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The differences between character animators and graphic design specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a character animator, becoming a graphic design specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a character animator has an average salary of $72,126, which is higher than the $55,925 average annual salary of a graphic design specialist.
The top three skills for a character animator include animation, maya and character animation. The most important skills for a graphic design specialist are graphic design, adobe creative suite, and visualization.
| Character Animator | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $72,126 | $55,925 |
| Hourly rate | $34.68 | $26.89 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 416 | 49,055 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A character animator specializes in developing life-like character designs for film, television, advertisements, and video games using special animation software. Their job usually entails understanding project requirements, conducting research, developing drafts and models, adding different effects to enhance designs, presenting designs to lead animators, and performing revisions when necessary. They are also responsible for adhering to deadlines and budgets, producing reports, and solving issues and concerns. Moreover, a character animator usually works in a team setting, which requires an open and transparent line of communication for a successful workflow.
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.
Character animators and graphic design specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Character Animator | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Average salary | $72,126 | $55,925 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $111,000 | Between $38,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a character animator and a graphic design specialist in terms of educational background:
| Character Animator | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Animation | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between character animators' and graphic design specialists' demographics:
| Character Animator | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% | Male, 50.0% Female, 50.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 7.5% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |