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Graphic artist vs graphic designer/production

The differences between graphic artists 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 graphic artist and a graphic designer/production. Additionally, a graphic artist has an average salary of $54,900, which is higher than the $48,619 average annual salary of a graphic designer/production.

The top three skills for a graphic artist include graphic design, adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator. The most important skills for a graphic designer/production are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

Graphic artist vs graphic designer/production overview

Graphic ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Yearly salary$54,900$48,619
Hourly rate$26.39$23.37
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs8,75295,831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

What does a graphic artist do?

A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project. A graphic artist may work with a graphic designer in order to convey the overall message of a project. The portfolio of a graphic artist includes cartoons, illustrations, and graphic novels.

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.

Graphic artist vs graphic designer/production salary

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

Graphic ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Average salary$54,900$48,619
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $84,000Between $35,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CityBellevue, WAMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonMaryland
Best paying companyParsonsOptimum Nutrition
Best paying industryNon ProfitsTechnology

Differences between graphic artist and graphic designer/production education

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

Graphic ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Graphic artist vs graphic designer/production demographics

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

Graphic ArtistGraphic Designer/Production
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 54.6% Female, 45.4%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 graphic artist and graphic designer/production duties and responsibilities

Graphic artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage external communications such as brochures and other sales collateral for direct mail from inception to circulation.
  • Develop, debug, and maintain client websites using HTML & CSS, WordPress, and basic use of JavaScript.
  • Flash & Dreamweaver software assisting in production of the company website.
  • Create custom graphic art for cars, windows, store fronts, business signs.
  • Design and implement the company's first Facebook app and engages in designing everything encompassing pixels and print.
  • Design, develop and maintain websites as projects present themselves with the use of HTML and WYSIWYG web development tools.
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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.
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Graphic artist vs graphic designer/production skills

Common graphic artist skills
  • Graphic Design, 12%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 10%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 9%
  • Art Direction, 7%
  • Photography, 5%
  • Brochures, 4%
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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