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The differences between apparel designers and graphic design assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an apparel designer, becoming a graphic design assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an apparel designer has an average salary of $65,467, which is higher than the $40,835 average annual salary of a graphic design assistant.
The top three skills for an apparel designer include adobe illustrator, tech packs and sketch. The most important skills for a graphic design assistant are graphic design, CAD, and sketch.
| Apparel Designer | Graphic Design Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $65,467 | $40,835 |
| Hourly rate | $31.47 | $19.63 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 46,436 | 54,021 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
Apparel designers, also known as clothing or fashion designers, conceptualize and produce items of clothing. They frequently specialize in one type of design, like active, casual, or evening wear. Typical duties include monitoring current fashion trends and forecast future ones, sketching new designs, choosing patterns and fabrics to utilize in garments, and supervising production. They may present items to creative directors, clients, or retailers to determine if the garments are to be conventionally designed or mass-produced.
Graphic Design Assistants help graphic designers in creating art, fulfilling orders, and managing the studio. They may be budding graphic designers looking for industry experience or creative professionals interested in getting into the graphic designing industry. They should be familiar with the different tools and concepts involved in graphic design. Graphic Design Assistants help lead graphic designers to complete different activities. They may assist by lining, coloring, rendering, and adding finishing touches to the designs. They may also be in charge of packaging physical art and booking shipments to buyers. Graphic Design Assistants should be able to showcase their creative prowess. They are welcome to pitch in designs, critique art, and provide input.
Apparel designers and graphic design assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Apparel Designer | Graphic Design Assistant | |
| Average salary | $65,467 | $40,835 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $105,000 | Between $28,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New York |
| Best paying company | Fanatics | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between an apparel designer and a graphic design assistant in terms of educational background:
| Apparel Designer | Graphic Design Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between apparel designers' and graphic design assistants' demographics:
| Apparel Designer | Graphic Design Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.8% Female, 67.2% | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 11.6% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 18% | 13% |