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The differences between design managers and graphic design managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a design manager, becoming a graphic design manager takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a design manager has an average salary of $102,637, which is higher than the $66,975 average annual salary of a graphic design manager.
The top three skills for a design manager include sketch, project management and visualization. The most important skills for a graphic design manager are graphic design, project management, and customer service.
| Design Manager | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,637 | $66,975 |
| Hourly rate | $49.34 | $32.20 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 61,273 | 48,269 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 48 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
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.
A graphic design manager is primarily in charge of leading and overseeing the efforts of a graphic design team, ensuring adherence to goals and deadlines. It is their duty to learn and analyze the purpose of design, coordinate staff, liaise with internal and external parties, set goals and objectives, manage schedules, and conceptualize plans. Furthermore, as a graphic design manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Design managers and graphic design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Manager | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,637 | $66,975 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $150,000 | Between $49,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a design manager and a graphic design manager in terms of educational background:
| Design Manager | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between design managers' and graphic design managers' demographics:
| Design Manager | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 9% | 13% |