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Graphic arts technician vs senior designer

The differences between graphic arts technicians and senior 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 senior designer. Additionally, a senior designer has an average salary of $102,058, which is higher than the $53,758 average annual salary of a graphic arts technician.

The top three skills for a graphic arts technician include graphic design, adobe indesign and fine arts. The most important skills for a senior designer are sketch, graphic design, and human centered design.

Graphic arts technician vs senior designer overview

Graphic Arts TechnicianSenior Designer
Yearly salary$53,758$102,058
Hourly rate$25.85$49.07
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs9,38247,503
Job satisfaction-1
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

Graphic arts technician vs senior designer salary

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianSenior Designer
Average salary$53,758$102,058
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $81,000Between $72,000 And $143,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Lyft
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between graphic arts technician and senior designer education

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianSenior 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 senior designer demographics

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

Graphic Arts TechnicianSenior Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 65.9% Female, 34.1%Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0%
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 arts technician and senior 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.

Senior designer example responsibilities.

  • Identify, plan and lead brainstorming sessions for new blue-sky product opportunities across all boys' lines.
  • Design all marketing collateral within those standards including flyers, ads, conference materials, brochures, and design mailed pieces.
  • Implement HTML and CSS tags.
  • Format designs and media for use in print and web applications; deliver production-ready graphics in HTML and CSS.
  • Design and production of marketing materials, PowerPoint templates for pitch decks, event graphics, various collateral and HTML e-mails.
  • Lead the team in brainstorming sessions and assist with market research and testing.
  • Show more

Graphic arts technician vs senior designer skills

Common graphic arts technician skills
  • Graphic Design, 33%
  • Adobe Indesign, 28%
  • Fine Arts, 21%
  • Typesetting, 10%
  • Protectors, 8%
Common senior designer skills
  • Sketch, 15%
  • Graphic Design, 5%
  • Human Centered Design, 4%
  • User Experience, 4%
  • UI, 4%
  • CAD, 4%

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