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The differences between design consultants and design managers 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 manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a design manager has an average salary of $102,637, which is higher than the $77,803 average annual salary of a design consultant.
The top three skills for a design consultant include product knowledge, java and design process. The most important skills for a design manager are sketch, project management, and visualization.
| Design Consultant | Design Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $77,803 | $102,637 |
| Hourly rate | $37.41 | $49.34 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 59,470 | 61,273 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
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 manager is responsible for creating graphic and digital designs, following clients' specifications, and managing project deliverables efficiently. Design managers work closely with the marketing and public relations department, developing strategies to promote the brand to the target audience. They coordinate with the creative team and present the design ideas to the management, ask for final approval, perform revisions as needed, and follow the budget goals. A design manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the design team's concerns and needs.
Design consultants and design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Consultant | Design Manager | |
| Average salary | $77,803 | $102,637 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $119,000 | Between $69,000 And $150,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | California |
| Best paying company | Slalom | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design consultant and a design manager in terms of educational background:
| Design Consultant | Design Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between design consultants' and design managers' demographics:
| Design Consultant | Design Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.1% Female, 51.9% | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 11.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 23% | 9% |