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The differences between creative specialists and lead graphic designers 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 specialist and a lead graphic designer. Additionally, a lead graphic designer has an average salary of $76,009, 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 a lead graphic designer are adobe photoshop, graphic design, and design concepts.
| Creative Specialist | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $59,079 | $76,009 |
| Hourly rate | $28.40 | $36.54 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 29,855 | 46,260 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
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.
Creative specialists and lead graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Creative Specialist | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Average salary | $59,079 | $76,009 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $102,000 | Between $44,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Netflix |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a creative specialist and a lead graphic designer in terms of educational background:
| Creative Specialist | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between creative specialists' and lead graphic designers' demographics:
| Creative Specialist | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3% | Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2% |
| 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% |