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Design chief vs graphic design manager

The differences between design chiefs 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 design chief and a graphic design manager. Additionally, a design chief has an average salary of $103,343, which is higher than the $66,975 average annual salary of a graphic design manager.

The top three skills for a design chief include website design, design process and user experience. The most important skills for a graphic design manager are graphic design, project management, and customer service.

Design chief vs graphic design manager overview

Design ChiefGraphic Design Manager
Yearly salary$103,343$66,975
Hourly rate$49.68$32.20
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs49,81548,269
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

Design chief vs graphic design manager salary

Design chiefs and graphic design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Design ChiefGraphic Design Manager
Average salary$103,343$66,975
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $233,000Between $49,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyAdvance Tooling ConceptsMeta
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between design chief and graphic design manager education

There are a few differences between a design chief and a graphic design manager in terms of educational background:

Design ChiefGraphic Design Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Design chief vs graphic design manager demographics

Here are the differences between design chiefs' and graphic design managers' demographics:

Design ChiefGraphic Design Manager
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 74.8% Female, 25.2%Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between design chief and graphic design manager duties and responsibilities

Design chief example responsibilities.

  • Manage REVIT models for various BIM projects including updating, cleaning, and linking arch models for MEP design.
  • Create and present artwork and PowerPoint presentations for senior management, the sales and marketing group, and dealer viewing.
  • Compile PowerPoint presentations for trend inspiration and verification involving motion and music.
  • Elicit and gather user and business requirements through design sessions, brainstorming and prototyping.
  • Design and oversee graphics for apparel lines, integrating original style-guide art concepts with innovative detailing.
  • Establish agency-wide design production process guidelines, evaluate and implement new department software, and create procedures for prototyping.
  • Show more

Graphic design manager example responsibilities.

  • Train employees how to utilize CMS to manage Psych.org content by assigning department web liaisons in web management tasks
  • Create ads, manage copywriting, respond to customer inquiries, generate brand unity, establish clear company identity.
  • Operate and maintain CNC machinery to increase shop productivity.
  • Use HTML and image editors as needed to maintain product catalog.
  • Operate computer and thermal wax printer to create heat transferable patterns.
  • Identify and implement SEO and SEM tactics that deliver quality measurable results.
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Design chief vs graphic design manager skills

Common design chief skills
  • Website Design, 10%
  • Design Process, 9%
  • User Experience, 7%
  • Product Design, 7%
  • CSS, 6%
  • Design Solutions, 6%
Common graphic design manager skills
  • Graphic Design, 9%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 5%
  • Brochures, 5%

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