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The differences between design directors and design coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a design director and a design coordinator. Additionally, a design director has an average salary of $132,823, which is higher than the $53,594 average annual salary of a design coordinator.
The top three skills for a design director include sketch, human centered design and product design. The most important skills for a design coordinator are revit, sketch, and BIM.
| Design Director | Design Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $132,823 | $53,594 |
| Hourly rate | $63.86 | $25.77 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 48,337 | 57,107 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A design director spearheads and oversees design projects in a company or organization. They typically have the authority to lead the creative and design teams, make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities, set goals and schedules, manage budgets and resources, and direct the project's cycle from planning to execution. They also coordinate with clients and solve issues when any arise. Additionally, a design director leads and encourages teams to reach goals, all while implementing standards and policies, developing new ones when necessary.
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 directors and design coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Director | Design Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $132,823 | $53,594 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $212,000 | Between $38,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Proenza Schouler | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design director and a design coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Design Director | Design Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between design directors' and design coordinators' demographics:
| Design Director | Design Coordinator | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% | Male, 44.7% Female, 55.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 13% | 13% |