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The differences between design consultants and assistant designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a design consultant, becoming an assistant designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a design consultant has an average salary of $77,803, which is higher than the $52,475 average annual salary of an assistant designer.
The top three skills for a design consultant include product knowledge, java and design process. The most important skills for an assistant designer are sketch, tech packs, and adobe illustrator.
| Design Consultant | Assistant Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,803 | $52,475 |
| Hourly rate | $37.41 | $25.23 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 59,470 | 47,598 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A design consultant is an individual who provides expertise incorporating functionality and aesthetics to a space or product based on the evaluation of the needs of customers or clients. Design consultants may collaborate with other professionals such as architects, graphic designers, or fashion designers to cater to the needs of their customers. They assist in improving existing designs, either in interior designs, fashions, or graphics. Design consultants may also work in different work settings like retail stores, architectural companies, or graphic design firms.
Assistant designers act as administrative support to senior designers in creating innovative designs by negotiating with the vendors about the prices of decoration materials. They are keen and up-to-date to the latest fashion and trends by conducting surveys and research. They are exceptionally creative and innovative and have excellent IT skills as they use illustration, typography, and photography layouts in the design process. However, being an assistant designer, career development relies on his/her /her specialism, reputation, and experience depending on how its opportunities are influenced by the company he/she works for.
Design consultants and assistant designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Consultant | Assistant Designer | |
| Average salary | $77,803 | $52,475 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $119,000 | Between $37,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Washington |
| Best paying company | Slalom | PVH |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Construction |
There are a few differences between a design consultant and an assistant designer in terms of educational background:
| Design Consultant | Assistant Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between design consultants' and assistant designers' demographics:
| Design Consultant | Assistant Designer | |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.1% Female, 51.9% | Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 23% | 13% |