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The differences between apparel designers and graphic design specialists 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 specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an apparel designer has an average salary of $65,467, which is higher than the $55,925 average annual salary of a graphic design specialist.
The top three skills for an apparel designer include adobe illustrator, tech packs and sketch. The most important skills for a graphic design specialist are graphic design, adobe creative suite, and visualization.
| Apparel Designer | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,467 | $55,925 |
| Hourly rate | $31.47 | $26.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 46,436 | 49,055 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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.
A graphic design specialist utilizes their artistic expertise in creating imagery and designs that convey a particular message. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to determine their needs and goals, developing concepts and subjecting it for client approval, and revising designs as necessary. In a company setting, a graphic design specialist may work with a team, coordinating with them while sticking to budgets and deadlines. Furthermore, as a team member, it is essential to report to managers or supervisors, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Apparel designers and graphic design specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Apparel Designer | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Average salary | $65,467 | $55,925 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $105,000 | Between $38,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | Fanatics | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between an apparel designer and a graphic design specialist in terms of educational background:
| Apparel Designer | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 specialists' demographics:
| Apparel Designer | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.8% Female, 67.2% | Male, 50.0% Female, 50.0% |
| 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% |