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The differences between design directors and freelancers 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 freelancer. Additionally, a design director has an average salary of $132,823, which is higher than the $59,367 average annual salary of a freelancer.
The top three skills for a design director include sketch, human centered design and product design. The most important skills for a freelancer are customer service, web content, and video production.
| Design Director | Freelancer | |
| Yearly salary | $132,823 | $59,367 |
| Hourly rate | $63.86 | $28.54 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 48,337 | 2,088 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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 freelancer is a self-employed individual that provides services for multiple clients at one time and usually earns money on a per-job basis. Often known as independent contractors, freelancers usually set their schedules while running their own business and have a flexible lifestyle. They have the liberty to choose their clients that may be less confined to specific markets or sectors. Freelancers usually find work within the creative industries such as graphic design, copywriting, or photography.
Design directors and freelancers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Director | Freelancer | |
| Average salary | $132,823 | $59,367 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $212,000 | Between $40,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Proenza Schouler | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a design director and a freelancer in terms of educational background:
| Design Director | Freelancer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between design directors' and freelancers' demographics:
| Design Director | Freelancer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% |
| 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% |