How I Landed an $80k High-Paying Job in UI/UX Without a College Degree
I doubled my income and broke into a high-paying career in UI/UX design in less time than it takes to earn a bachelor's degree. You can, too!
In 2020, I moved to Arizona, stuck in a crumbling relationship and a job I despised. Exhausted and desperate for change, I wrote a bold financial goal on my wall: $80k.
Two years later, I landed my first design contract, and soon after, I surpassed my goal of earning $80k in a career I love, all without a college degree. My journey from a customer service job to a successful UI/UX career path is a testament to the power of determination and stubbornness.
Here's how I turned my vision into reality and navigated a designer career change.
Pivoting from a life that didn't suit me anymore
I knew that if I didn't act, I'd be stuck in a cycle of misery.
At what point do you leave a job behind that you hate and start something new?
I used to hate my job and become infuriated daily, grumbling and gritting my teeth with each phone call. People treated me like garbage over the phone, and my coworkers would cry about their calls, and I had to get out.
That was my final customer service job. I worked in customer service from 18 to 30 and had enough.
I believed that we have to do things we don't enjoy, and that's just how life is. Well, news flash, it's time to throw that thinking into the garbage, light it on fire, and walk away.
A series of events became the catalyst for my transformation
It was one thing, but a series of events led to me changing careers and leaving behind jobs that I never made over $15/hr.
Did you know?
"Approximately one-third of U.S. workers—around 52 million people—earn less than $15 per hour." (Oxfam America)
"The average cost of living in the United States is approximately $2,454 per month for a single person, which is about 2.24 times higher than the global average." (Living Cost)
Life is hard out there.
Let's go over the series of events that triggered my turning point:
I decided to quit the job I hated, kissing Amazon goodbye without a job to move into.
Finally, I came to terms with the fact that I couldn't fix a relationship, and we closed a chapter that should have been closed a year prior. This was the most freeing event that happened to me, and I noticed that you are the one you surround yourself with.
The new environment and sunshine led to growth. Leaving the gloomy weather of the Pacific Northwest had its benefits, and I suggest everyone try living somewhere new.
Being free from the negative energy of my job and relationship dramatically improved my mental health. Giving me the motivation to improve myself mentally and physically.
Discovering UI/UX Design: A Career Change That Worked
I started feeling a new rush and self-learning a new career path, UI/UX design. This was the beginning of my journey into the world of UX design and UI design, which would eventually lead me to freelance opportunities and a thriving career.
For the first time in my life, I didn't hate learning. I had to force myself through school because it's just something you have to do. I always struggled, let alone find anything I enjoyed to learn.
This was huge.
How I Landed My First UX Design Job
After dipping my toes in through various Coursera design courses, my friend pushed me off the cliff.
I researched the best design bootcamp, found CareerFoundry, and, after scrounging for the money, pulled the trigger. This decision marked the beginning of my formal education in UX design and set me on the path to building a solid portfolio.
Why CareerFoundry?
The price was right in the middle. Considerably less than Springboard at the time.
The career guarantee. I used this and got my money back because I didn't find a job in time.
The mentorship options were essential. I had one for the UX course, the UI course, and a career counselor. This mentorship proved invaluable in developing my design skills and understanding of user research.
Their program felt put together and reputable based on what I initially researched.
The Road Was Arduous
The title of this story may sound glamorous, but the journey was anything but easy. I bet everything on this career, spending most of my savings and taking on free work just to gain experience. For months, I struggled to build momentum.
Building Practical Experience
The support of my friend and mentor was vital. Shadowing and working for free gave me invaluable hands-on experience, which I included on my resume. Along with internships and volunteer work, these opportunities became the cornerstone of my portfolio and prepared me for future design challenges.
Early Mistakes and Hard Lessons
Eventually, one thing led to another, and I began to make connections. However, I realized I wasn’t moving fast enough. My first big mistake? Relying too heavily on others instead of taking charge of my own progress.
My second mistake was not networking beyond my immediate circle. If I could go back, I would start building relationships outside my friend group on day one of boot camp. Networking, I learned, is critical for uncovering freelance opportunities and entry-level positions in UX design.
Slow Progress and Small Wins
Progress was painfully slow at first. However, opportunities began to appear as I sought out free work, participated in group classes, and consistently engaged with people in the field. For example, a paid contract from a mentor helped me scrape by and pay rent while I kept pushing forward.
Momentum at Last
Finally, things started to snowball—though it felt like forever before that happened. Paid freelance projects trickled in, and I slowly rebuilt my savings.
