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The differences between freelancers and 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 freelancer and a graphic designer. Additionally, a freelancer has an average salary of $59,367, which is higher than the $49,450 average annual salary of a graphic designer.
The top three skills for a freelancer include customer service, web content and video production. The most important skills for a graphic designer are adobe creative suite, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.
| Freelancer | Graphic Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $59,367 | $49,450 |
| Hourly rate | $28.54 | $23.77 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 2,088 | 45,625 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A freelancer is a self-employed individual that provides services for multiple clients at one time and usually earns money on a per-job basis. Often known as independent contractors, freelancers usually set their schedules while running their own business and have a flexible lifestyle. They have the liberty to choose their clients that may be less confined to specific markets or sectors. Freelancers usually find work within the creative industries such as graphic design, copywriting, or photography.
Graphic designers are visual communicators who create graphic ideas to deliver a message through art and images which inspire, inform, and motivate consumers with the use of computer software, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign or by hand. They have the ability to design stunning illustrations that are easily understood, even without a lot of thinking or based on the demand of their clients. It is very crucial to them as well to be flexible and to stay on top of the design trends. They create websites, posters, packaging, logos, advertising, and marketing materials, depending on the nature of the business.
Freelancers and graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Freelancer | Graphic Designer | |
| Average salary | $59,367 | $49,450 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $86,000 | Between $34,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a freelancer and a graphic designer in terms of educational background:
| Freelancer | Graphic Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between freelancers' and graphic designers' demographics:
| Freelancer | Graphic Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% |
| 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% |