Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between graphic designers 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 and a freelance designer. Additionally, a freelance designer has an average salary of $57,260, 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 freelance designer are sketch, CSS, and HTML.
| Graphic Designer | Freelance Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,450 | $57,260 |
| Hourly rate | $23.77 | $27.53 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 45,625 | 45,914 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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.
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 designers and freelance designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graphic Designer | Freelance Designer | |
| Average salary | $49,450 | $57,260 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $69,000 | Between $39,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | - |
| Best paying company | Meta | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a graphic designer and a freelance designer in terms of educational background:
| Graphic Designer | Freelance Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | 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 designers' and freelance designers' demographics:
| Graphic Designer | Freelance Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% | 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% |