Graduates from the University of Washington's Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering find careers as designers and researchers who improve people's interactions with technology and with the world around them.
The department connects with corporations and businesses through a Corporate Affiliates Program to connect industry partners with HCDE students and faculty. Ongoing career events include workshops, panels, industry site visits, and an annual Career Fair.
Videos: HCDE alumni at work
Principal Design Research Manager, Microsoft
UX Researcher, McGraw-Hill Education
Alumni Directory
Find job information, as well as LinkedIn and portfolio links to HCDE alumni on the HCDE Alumni Directory.
Alumni career statistics: 2019 & 2020 graduates
In Winter 2021, the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering surveyed alumni across our degree programs who graduated in the years 2019 and 2020. The information below reflects the 118 responses we received to our survey;
Employment statistics
88% of survey respondents were currently employed. Of those not currently employed, 3% were continuing education or taking time for their health, and 9% were seeking employment.
Job titles
The most common job titles of 2019 and 2020 graduates who took our survey were:
- 37% User Experience (UX) Designer
- 20% User Experience (UX) Researcher or User Researcher
- 5% Product manager
Other, less common job titles of our graduates include:
- Content Strategist
- Design Researcher
- Experience Strategist
- Instructional Designer
- Interaction Designer
- Product Manager
- Program Manager
- UI Designer
- UX Architect
- Web UX Designer
Industries
51% of respondents identified as working in the technology industry, employed at companies such as Microsoft, Google, Facebook. Find a longer list of companies that have employed HCDE graduates here »
Other common industries included:
- Communications/Marketing/PR
- Education
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Retail
Salary
2019 and 2020 HCDE graduates who completed our survey reported the following salaries:
- 36% more than $125,000 annually
- 17% were making between $100,000 and $125,000 annually
- 15% between $75,000 and $100,000 annually
- 13% between 50,000 and $75,000 annually
- 20% less than $50,000 annually