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The differences between graphic designers and user experience 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 user experience designer. Additionally, a user experience designer has an average salary of $91,159, 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 user experience designer are sketch, UI, and user research.
| Graphic Designer | User Experience Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,450 | $91,159 |
| Hourly rate | $23.77 | $43.83 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 45,625 | 52,582 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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 User Experience (UX) designer is an individual who measures and optimizes applications to improve the experience of end-users. His/Her or her duties and responsibilities include considering a design's human-computer interaction element, defining interaction models, and working with creative directors and designers. The key skills for UX designers include strong mathematical and problem-solving skills and excellent information technology and programming skills. Having a bachelor's degree in a design or computing-related subject is an advantage to qualify for the UX designer position.
Graphic designers and user experience designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graphic Designer | User Experience Designer | |
| Average salary | $49,450 | $91,159 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $69,000 | Between $65,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | BitGo |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a graphic designer and a user experience designer in terms of educational background:
| Graphic Designer | User Experience Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between graphic designers' and user experience designers' demographics:
| Graphic Designer | User Experience Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| 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% |