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The differences between associate graphic designers and graphic artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an associate graphic designer and a graphic artist. Additionally, a graphic artist has an average salary of $54,900, which is higher than the $52,393 average annual salary of an associate graphic designer.
The top three skills for an associate graphic designer include graphic design, adobe creative suite and powerpoint. The most important skills for a graphic artist are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.
| Associate Graphic Designer | Graphic Artist | |
| Yearly salary | $52,393 | $54,900 |
| Hourly rate | $25.19 | $26.39 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 45,173 | 8,752 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Associate graphic designers are entry-level graphic designers. They may be fresh graduates or new to the field. Associate graphic designers should be creative and innovative. They should be able to think outside the box and bring fresh ideas to the company. They must also be trainable and willing to learn. Associate graphic designers may be asked to assist senior graphic designers in fulfilling orders or tasks. They may assist in creating drafts, rendering finished products, and reviewing orders. Once they have proven their skills, they may be assigned to do bigger tasks, create and fulfill orders, or even lead projects.
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.
Associate graphic designers and graphic artists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Graphic Designer | Graphic Artist | |
| Average salary | $52,393 | $54,900 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $73,000 | Between $35,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Bellevue, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Yahoo | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an associate graphic designer and a graphic artist in terms of educational background:
| Associate Graphic Designer | Graphic Artist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between associate graphic designers' and graphic artists' demographics:
| Associate Graphic Designer | Graphic Artist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.5% Female, 53.5% | Male, 54.6% Female, 45.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 13% | 13% |