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The differences between graphic design managers 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 design manager and a graphic designer. Additionally, a graphic design manager has an average salary of $66,975, which is higher than the $49,450 average annual salary of a graphic designer.
The top three skills for a graphic design manager include graphic design, project management and customer service. The most important skills for a graphic designer are adobe creative suite, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.
| Graphic Design Manager | Graphic Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $66,975 | $49,450 |
| Hourly rate | $32.20 | $23.77 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 48,269 | 45,625 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A graphic design manager is primarily in charge of leading and overseeing the efforts of a graphic design team, ensuring adherence to goals and deadlines. It is their duty to learn and analyze the purpose of design, coordinate staff, liaise with internal and external parties, set goals and objectives, manage schedules, and conceptualize plans. Furthermore, as a graphic design manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Graphic designers are visual communicators who create graphic ideas to deliver a message through art and images which inspire, inform, and motivate consumers with the use of computer software, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign or by hand. They have the ability to design stunning illustrations that are easily understood, even without a lot of thinking or based on the demand of their clients. It is very crucial to them as well to be flexible and to stay on top of the design trends. They create websites, posters, packaging, logos, advertising, and marketing materials, depending on the nature of the business.
Graphic design managers and graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graphic Design Manager | Graphic Designer | |
| Average salary | $66,975 | $49,450 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $91,000 | Between $34,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a graphic design manager and a graphic designer in terms of educational background:
| Graphic Design Manager | Graphic Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between graphic design managers' and graphic designers' demographics:
| Graphic Design Manager | Graphic Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 13% | 13% |