1

User Researcher Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

This individual will conduct user research and usability assessments, develop wireframes and prototypes, establish enterprise design standards and patterns, and identify opportunities to improve the ...

New

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

This individual will conduct user research and usability assessments, develop wireframes and prototypes, establish enterprise design standards and patterns, and identify opportunities to improve the ...

New

UX Designer

Washington, DC · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Conduct user research to understand needs, constraints, and service pain points (interviews, contextual inquiry, surveys, usability testing).Document decisions, research findings, and design ...

UI/UX (PeopleSoft)

Washington, DC · On-site

$67 - $74/hr

... user research and city technology capabilities • Conduct usability testing to confirm and identify job applicant and hiring staff pain points as needed • Create site maps, flow diagrams ...

Conduct user research to understand needs, constraints, and service pain points (interviews, contextual inquiry, surveys, usability testing). * Document decisions, research findings, and design ...

UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$75K - $140K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$75K - $140K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$75K - $140K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

UX Designer

Tysons, VA · On-site

$78K - $130K/yr

Conduct user research activities such as surveys, interviews, workshops, and focus groups to uncover user needs, pain points, and opportunities for improvement. * Develop and leverage user personas ...

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$75K - $140K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$75K - $140K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$75K - $140K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

Showing results 21-40

User Researcher information

See Reston, VA salary details

$31.3K

$117.9K

$171.5K

How much do user researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for user researcher in Reston, VA is $117,883.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,800.00 and $160,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 cities near Reston, VA are hiring for User Researcher jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most User Researcher job openings:

Infographic showing various User Researcher job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 73% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 23% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,666 per year, or $56.6 per hour.

User Experience Manager w/strong tactical UX background ~ UX Researcher and UX Designer

The Consortium, Inc.

Washington, DC • On-site

$50/hr

Contractor

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

User Experience Manager
We are looking for a high-performing User Experience Manager who is interested in a role blending customer experience, consumer research, and program development. The User Experience Manager will gain a thorough understanding of our customers, their unmet needs, and priorities to support an intuitive experience. This role will work closely with internal and external organizations to scale this new initiative.
Responsibilities:
• Gain a thorough understanding of customer needs, both existing and potential, by conducting research (interviews, surveys, focus groups, etc.).
• Distill key themes and insights to develop customer personas, journey maps, and other artifacts.
• Gather, synthesize, and distill large amounts of information on student loan debt and consumer debt from multiple sources into easily consumable key insights.
• Analyze product usage data and translate customer insights into actionable strategic recommendations to deliver new value to customers, address business needs and inform communications.
• Develop and maintain a program strategy roadmap to ensure all stakeholders have a shared understanding of the customer's needs, program objectives, goals, and metrics.
• In collaboration with stakeholders, guide the messaging strategy, creation of internal and external programmatic narratives, and stories to align with customer priorities.
• Offer direction and align with vendors and stakeholders to determine needs and requirements through the product cycle (e.g. customer acquisition, product adoption, usage, retention).
Skills and Experience:
• Bachelor's Degree and 3+ years of experience in UX Research, Content Strategy, Design Thinking, or Program Management; and experience scaling a social impact digital product or program.
• The natural ability to empathize with consumers and experience applying a user-centric and iterative approach to program development.
• Strong knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies; curious and enjoys asking "why".
• Strong sensemaking skills, with the ability to distill large amounts of data into actionable information and to develop nuanced recommendations that take into account the needs of both customers and the organization.
• Experience applying frameworks such as SWOT, journey mapping, or business model canvases.
• Entrepreneurially minded problem solver who feels comfortable navigating ambiguity; can work both collaboratively and independently and resolve issues as they arise.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to craft clear, concise messages for specific audiences.
• Familiarity with student debt, consumer debt, and/or financial security is a plus.
Location: Washington, D.C. Client has a hybrid schedule- remote on Mondays and Friday, in office Tuesday - Thursday. 18-month contract position, up to three years total based performance and continued funding.
We are looking for a user experience manager with 4-6 years of experience with strong tactical UX background. This role is a blend between the typical UX Researcher and UX Designer roles, and we are seeking a hybrid of expertise and strategy. This role must have someone who is familiar with User Research (example: A/B tests, surveys, interviews, etc.) to then find insights that translate into action steps to evolve and iterate our program. A top candidate will be agile, curious, proactive and self-motivated. We will face challenges and slow-downs and I need someone who is thinking ahead and finding creative solutions.
For consideration, please submit your resume as a MS Word attachment to careers@consortiuminc.com
The Consortium
"Combining Talent with Technology"
www.consortiuminc.com