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The differences between designer/art directors and graphic design managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a designer/art director, becoming a graphic design manager takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a designer/art director has an average salary of $97,448, which is higher than the $66,975 average annual salary of a graphic design manager.
The top three skills for a designer/art director include photography, graphic design and creative concepts. The most important skills for a graphic design manager are graphic design, project management, and customer service.
| Designer/Art Director | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $97,448 | $66,975 |
| Hourly rate | $46.85 | $32.20 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 53,314 | 48,269 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
An art director collaborates with the design and art staff for books, public relations firms, advertising agencies, or newspaper publishers. Art directors create designs and layouts that embody the organization and send the message they want the audience to get. They work with producers and directors of theatres, television, and movie productions to oversee set designs. Being an art director also includes critiquing people's work, working to reach deadlines while still following the budget allocated for a certain project, and (on occasion) disciplining designers who are slacking off on the job.
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.
Designer/art directors and graphic design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Designer/Art Director | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Average salary | $97,448 | $66,975 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $157,000 | Between $49,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Media | Finance |
There are a few differences between a designer/art director and a graphic design manager in terms of educational background:
| Designer/Art Director | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between designer/art directors' and graphic design managers' demographics:
| Designer/Art Director | Graphic Design Manager | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 11% | 13% |