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The differences between graphic designers and digital 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 and a digital designer. Additionally, a digital designer has an average salary of $72,987, which is higher than the $49,450 average annual salary of a graphic designer.
The top three skills for a graphic designer include adobe creative suite, adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator. The most important skills for a digital designer are sketch, digital marketing, and graphic design.
| Graphic Designer | Digital Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,450 | $72,987 |
| Hourly rate | $23.77 | $35.09 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 45,625 | 61,109 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A digital designer is an individual who is responsible for creating digital assets for multimedia and graphic projects that can include mobile applications, video games, and interactive displays. Digital designers must collaborate with project managers, design teams, and content experts to interpret the team's concepts into a design that will deliver an effective user experience. They must be experts in using computer software and applications to create digital designs and convert data to a graphical interface such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Digital designers must also have a bachelor's degree in graphic design or fine arts.
Graphic designers and digital designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graphic Designer | Digital Designer | |
| Average salary | $49,450 | $72,987 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $69,000 | Between $46,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a graphic designer and a digital designer in terms of educational background:
| Graphic Designer | Digital Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between graphic designers' and digital designers' demographics:
| Graphic Designer | Digital Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% |
| 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% |