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The differences between creative specialists and art directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a creative specialist, becoming an art director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an art director has an average salary of $88,367, which is higher than the $59,079 average annual salary of a creative specialist.
The top three skills for a creative specialist include graphic design, digital marketing and marketing campaigns. The most important skills for an art director are graphic design, art direction, and creative concepts.
| Creative Specialist | Art Director | |
| Yearly salary | $59,079 | $88,367 |
| Hourly rate | $28.40 | $42.48 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 29,855 | 11,472 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
Creative specialists are professionals who are responsible for enhancing the effectiveness of their online content by improving the layout of their web page using graphic design and layout techniques. These specialists must possess skills in using various software such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Creative Suite to be used for their web page development, online media, and graphic design. Creative specialists are also hired by marketing companies to assist them in developing the online presence of their advertising campaigns.
An art director's duty will vary depending on the line of industry involved. However, most of the responsibilities will revolve in taking charge of the artistic direction and decisions in a project or campaign. Most of the time, it is an art director's call to conceptualize and bring a vision to completion and take the lead in coordinating with various artists and creative staff. Furthermore, an art director must oversee the progress of workflow and workforce, develop plans and strategies, and approve or provide suggestions in every creative output from staff.
Creative specialists and art directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Creative Specialist | Art Director | |
| Average salary | $59,079 | $88,367 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $102,000 | Between $57,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Walt Disney Company |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a creative specialist and an art director in terms of educational background:
| Creative Specialist | Art Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between creative specialists' and art directors' demographics:
| Creative Specialist | Art Director | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3% | Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 11% |