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Graphic arts technician vs graphic art designer

The differences between graphic arts technicians and graphic art 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 a graphic art designer. Additionally, a graphic arts technician has an average salary of $53,758, which is higher than the $42,598 average annual salary of a graphic art designer.

The top three skills for a graphic arts technician include graphic design, adobe indesign and fine arts. The most important skills for a graphic art designer are graphic design, web design, and design.

Graphic arts technician vs graphic art designer overview

Graphic Arts TechnicianGraphic Art Designer
Yearly salary$53,758$42,598
Hourly rate$25.85$20.48
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs9,38247,181
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

Graphic arts technician vs graphic art designer salary

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianGraphic Art Designer
Average salary$53,758$42,598
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $81,000Between $25,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Hospitality

Differences between graphic arts technician and graphic art designer education

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianGraphic Art Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Graphic arts technician vs graphic art designer demographics

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianGraphic Art Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 65.9% Female, 34.1%Male, 51.7% Female, 48.3%
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 graphic art 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.

Graphic art designer example responsibilities.

  • Create ads, manage copywriting, respond to customer inquiries, generate brand unity, establish clear company identity.
  • Prep customer create art for flyers, business cards, posters, etc.
  • Create logos, flyers, business cards, marketing materials, and design websites.
  • Design a variety of print publications including brochures, programs and banners.
  • Update and maintain pages on the website including html code editing as needed.
  • Design collateral, corporate identity, brochures and direct mail from thumbnails to final mechanical.
  • Show more

Graphic arts technician vs graphic art designer skills

Common graphic arts technician skills
  • Graphic Design, 33%
  • Adobe Indesign, 28%
  • Fine Arts, 21%
  • Typesetting, 10%
  • Protectors, 8%
Common graphic art designer skills
  • Graphic Design, 35%
  • Web Design, 13%
  • Design, 10%
  • Autocad, 8%
  • Photography, 7%
  • Design Concepts, 4%

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