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Graphic arts technician vs graphic designer

The differences between graphic arts technicians and graphic 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 designer. Additionally, a graphic arts technician has an average salary of $53,758, which is higher than the $49,450 average annual salary of a graphic 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 designer are adobe creative suite, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

Graphic arts technician vs graphic designer overview

Graphic Arts TechnicianGraphic Designer
Yearly salary$53,758$49,450
Hourly rate$25.85$23.77
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs9,38245,625
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

Graphic arts technician vs graphic designer salary

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianGraphic Designer
Average salary$53,758$49,450
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $81,000Between $34,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between graphic arts technician and graphic designer education

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianGraphic Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Graphic arts technician vs graphic designer demographics

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianGraphic Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 65.9% Female, 34.1%Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2%
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 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 designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead the transition from paste-up, typesetting, pasting up page layout to digital ad/page building and web printing.
  • Design new template for magazine as well as ads, flyers, brochures, and cards for a variety of events.
  • Plan the development of a social networking site website using HTML, CSS, PHP, and a WordPress management system.
  • Compose and create daily advertisements for national automotive dealerships utilizing typography and design concepts while adhering to corporate brand standards.
  • Follow style guide requirements to maintain brand integrity with specific treatments of photography, typography, graphic elements and team/sponsor/arena logos.
  • Create UI kit for the website.
  • Show more

Graphic arts technician vs graphic designer skills

Common graphic arts technician skills
  • Graphic Design, 33%
  • Adobe Indesign, 28%
  • Fine Arts, 21%
  • Typesetting, 10%
  • Protectors, 8%
Common graphic designer skills
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 6%
  • Typography, 5%
  • Brochures, 5%
  • Design Concepts, 5%

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