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The differences between associate art directors and lead graphic designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an associate art director, becoming a lead graphic designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an associate art director has an average salary of $82,664, which is higher than the $76,009 average annual salary of a lead graphic designer.
The top three skills for an associate art director include graphic design, photography and adobe creative suite. The most important skills for a lead graphic designer are adobe photoshop, graphic design, and design concepts.
| Associate Art Director | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,664 | $76,009 |
| Hourly rate | $39.74 | $36.54 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 8,646 | 46,260 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
Associate art directors are professionals who assist art directors in performing creative-driven tasks such as producing graphic design for brands, layouts, and advertisements. These associate art directors are required to stay updated on the latest techniques using computer-aided design software such as PhotoShop, AutoCAD, and After Effects. They must organize photoshoots and work with PR managers and agents to coordinate the schedules of their models. Associate art directors must also establish a graphic design studio team and provide training for their designers and interns.
A lead graphic designer is responsible for creating, designing, and updating the company's visual aspects. The lead graphic designer works closely with the branding department alongside the advertising and marketing team. It is essential for the lead graphic designer must be creative, willing to think outside the box, and brave to dare novel ideas. The lead graphic designer is also responsible for leading the creative department in accomplishing assigned tasks from management.
Associate art directors and lead graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Art Director | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Average salary | $82,664 | $76,009 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $139,000 | Between $44,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Levi Strauss & Co. | Netflix |
| Best paying industry | Media | Technology |
There are a few differences between an associate art director and a lead graphic designer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Art Director | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between associate art directors' and lead graphic designers' demographics:
| Associate Art Director | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.7% Female, 53.3% | Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |