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The differences between design interns and design consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a design internship, becoming a design consultant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a design consultant has an average salary of $77,803, which is higher than the $45,791 average annual salary of a design internship.
The top three skills for a design internship include design intern, sketch and graphic design. The most important skills for a design consultant are product knowledge, java, and design process.
| Design Internship | Design Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $45,791 | $77,803 |
| Hourly rate | $22.01 | $37.41 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 97,018 | 59,470 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
As the name entails, graphic design interns learn about the career in graphic design in a hands-on setting. They have varied tasks and duties, including taking part in every meeting of the design team, conducting client research, assisting with social media and design projects, and working closely with experienced designers. They are often paid little or nothing at all for their service, but the experience that they acquire from their field can be dispensable.
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.
Design interns and design consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Internship | Design Consultant | |
| Average salary | $45,791 | $77,803 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $64,000 | Between $50,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Meta | Slalom |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design internship and a design consultant in terms of educational background:
| Design Internship | Design Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Interior Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between design interns' and design consultants' demographics:
| Design Internship | Design Consultant | |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3% | Male, 48.1% Female, 51.9% |
| 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, 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 | 13% | 23% |