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Freelancer vs graphic designer/production

The differences between freelancers and graphic designer/productions 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/production. Additionally, a freelancer has an average salary of $59,367, which is higher than the $48,619 average annual salary of a graphic designer/production.

The top three skills for a freelancer include customer service, web content and video production. The most important skills for a graphic designer/production are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

Freelancer vs graphic designer/production overview

FreelancerGraphic Designer/Production
Yearly salary$59,367$48,619
Hourly rate$28.54$23.37
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs2,08895,831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

What does a freelancer do?

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.

What does a graphic designer/production do?

A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.

Freelancer vs graphic designer/production salary

Freelancers and graphic designer/productions have different pay scales, as shown below.

FreelancerGraphic Designer/Production
Average salary$59,367$48,619
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $86,000Between $35,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City-Menlo Park, CA
Highest paying state-Maryland
Best paying company-Optimum Nutrition
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between freelancer and graphic designer/production education

There are a few differences between a freelancer and a graphic designer/production in terms of educational background:

FreelancerGraphic Designer/Production
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Freelancer vs graphic designer/production demographics

Here are the differences between freelancers' and graphic designer/productions' demographics:

FreelancerGraphic Designer/Production
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 47.7% Female, 52.3%Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0%
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 freelancer and graphic designer/production duties and responsibilities

Freelancer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the instagram account to create a trend and increase the numbers of followers and likes.
  • Manage and develop a stream line Intranet site for better communication purposes and quicker access to documents and company information
  • Implement and customize several websites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and WordPress.
  • Design and develop the website for SoftProjector (http: //softprojector.org/) in HTML, CSS and PHP.
  • Create custom WordPress template that require the use of HTML5, CSS and PHP.
  • Perform social media management, Facebook advertising, social media blasts, and other marketing relate activities.
  • Show more

Graphic designer/production example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of products; custom banners, t-shirts, satin flags, from concept to final product.
  • Manage various publications including catalogs, catalog inserts, brochures, mailers and advertising material.
  • Develop and update conference materials, including PowerPoint presentations, posters, handouts, badges, table tents, and folders.
  • Produce corporate identity systems and collateral print materials, print advertising, product/capabilities brochures, direct mail and newsletters.
  • Produce daily, weekly and monthly newsletters in both print and HTML.
  • Create cleaner HTML email templates and help others within the group improve their HTML skills.
  • Show more

Freelancer vs graphic designer/production skills

Common freelancer skills
  • Customer Service, 32%
  • Web Content, 17%
  • Video Production, 6%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 4%
  • Photography, 3%
  • Graphic Design, 3%
Common graphic designer/production skills
  • Graphic Design, 14%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 8%
  • Art Direction, 6%
  • Adobe Indesign, 5%
  • Signage, 5%

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