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The differences between 3d designers and production designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a 3d designer and a production designer. Additionally, a 3d designer has an average salary of $65,066, which is higher than the $54,760 average annual salary of a production designer.
The top three skills for a 3d designer include sketch, animation and maya. The most important skills for a production designer are sketch, graphic design, and adobe creative suite.
| 3D Designer | Production Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,066 | $54,760 |
| Hourly rate | $31.28 | $26.33 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 45,455 | 96,682 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
The primary job of a 3D designer is to design and create three-dimensional models based on a client's specifications and requirements. Your duties will include developing a 3D design for new products, reviewing and enhancing the 3D design of existing products, and understanding project requirements. Using computer-aided design (CAD) tools, you will develop a design layout for complex projects as well as primary models and sketches for final product design. As a 3D designer, you are also responsible for participating in brainstorming sessions and team meetings.
A production designer is responsible for monitoring the visual presentation of a media or theatre production, ensuring the set's adherence to the theme, and presenting visual elements according to the production requirements. Production designers research the current industry trends for creative ideas that would attract the audience, creating outstanding visual pictures throughout the production. In most cases, production designers also operate software systems and tools to suggest graphic effects and support the artistic team for deliverables. A production designer develops all visual plans within the budget goals and discusses adjustments to the production management team as needed.
3d designers and production designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| 3D Designer | Production Designer | |
| Average salary | $65,066 | $54,760 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $100,000 | Between $36,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Rafael, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Warby Parker | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Internet |
There are a few differences between a 3d designer and a production designer in terms of educational background:
| 3D Designer | Production Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between 3d designers' and production designers' demographics:
| 3D Designer | Production Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6% | Male, 55.4% Female, 44.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |