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The differences between creative directors & designer and graphic design managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a creative director & designer and a graphic design manager. Additionally, a creative director & designer has an average salary of $108,589, which is higher than the $66,975 average annual salary of a graphic design manager.
The top three skills for a creative director & designer include graphic design, sketch and photography. The most important skills for a graphic design manager are graphic design, project management, and customer service.
| Creative Director & Designer | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $108,589 | $66,975 |
| Hourly rate | $52.21 | $32.20 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 52,688 | 48,269 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Creative Directors and Designers are responsible for leading the creative output and brand representation of a product, service, or organization's publication. Their duties include developing visual communication strategies across design, content, graphics, artworks, and media, implement industry benchmarks, leading creative marketing campaigns, and working with the design team to create product or service design. Besides that, they are involved in setting the creative direction and message of a brand and supervising the creative team in ensuring brand touchpoints consistency. Creative Directors and Designers also monitor project delivery and assist in creative project budgeting.
A graphic design manager is primarily in charge of leading and overseeing the efforts of a graphic design team, ensuring adherence to goals and deadlines. It is their duty to learn and analyze the purpose of design, coordinate staff, liaise with internal and external parties, set goals and objectives, manage schedules, and conceptualize plans. Furthermore, as a graphic design manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Creative directors & designer and graphic design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Creative Director & Designer | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Average salary | $108,589 | $66,975 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $163,000 | Between $49,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Finance |
There are a few differences between a creative director & designer and a graphic design manager in terms of educational background:
| Creative Director & Designer | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between creative directors & designer' and graphic design managers' demographics:
| Creative Director & Designer | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% |
| 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% |