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Fine artist vs graphics illustrator

The differences between fine artists and graphics illustrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a fine artist, becoming a graphics illustrator takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a graphics illustrator has an average salary of $64,943, which is higher than the $61,680 average annual salary of a fine artist.

The top three skills for a fine artist include graphic design, sculpture and adobe photoshop. The most important skills for a graphics illustrator are adobe photoshop, graphic design, and adobe indesign.

Fine artist vs graphics illustrator overview

Fine ArtistGraphics Illustrator
Yearly salary$61,680$64,943
Hourly rate$29.65$31.22
Growth rate6%3%
Number of jobs4,2462,854
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4038
Years of experience612

Fine artist vs graphics illustrator salary

Fine artists and graphics illustrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fine ArtistGraphics Illustrator
Average salary$61,680$64,943
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $106,000Between $41,000 And $101,000
Highest paying CityPasadena, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMBIUber Technologies
Best paying industryInsuranceTechnology

Differences between fine artist and graphics illustrator education

There are a few differences between a fine artist and a graphics illustrator in terms of educational background:

Fine ArtistGraphics Illustrator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorFine ArtsGraphic Design
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Fine artist vs graphics illustrator demographics

Here are the differences between fine artists' and graphics illustrators' demographics:

Fine ArtistGraphics Illustrator
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 40.2% Female, 59.8%Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%13%

Differences between fine artist and graphics illustrator duties and responsibilities

Fine artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage studio workload and advise print direction to in-house and freelance cad artists.
  • Create sculpture, illustrations, and cartoons for private customers
  • Utilize social media platforms including Facebook to connect with college community.
  • Conceptualize and develop terrain models using Maya and partner with director and animators to correspond and produce effective shots.
  • Perform typesetting duties when necessary.

Graphics illustrator example responsibilities.

  • Lead the development and execution of several overhead presentations, advertising design, brochure marketing, and desktop publishing initiatives.
  • Involve in developing HTML and JavaScript for client side presentation and, data validation on the clientside with in the forms.
  • Create computer graphics and animation.
  • Proofread catalogs, ads and packaging.
  • Design logos, flyers, mailers, programs, etc.
  • Develop online presence strategy (SEO, Instagram, Facebook).
  • Show more

Fine artist vs graphics illustrator skills

Common fine artist skills
  • Graphic Design, 11%
  • Sculpture, 9%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Portfolio, 9%
  • Fine Arts, 8%
  • Watercolor, 7%
Common graphics illustrator skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 14%
  • Graphic Design, 8%
  • Adobe Indesign, 8%
  • Sketch, 7%
  • Web Design, 7%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 5%

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