Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between design consultants and contract 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 a contract designer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a design consultant has an average salary of $77,803, which is higher than the $58,458 average annual salary of a contract designer.
The top three skills for a design consultant include product knowledge, java and design process. The most important skills for a contract designer are assembly drawings, sketch, and web banners.
| Design Consultant | Contract Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,803 | $58,458 |
| Hourly rate | $37.41 | $28.10 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 59,470 | 51,980 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
The primary duty of a Contract Designer is to deliver creative strategies and design concepts that meet the objectives of the company's project. They work with members of the sales team and/or marketing designers.
Design consultants and contract designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Consultant | Contract Designer | |
| Average salary | $77,803 | $58,458 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $119,000 | Between $39,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | - |
| Best paying company | Slalom | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a design consultant and a contract designer in terms of educational background:
| Design Consultant | Contract Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between design consultants' and contract designers' demographics:
| Design Consultant | Contract Designer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.1% Female, 51.9% | Male, 66.6% Female, 33.4% |
| 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, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 10.4% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 23% | 5% |