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The differences between freelance designers and motion graphics 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 freelance designer and a motion graphics designer. Additionally, a motion graphics designer has an average salary of $62,558, which is higher than the $57,260 average annual salary of a freelance designer.
The top three skills for a freelance designer include sketch, CSS and HTML. The most important skills for a motion graphics designer are animation, style frames, and cinema.
| Freelance Designer | Motion Graphics Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $57,260 | $62,558 |
| Hourly rate | $27.53 | $30.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 45,914 | 44,960 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Freelance designers are creative, independent contractors who create visual and graphic designs for their clients. They develop text and illustrated versions of brands, messages, and communications with strong visible influence with their clients. Typical activities include networking, seeking projects, and negotiating prices to their customers. They manage client proposals, develop concepts, present solutions, and ensure the timely completion of projects. Freelance visual and graphic designers are creative, self-motivated as well as result and deadline oriented.
A motion graphic designer specializes in producing artworks used in television, film, and web. Their responsibilities often revolve around submitting within a deadline, attending creative meetings, collaborating with fellow designers, following directives from clients, producing trial designs, and editing them in adherence to senior designers or clients' recommendations. There are also instances when a motion graphic designer must manage documentation, address inquiries and concerns, and report to higher-ranking personnel. Furthermore, one may choose to work for a company or independently.
Freelance designers and motion graphics designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Freelance Designer | Motion Graphics Designer | |
| Average salary | $57,260 | $62,558 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $44,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a freelance designer and a motion graphics designer in terms of educational background:
| Freelance Designer | Motion Graphics Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between freelance designers' and motion graphics designers' demographics:
| Freelance Designer | Motion Graphics Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.0% Female, 52.0% | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% |
| 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% |