Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between digital designers and lead designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a digital designer and a lead designer. Additionally, a lead designer has an average salary of $110,001, which is higher than the $72,987 average annual salary of a digital designer.
The top three skills for a digital designer include sketch, digital marketing and graphic design. The most important skills for a lead designer are sketch, user experience, and architecture.
| Digital Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $72,987 | $110,001 |
| Hourly rate | $35.09 | $52.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 61,109 | 45,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A digital designer is an individual who is responsible for creating digital assets for multimedia and graphic projects that can include mobile applications, video games, and interactive displays. Digital designers must collaborate with project managers, design teams, and content experts to interpret the team's concepts into a design that will deliver an effective user experience. They must be experts in using computer software and applications to create digital designs and convert data to a graphical interface such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Digital designers must also have a bachelor's degree in graphic design or fine arts.
A lead designer is responsible for addressing the clients' needs of digital content and coordinating with the design team for the planning and innovation of the visual design and concept. Lead designers conduct the initial layout of frameworks and collaborate with the art staff for the specifications and outputs using various software applications and digital boards. They regularly update the client of the project's status, including adjustment and design recommendations, ensuring that the plan meets the client's budget goals. A lead designer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on running diagnostic tests to improve optimal performance.
Digital designers and lead designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Digital Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Average salary | $72,987 | $110,001 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $114,000 | Between $78,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Lyft | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a digital designer and a lead designer in terms of educational background:
| Digital Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between digital designers' and lead designers' demographics:
| Digital Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| 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% |