Companies in Phoenix are no strangers to UX and UI design. More and more organizations are discovering that tools like Figma save time by allowing web designers to focus more on creative details (as opposed to manually resizing and formatting) thanks to a fully responsive auto layout. It allows team members to standardize styles, components, and variables so that the final project scales seamlessly across different products and brands. Figma also allows for real-time collaboration, an essential feature when keeping up with the demands of new and established Phoenix brands.
Figma Careers in Phoenix
Silicon Valley isn’t the only place for tech professionals; in recent years, Phoenix has been inching its way higher in the ranks of U.S. tech hubs. The city experienced 17.2% growth in tech talent from 2018-2023, landing among the top 20 North American tech markets. It’s likely that the increase in young, well-educated residents has helped contribute to this tech boom, driving both innovation and competition in the Phoenix area with both big employers and startups. Overall, the outlook for tech professionals, including experts in Figma, is strong. Below is a brief list of the positions you can find in Phoenix:
- UX Designer: The most common job title you’ll see, this role works primarily within the tech field but their expertise is needed in almost any modern industry. A UX Designer will take into account research and feedback on the user’s experience while designing a website or app to create the most user-friendly and enjoyable interfaces possible. You would work with UX researchers, customer service, dev-ops, marketing, and sales to develop landing pages, navigation menus, app walkthroughs, and more. The average salary for a UX Designer usually lands around $90,000–$100,000 in Phoenix.
- Junior Designer: A more entry-level role, this position focuses on learning the UX Designer process and assisting with research and usability testing, all while contributing to the overall user experience. Junior Designers often start at around $60,000–$70,000, but with more experience, designers at large Phoenix firms or tech companies can earn $110,000 or more, plus bonuses.
- Web Designer: This role works alongside positions like Front-End Developers and UX Designers and creates the layout and assets for webpages and mobile applications. Using various software, including Figma, Web Designers craft the appearance and feel of both the visual and functional elements of a webpage before handing that design off to web developers who will bring it to life. The pay for this role in Phoenix typically averages around $72,000.
- Front-End Developer: This position builds the client-side of websites or web applications, updates current websites to meet modern standards, creates prototypes from wireframes, and uses design comps to satisfy the needs of their employer or client. As a Front-End Developer, you’ll collaborate with Back-End Developers, Software Engineers, and UX and UI teams, often utilizing Figma to work together. You can expect to make up to $100,000 in Phoenix.
What Industries Use Figma in Phoenix?
With beautiful landscapes, challenging hikes, and vibrant nightlife, Phoenix can be a great place to live. And, with the prevalence of work for Figma experts, it can be a great place to work, too. Recent data shows 13.4% growth in tech jobs, and the city continues to draw major companies like Intel, Google, and Apple. Below is a list of the top industries in Phoenix where you could find work as a Figma expert.
Finance and UX in Financial Services
Phoenix’s finance industry boasts many big names that recruit UX Designers for FinTech products. More than 12,000 companies employ 68,000 workers, with operations ranging from bank branches to nerve centers for many leading finance firms. Plus, companies like Phoenix Recruitment specialize in recruiting top-notch talent for established financial institutions, boutique investment firms, and private equity ventures, driving supply and demand for tech roles in finance.
- American Express
- Wells Fargo
- JP Morgan Chase
- Fidelity Investments
- Synchrony
Aerospace and Defense
Considered a legacy industry thanks to bases like Luke Air Force Base and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, aerospace and defense are thriving in the Phoenix area and creating a demand for UX talent for complex systems. Additionally, the region's A&D sector is one of the largest in the United States, mostly due to private employers and a high funding rate (per capita) from the Department of Defense (DoD). Below are a few of the top employers in this sector:
- Arizona Laboratories for Security & Defense (AZLabs)
- Lockheed Martin
- Boeing
- Northrop Grumman
- L3Harris
- Raytheon
Healthcare and Medical Research
Phoenix is considered a premier treatment destination and has invested $3 billion in its emerging healthcare enterprise and research capabilities as of 2021. The city also boasts leading national research firms, nonprofit companies, and over 140 healthcare startups, making it a leading area for bioscience and healthcare innovation research. Furthermore, greater Phoenix is expected to grow nearly 90,000 healthcare jobs in the next decade, many of which will be tech roles to meet the ever-evolving needs for systems, websites, and interfaces. Key employers include:
- Phoenix Children’s Hospital
- Mayo Clinic
- Humana
- Cigna
- Labcorp
- Aetna
Tech and Tech-Adjacent
As previously mentioned, Phoenix is quickly becoming a top tech hub. The local semiconductor sector has attracted major companies, many of which generate design jobs.
Lower overhead costs for office space, warehouses, and data centers continue to attract even more companies. Plus, strategic investments (like ASU Novus) and support from incubators continue to drive the tech hub's growth. A sampling of the top employers are below:
- Uber
- Amazon
- Apple
- TSMC
UX Design Trends in Phoenix
Your skills in Figma won’t be going to waste any time soon in Phoenix. An expanding tech scene is creating a growing job market for UX designers as more companies want and need user-friendly designs. New startups and established companies are hiring, making it a competitive job market. Proficiency in Figma can help you stand out and secure a role in Phoenix’s expanding UX design industry.