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Graphic arts technician vs assistant designer

The differences between graphic arts technicians and assistant 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 graphic arts technician and an assistant designer. Additionally, a graphic arts technician has an average salary of $53,758, which is higher than the $52,475 average annual salary of an assistant designer.

The top three skills for a graphic arts technician include graphic design, adobe indesign and fine arts. The most important skills for an assistant designer are sketch, tech packs, and adobe illustrator.

Graphic arts technician vs assistant designer overview

Graphic Arts TechnicianAssistant Designer
Yearly salary$53,758$52,475
Hourly rate$25.85$25.23
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs9,38247,598
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

Graphic arts technician vs assistant designer salary

Graphic arts technicians and assistant designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Graphic Arts TechnicianAssistant Designer
Average salary$53,758$52,475
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $81,000Between $37,000 And $73,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-PVH
Best paying industry-Construction

Differences between graphic arts technician and assistant designer education

There are a few differences between a graphic arts technician and an assistant designer in terms of educational background:

Graphic Arts TechnicianAssistant Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Graphic arts technician vs assistant designer demographics

Here are the differences between graphic arts technicians' and assistant designers' demographics:

Graphic Arts TechnicianAssistant Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 65.9% Female, 34.1%Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%
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 arts technician and assistant designer duties and responsibilities

Graphic arts technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage external communications such as brochures and other sales collateral for direct mail from inception to circulation.
  • Plan and conduct professional development workshops on PowerPoint presentations.
  • Utilize a variety of creative media including illustration, photography and digital design to convey ideas beautifully and intelligently.
  • Create printed service menus in QuarkXPress for auto dealership service departments following the recommended maintenance schedules for each auto manufacturer.

Assistant designer example responsibilities.

  • Develop marketing and brand awareness initiatives through social media outlets; create and manage company Facebook and Houzz profiles.
  • Direct yarn development team.- propose PLM transitional initiatives.- Collaboratively work to evaluate and elevate in-house design process efficiency.
  • Work in mac format adobe suite programs and pc format u4ia.
  • Generate and update style numbers and BOM's in WebPDM system BlueCherry.
  • Research fashion, textile, make up, accessory, and footwear trends.
  • Acquire in depth training in the PLM and used this system on a daily basis.
  • Show more

Graphic arts technician vs assistant designer skills

Common graphic arts technician skills
  • Graphic Design, 33%
  • Adobe Indesign, 28%
  • Fine Arts, 21%
  • Typesetting, 10%
  • Protectors, 8%
Common assistant designer skills
  • Sketch, 15%
  • Tech Packs, 9%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 7%
  • Line Sheets, 5%
  • Trend Research, 4%
  • Garment Construction, 4%

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