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The differences between graphic designer interns and freelance 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 internship and a freelance designer. Additionally, a freelance designer has an average salary of $57,260, which is higher than the $35,800 average annual salary of a graphic designer internship.
The top three skills for a graphic designer internship include graphic design intern, adobe photoshop and blog posts. The most important skills for a freelance designer are sketch, CSS, and HTML.
| Graphic Designer Internship | Freelance Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,800 | $57,260 |
| Hourly rate | $17.21 | $27.53 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 93,292 | 45,914 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
In a graphic design internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to accomplish tasks while under the supervision of more experienced colleagues. An aspiring graphic designer may use this opportunity to observe and participate in designing for various industries, handle different clients, participate in creative meetings, and learn strategies from experts. Furthermore, there may also be technical tasks involving research and analysis, gathering materials, coordinating with vendors, and producing reports and other necessary documentation. They may also be responsible for maintaining a database and responding to calls and inquires.
Freelance designers are creative, independent contractors who create visual and graphic designs for their clients. They develop text and illustrated versions of brands, messages, and communications with strong visible influence with their clients. Typical activities include networking, seeking projects, and negotiating prices to their customers. They manage client proposals, develop concepts, present solutions, and ensure the timely completion of projects. Freelance visual and graphic designers are creative, self-motivated as well as result and deadline oriented.
Graphic designer interns and freelance designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graphic Designer Internship | Freelance Designer | |
| Average salary | $35,800 | $57,260 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $47,000 | Between $39,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Riverbed Holdings, Inc. | - |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a graphic designer internship and a freelance designer in terms of educational background:
| Graphic Designer Internship | Freelance Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between graphic designer interns' and freelance designers' demographics:
| Graphic Designer Internship | Freelance Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.6% Female, 59.4% | Male, 48.0% Female, 52.0% |
| 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% |