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The differences between animators and graphic artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an animator, becoming a graphic artist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an animator has an average salary of $76,853, which is higher than the $54,900 average annual salary of a graphic artist.
The top three skills for an animator include animation, motion capture and storyboards. The most important skills for a graphic artist are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.
| Animator | Graphic Artist | |
| Yearly salary | $76,853 | $54,900 |
| Hourly rate | $36.95 | $26.39 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 551 | 8,752 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
The animators are specialized artists who conceptualized ideas from their creative minds with technology applications. Animators cater to different specialties depending on their expertise. They used multiple techniques and tools to create a digital masterpiece. An animator is required to have an excellent time and project management skills to meet deadlines. They should also be detail-oriented and technology savvy to keep up with the latest trend in the digital market. Animators are required to have regular communication with the respective department for the updates or adjustments as needed.
A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project. A graphic artist may work with a graphic designer in order to convey the overall message of a project. The portfolio of a graphic artist includes cartoons, illustrations, and graphic novels.
Animators and graphic artists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Animator | Graphic Artist | |
| Average salary | $76,853 | $54,900 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $112,000 | Between $35,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Bellevue, WA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | Media | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an animator and a graphic artist in terms of educational background:
| Animator | Graphic Artist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Animation | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between animators' and graphic artists' demographics:
| Animator | Graphic Artist | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% | Male, 54.6% Female, 45.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 11% | 13% |