Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between graphic designer/illustrators and lead 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 designer/illustrator and a lead designer. Additionally, a lead designer has an average salary of $110,001, which is higher than the $45,124 average annual salary of a graphic designer/illustrator.
The top three skills for a graphic designer/illustrator include adobe illustrator, adobe photoshop and logo design. The most important skills for a lead designer are sketch, user experience, and architecture.
| Graphic Designer/Illustrator | Lead Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $45,124 | $110,001 |
| Hourly rate | $21.69 | $52.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 44,853 | 45,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
As a graphic designer or illustrator, your job involves working with images to create visual displays for clients. If you work as a graphic designer, you may be required to create layouts using computer software. As a graphic illustrator, your job responsibility may revolve around drawing or painting images and uploading them to make digital copies. As a graphic designer/ illustrator, your job duties revolve around understanding the needs of your clients and being able to identify your target audience.
A lead designer is responsible for addressing the clients' needs of digital content and coordinating with the design team for the planning and innovation of the visual design and concept. Lead designers conduct the initial layout of frameworks and collaborate with the art staff for the specifications and outputs using various software applications and digital boards. They regularly update the client of the project's status, including adjustment and design recommendations, ensuring that the plan meets the client's budget goals. A lead designer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on running diagnostic tests to improve optimal performance.
Graphic designer/illustrators and lead designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graphic Designer/Illustrator | Lead Designer | |
| Average salary | $45,124 | $110,001 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $63,000 | Between $78,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a graphic designer/illustrator and a lead designer in terms of educational background:
| Graphic Designer/Illustrator | Lead Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between graphic designer/illustrators' and lead designers' demographics:
| Graphic Designer/Illustrator | Lead Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.1% Female, 39.9% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| 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% |