Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between art supervisors and freelance art directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an art supervisor and a freelance art director. Additionally, a freelance art director has an average salary of $85,453, which is higher than the $66,352 average annual salary of an art supervisor.
The top three skills for an art supervisor include visualization, brainstorming and user experience. The most important skills for a freelance art director are photography, strong work ethic, and creative development.
| Art Supervisor | Freelance Art Director | |
| Yearly salary | $66,352 | $85,453 |
| Hourly rate | $31.90 | $41.08 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 5,000 | 9,215 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An art supervisor focuses on designing a commissioned project or a creative marketing campaign focused on graphics and artistic visuals. The art supervisor determines the course of action and an innovative plan that will fit the customer's requirements. Experience is essential for an art supervisor. This person will base decisions on both previous artistic successes and test new concepts and ideas that will maximize the reach to people and improve the visibility of the customer's business or the supervisor's studio.
As a freelance art director, you will work hand-in-hand with the production designer to procure works of art for your organization. Note that your duties will depend on your particular industry. Generally, though, you will determine the artistic tone of various projects and use visuals to give life to magazines, websites, ad campaigns, and lots more. You may also lead a team of artists, evaluate the art, and approve copies. In this role, it is very likely you will work for an advertising agency, publisher, or media production company.
Art supervisors and freelance art directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Art Supervisor | Freelance Art Director | |
| Average salary | $66,352 | $85,453 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $111,000 | Between $51,000 And $142,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Riot Games | - |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between an art supervisor and a freelance art director in terms of educational background:
| Art Supervisor | Freelance Art Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between art supervisors' and freelance art directors' demographics:
| Art Supervisor | Freelance Art Director | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.0% Female, 49.0% | Male, 59.1% Female, 40.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |