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The differences between game designers and graphic designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a game designer, becoming a graphic designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a game designer has an average salary of $87,645, which is higher than the $49,450 average annual salary of a graphic designer.
The top three skills for a game designer include unity, UI and game development. The most important skills for a graphic designer are adobe creative suite, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.
| Game Designer | Graphic Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,645 | $49,450 |
| Hourly rate | $42.14 | $23.77 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 45,227 | 45,625 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A video game designer is responsible for making a concept of a video game and creating the storylines, scenarios, maps, character development, user interfaces, and in-game objectives. Typical responsibilities include adding computer scripting using computer software, which will then generate events, objects, commands, and characters that end-users can choose from to interact with during the game. Additionally, you will write code using different computer programming languages and designing characters, animation, and levels. To become a successful video game designer, you must be creative, innovative, and ambitious.
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.
Game designers and graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Game Designer | Graphic Designer | |
| Average salary | $87,645 | $49,450 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $127,000 | Between $34,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a game designer and a graphic designer in terms of educational background:
| Game Designer | Graphic Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between game designers' and graphic designers' demographics:
| Game Designer | Graphic Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 11% | 13% |