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The differences between design consultants and design specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a design consultant and a design specialist. Additionally, a design consultant has an average salary of $77,803, which is higher than the $56,917 average annual salary of a design specialist.
The top three skills for a design consultant include product knowledge, java and design process. The most important skills for a design specialist are customer service, sketch, and CAD.
| Design Consultant | Design Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $77,803 | $56,917 |
| Hourly rate | $37.41 | $27.36 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 59,470 | 68,347 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 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 specialist is responsible for creating engaging visual images and digital content to improve customers' brand awareness about the organization's products and services. Design specialists may also work for media production, creating graphic animations for viewers depending on production requirements and media demands. A design specialist must have excellent knowledge of utilizing various software tools and programs, coordinating with the whole design team on adjusting plans, improving layouts according to budget limitations, and submitting deliverables within the set deadlines.
Design consultants and design specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Consultant | Design Specialist | |
| Average salary | $77,803 | $56,917 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $119,000 | Between $35,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | New York |
| Best paying company | Slalom | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a design consultant and a design specialist in terms of educational background:
| Design Consultant | Design Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between design consultants' and design specialists' demographics:
| Design Consultant | Design Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.1% Female, 51.9% | Male, 55.1% Female, 44.9% |
| 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, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 23% | 23% |