Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between design consultants and design coordinators 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 design coordinator takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a design consultant has an average salary of $77,803, which is higher than the $53,594 average annual salary of a design coordinator.
The top three skills for a design consultant include product knowledge, java and design process. The most important skills for a design coordinator are revit, sketch, and BIM.
| Design Consultant | Design Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $77,803 | $53,594 |
| Hourly rate | $37.41 | $25.77 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 59,470 | 57,107 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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.
A design coordinator is responsible for collating and analyzing designs for construction that meet business requirements and budget limitations. Design coordinators create expenses forecasting by identifying the resources and materials to be used and the estimated duration for project deliverables. They also coordinate with the clients to share progress updates and modify plans as needed according to specifications. A design coordinator negotiates contract offers with suppliers and third-party vendors, minimize excessive costings, and ensure high-quality outputs.
Design consultants and design coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Consultant | Design Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $77,803 | $53,594 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $119,000 | Between $38,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Slalom | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design consultant and a design coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Design Consultant | Design Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between design consultants' and design coordinators' demographics:
| Design Consultant | Design Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.1% Female, 51.9% | Male, 44.7% Female, 55.3% |
| 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% |