Best way to earn more as a Product Designer
As a Product Designer, your time is valuable. Here's how the three main income paths compare — so you can pick the one with the best return on your hours.
Upskill
Metrics, user research, P&L thinking. The skill that separates senior ICs from leadership track. The highest-ROI skill for Product Designers is typically Product & Business Acumen, adding €4,400–€9,900/year (8–18%) after 3–8 months.
Side hustle
UI/UX design, brand identity, web design for clients. Strong demand from startups and SMBs. Freelance Design pays €35–€90/hour. At 10h/week that's €1,400–€3,600/month of immediate income.
Switch jobs
A strategic job move could mean a 15–40% salary increase — often the single biggest income jump a Product Designer can make.
The verdict
For most Product Designers, the best long-term path is skill investment. But if you need income now, side hustles deliver immediately. Use the tool to see which wins for your specific salary and situation.