The Toughest Challenge of My Career
I’ve never faced anything more challenging in my career. Breaking into UX design required relentless learning, problem-solving, and refining my communication skills to succeed in a highly competitive field. But every hurdle taught me something valuable and brought me closer to where I am today.
Turning Career Challenges into a Passion for Design
Fumbling through the dark when hordes of boot camp students were getting certified, just as people were being laid off, created one hell of a journey.
This is how I found my passion. To help other people going through the same sh*t storm, I went through to land their dream career. I realized the importance of design communities and how they can support individuals making a career change without prior experience.
My first UI/UX contract paid me $30/hr. That was double what I was making when I hated my life answering phones for Amazon.
The next colossal leap after my $30/hr contract was $40/hr.
These freelance opportunities added to my portfolio, where my love for strategy started to show itself in various case studies through the design challenges I had overcome.
Here is a high-level timeline of events
I moved to Arizona in April of 2020
I started CareerFoundry at the end of 2020
I started shadowing or technically interning with my friend and mentor
I Completed CareerFoundry in 2021
I landed my first paid contract at the beginning of 2022
I landed my next contract in 2023 after the last one was completed
If you put those hourly rates into a salary
I started at $31,000 yearly while working in customer service 😠
The first leap when I landed my first design contract jumped me to $62,000 😳
Soon after, I made it to my goal of reaching $80k and landed my next design contract that had me earning $83,000 🎉🥂
A complete transformation took place in my life. This happened with no college degree and a customer service background. I had successfully navigated the UI/UX career path and established myself as a freelance designer.
Making a significant career change can be challenging, especially now. But if you are serious, willing to put in the time and effort, and possibly a bit stubborn like me, then leap!
The field of UX design still offers numerous opportunities for those willing to invest in building skills and applying their transferable past experiences, regardless of their background.
Check out the Design Your Life club, where we can work together to land you the job.
Value-packed lessons from transitioning careers into UI/UX design
When doubling your income, there is much to unpack, but let's go through some of the most pivotal lessons.
What Worked
Mentorship had the most impact in doubling my income. My mentors taught me skills, connected me to work, and helped me network with others.
A structured boot camp course helped me build a solid foundation but never landed me a job. Don’t expect a boot camp to lead you to a job magically.
Work with others. I participated in volunteer projects, cohorts, and Slack channels. Seeing others' work, especially designers', showed me what I could improve on and motivated me to achieve more.
Valuable Skills I Learned Outside Design
Career hunting strategy: I have become an expert in optimizing LinkedIn, improving resumes, creating a portfolio, and adopting a more confident mindset when applying for work. 🧠
Confidence: It may sound silly, but confidence is worth its weight in gold. All of this practice has helped me talk to recruiters, defend my decisions without getting butthurt about feedback, helped me talk to women, and a lot more. Do hard sh*t! 💪
Work-life balance and time management: You should not be punished for being more efficient. If I can get what I need done on one project for the day, I can work on another. Possibly a passion project. Can you say #sidehustle? 💰
Conquering Inner Doubts
"But I don't have a degree." Yes, a college degree can give you a significant boost, but if you pick a career that doesn't necessarily require a formal education, go for it!
"There are no entry-level jobs." There weren't for me either, but I made some through my mentors and added that to my professional experience. Don't lie on your resume. Start a project with a group, join a volunteer real-world project, or ask your mentor to let you shadow and intern with them for free.
"I don't know how to position myself." The good news is that this will change a million times throughout your career. Dig into who you are, what you're skilled in, and what you enjoy, and look up job descriptions. Start mapping it all together and create an elevator pitch. I'm happy to help.
Truthfully, I could list many more concerns because I had to fight many demons to get here. Let me know if you have anything weighing you down.
My method is 94% cheaper than the median price of a bachelor's degree
Tuition ranges from $40k to $200k for a bachelor's degree, and that doesn't include books and additional costs. My $5k path saved me over $100k.
CareerFoundry was ~$3k, so I rounded up to $5k for the Coursera courses and any additional Learning resources I paid for just to be generous.
The path I created, changing from a miserable customer service job into UI/UX design, took half the time and saved me $115k if I had gone to school for a bachelor's degree.
Start your journey today with my beginner-friendly guide, Intro to UI/UX Design. Don't wait—success starts with your first step.
If I can do this, you can too. It's time to stop doubting yourself and take control of your future. Embrace the world of UX design, build your portfolio, and start your journey toward a fulfilling career in UI/UX design.
Join the Design Your Life Club today for exclusive access to live Q&A sessions and career resources. Learn about the day-to-day responsibilities of an entry-level UX designer and how to craft an entry-level UX designer resume that stands out.