Post job

Freelance designer vs web graphic designer

The differences between freelance designers and web graphic 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 web graphic designer. Additionally, a freelance designer has an average salary of $57,260, which is higher than the $52,574 average annual salary of a web graphic designer.

The top three skills for a freelance designer include sketch, CSS and HTML. The most important skills for a web graphic designer are graphic design, wordpress, and HTML.

Freelance designer vs web graphic designer overview

Freelance DesignerWeb Graphic Designer
Yearly salary$57,260$52,574
Hourly rate$27.53$25.28
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs45,91451,462
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

What does a freelance designer do?

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.

What does a web graphic designer do?

A web graphic designer specializes in the aesthetics and functionality of a web platform, software, and other applications. They are primarily responsible for building a platform that adheres to the subject's purpose and the client's preferred theme while prioritizing an easy-to-use and navigate interface. They must conduct regular testing and maintenance on the platform to ensure its efficiency and significance to the brand involved. Furthermore, a web graphic designer may work independently or work for a company, usually within a team setting.

Freelance designer vs web graphic designer salary

Freelance designers and web graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Freelance DesignerWeb Graphic Designer
Average salary$57,260$52,574
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $83,000Between $37,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Maryland
Best paying company-Activision Blizzard
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between freelance designer and web graphic designer education

There are a few differences between a freelance designer and a web graphic designer in terms of educational background:

Freelance DesignerWeb Graphic Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Freelance designer vs web graphic designer demographics

Here are the differences between freelance designers' and web graphic designers' demographics:

Freelance DesignerWeb Graphic Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 48.0% Female, 52.0%Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between freelance designer and web graphic designer duties and responsibilities

Freelance designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead the transition from paste-up, typesetting, pasting up page layout to digital ad/page building and web printing.
  • Hand-Code HTML, CSS, JS and PHP for custom design solutions and form processing, validation, and animations.
  • Provide identity and stationery design, web design, HTML / CSS development and WordPress integration (content management system).
  • Image manipulation in platforms such as Photoshop and illustrator as per assign.
  • Develop high-qualityshop drawings for all casework to be build by in-house woodshop.
  • Design websites, landing pages, banner ads, pop-ups, and HTML emails.
  • Show more

Web graphic designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and develop a stream line Intranet site for better communication purposes and quicker access to documents and company information
  • Close collaboration with Java developers to create and design variety of websites for both personal and business use in HTML CSS.
  • Develop page layout with cool navigation buttons with animation using JQuery plugins.
  • Improve overall styling and styling issues on iPad app, mostly utilizing CSS3 and jQuery.
  • Enhance SEM / SEO strategy to place company at top of Google search for relevant keywords.
  • Assist with all aspect of project lifecycle from concept storyboards, sketch through wire frames to final design.
  • Show more

Freelance designer vs web graphic designer skills

Common freelance designer skills
  • Sketch, 11%
  • CSS, 7%
  • HTML, 6%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 6%
  • Photography, 5%
Common web graphic designer skills
  • Graphic Design, 7%
  • WordPress, 6%
  • HTML, 6%
  • CSS, 6%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 5%
  • Website Design, 5%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs