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User Researcher Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

User Research & Analysis - Plan and conduct user research activities including interviews, usability testing, and feedback sessions with diverse user groups (e.g., analysts, SMEs, managers, data ...

Conduct user research to understand user needs and behaviors, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing. * Create user personas, user flows, and wireframes to inform design decisions.

Job Title: UX Research Analyst Zeiders is an industry leader in military and family support. Our company's reputation is based on providing top quality service with exceptional, dedicated employees.

User Research & Analysis Plan and conduct user research activities including interviews, usability testing, and feedback sessions with diverse user groups (e.g., analysts, SMEs, managers, data ...

The UX Project Lead will report to the Innovation Team which serves as the in-house consultants to ... Utilize preexisting research (and collect new data as needed) to inform the redesign of the digital ...

User Research Analysis  Plan and conduct user research activities including interviews, usability testing, and feedback sessions with diverse user groups (e.g., analysts, SMEs, managers, data ...

UX Research Analyst

Woodbridge, VA · On-site

$115K/yr

Job Title: UX Research Analyst Zeiders is an industry leader in military and family support. Our company's reputation is based on providing top quality service with exceptional, dedicated employees.

The UX Project Lead will report to the Innovation Team which serves as the in-house consultants to ... Utilize preexisting research (and collect new data as needed) to inform the redesign of the digital ...

Expert UI/UX Designer

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$110 - $160/hr

Conduct user research to identify user needs and translate findings into design requirements. * Conduct usability testing and analyze feedback. * Develop user personas and support strategic design ...

New

We are seeking a Director of User Research to establish and lead a research function across Bloomberg Industry Group. This role will define how customer insight informs product strategy ...

Bixal is hiring a Senior Service Designer / UX Researcher to join our Developer Experience team on a newly awarded platform engineering contract with the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid ...

Sr. Service Designer/UX Researcher

Fairfax, VA · On-site +1

$125K - $130K/yr

Bixal is hiring a Senior Service Designer / UX Researcher to join our Developer Experience team on a newly awarded platform engineering contract with the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid ...

Identify users' underlying emotional and functional needs through research and analysis. * Create satisfying and compelling user experiences drawing on user research and workflow analysis. * Develop ...

UI/UX Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$90 - $140/hr

Conduct user research and usability testing. Stay updated on the latest UI/UX design trends and technologies. Design and develop user interfaces and experiences for quantum computing applications.

UI/UX Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$97K - $121K/yr

Conduct user research and usability testing. Stay updated on the latest UI/UX design trends and technologies. Design and develop user interfaces and experiences for quantum computing applications.

Showing results 21-40

User Researcher information

See Washington salary details

$34K

$128.1K

$186.3K

How much do user researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for user researcher in Washington is $128,099.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,900.00 and $174,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a user researcher?

User Researchers are professionals who study how people interact with products, services, or systems to help organizations create user-friendly designs. They gather and analyze data about users’ needs, behaviors, and pain points through methods like interviews, surveys, usability tests, and observation. Their insights guide product teams in making informed design decisions, ensuring products are both functional and enjoyable to use. User Researchers often collaborate closely with designers, developers, and product managers throughout the development process.

What does a user researcher do?

As a user researcher, your responsibilities are to understand the needs of an end user and collect user experience, or UX, data related to a specific product or service. To collect data, you observe and test users’ behavior as they interact with a product or service, such as a website or an app. You may also set up focus groups to elicit responses from participants. Your other duties are to analyze your findings and make suggestions to, or collaborate with, designers and programmers to improve the product’s UX.

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 a background in human-centered design, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and often a degree in psychology, HCI, or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as usability testing platforms, survey software, data analysis tools, and sometimes UX research certifications is common. Strong communication, empathy, and analytical thinking are vital soft skills for uncovering user needs and translating findings into actionable insights. These competencies ensure that digital products are designed to meet real user needs, ultimately driving user satisfaction and business success.

How does a user researcher typically collaborate with product and design teams during a project?

User Researchers play a key role in bridging the gap between users and the teams building products. They frequently work alongside product managers and designers, sharing insights from user interviews, usability tests, and surveys to inform design decisions. In agile environments, User Researchers often participate in sprint planning and review meetings, ensuring that user feedback is integrated at every stage of the development process. Effective collaboration requires clear communication and the ability to translate research findings into actionable recommendations, helping teams prioritize features and improvements that best meet user needs.

What is the difference between User Researcher vs UX Designer?

AspectUser ResearcherUX Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, or related fields; research experienceBachelor's in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or related; design portfolio
Work EnvironmentResearch teams, product teams, user testing labsDesign teams, product teams, prototyping labs
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, agencies, startupsTech companies, agencies, startups
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding research roles, skills, and responsibilitiesUnderstanding design roles, skills, and responsibilities

While both User Researchers and UX Designers focus on improving user experience, User Researchers primarily gather insights through research methods to inform product decisions. UX Designers create the visual and interactive aspects of products, translating research findings into design solutions. Both roles often collaborate closely but serve distinct functions within the product development process.

What are the most commonly searched types of User Researcher jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of User Researcher jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for User Researcher jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most User Researcher job openings:

Infographic showing various User Researcher job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 75% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,099 per year, or $61.6 per hour.

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

Responsibilities:
User Research & Analysis
- Plan and conduct user research activities including interviews, usability testing, and
feedback sessions with diverse user groups (e.g., analysts, SMEs, managers, data
scientists).
- Analyze and synthesize research findings into actionable insights, personas, user
journeys, and workflow maps.
- Document research findings and recommendations to support stakeholder understanding
and buy-in, particularly in government settings.
- Apply ethical, secure, and compliant research practices appropriate for classified or
sensitive environments.
UX Strategy & Design Systems
- Lead UX and UI efforts for complex, high-visibility applications.
- Define, maintain, and evolve design systems and component libraries in collaboration
with engineering teams.
- Establish consistent interaction patterns, workflows, and design standards across multiple
applications.
- Create service blueprints and end-to-end experience maps to align cross-functional
teams.
UI Design & Prototyping
- Develop interactive prototypes using tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or similar, to
explore concepts and validate user flows.
- Produce high-fidelity UI designs that are accessible, usable, and visually consistent.
- Ensure designs align with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and applicable
government design guidelines.
- Document interaction behaviors, design rationale, and micro-copy to support
implementation.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Active U.S. Government Security Clearance at the TS/SCI level with required polygraph.
- Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Computer
Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Senior Labor Category: Minimum 8 years of experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 7
years of experience with a Masters degree; or 6 years of experience with a Doctorate
- Demonstrated experience conducting UX research, analysis, and synthesis (not UI-only).
- Strong proficiency with design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or
equivalent.
- Experience collaborating closely with product managers and engineering teams.
- Ability to clearly articulate design decisions and research findings to stakeholders.
- Willingness to work onsite full time in McLean, VA.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Portfolio (website, case studies, or work samples) demonstrating UX
research methodology, analysis, and UI design quality.
- Experience designing for mission-critical or government systems.
- Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.
- Experience contributing to or managing design systems.
- Familiarity with modern front-end frameworks and design constraints (e.g., component-
based development).
- Experience supporting data-heavy or analytical user workflows.