variety of projects simultaneously. Success here means leading with equal parts curiosity, critical thinking, and the ability to translate complex findings into clear, impactful recommendations-all while building a team culture grounded in ethical research and continuous growth.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Biomechanics, Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related field.
3+ years of experience in a people-management role of technical teams.
Strong communication, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail, with the ability to present findings clearly to multidisciplinary teams.
Proven ability to conduct research experiments to inform engineering decisions.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Biomechanics, Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related field.
Track record of building and developing high-performing technical teams, setting vision and strategy while coaching individuals and earning credibility with deep technical experts.
Experience using AI or Large Language Models (LLMs) for data processing and analysis.
Proven ability to design and conduct rigorous user studies for consumer product usability evaluation, using robust experimental designs and scientific methods.
Mixed methods expertise, combining quantitative and qualitative research approaches.
Experience with human characterization methods

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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