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Graphic designer/production vs graphics specialist

The differences between graphic designer/productions and graphics specialists 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/production and a graphics specialist. Additionally, a graphics specialist has an average salary of $56,007, which is higher than the $48,619 average annual salary of a graphic designer/production.

The top three skills for a graphic designer/production include graphic design, adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator. The most important skills for a graphics specialist are graphic design, adobe illustrator, and adobe photoshop.

Graphic designer/production vs graphics specialist overview

Graphic Designer/ProductionGraphics Specialist
Yearly salary$48,619$56,007
Hourly rate$23.37$26.93
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs95,83112,267
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

What does a graphic designer/production do?

A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.

What does a graphics specialist do?

A graphics specialist is an expert at conceptualizing and developing visual art for businesses or individuals, typically for marketing or information purposes. Moreover, there are also opportunities for employment in the web and media industry. As a graphics specialist, their responsibilities include liaising with clients to identify their needs, understanding the purpose and message of the project, developing proposals, coordinating with team members, and conducting revisions as needed, all while adhering to the goals and deadlines set by the client or management.

Graphic designer/production vs graphics specialist salary

Graphic designer/productions and graphics specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Graphic Designer/ProductionGraphics Specialist
Average salary$48,619$56,007
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $67,000Between $38,000 And $81,000
Highest paying CityMenlo Park, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandWashington
Best paying companyOptimum NutritionZeniMax Media
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between graphic designer/production and graphics specialist education

There are a few differences between a graphic designer/production and a graphics specialist in terms of educational background:

Graphic Designer/ProductionGraphics Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Graphic designer/production vs graphics specialist demographics

Here are the differences between graphic designer/productions' and graphics specialists' demographics:

Graphic Designer/ProductionGraphics Specialist
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 57.0% Female, 43.0%Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between graphic designer/production and graphics specialist duties and responsibilities

Graphic designer/production example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of products; custom banners, t-shirts, satin flags, from concept to final product.
  • Manage various publications including catalogs, catalog inserts, brochures, mailers and advertising material.
  • Develop and update conference materials, including PowerPoint presentations, posters, handouts, badges, table tents, and folders.
  • Produce corporate identity systems and collateral print materials, print advertising, product/capabilities brochures, direct mail and newsletters.
  • Produce daily, weekly and monthly newsletters in both print and HTML.
  • Create cleaner HTML email templates and help others within the group improve their HTML skills.
  • Show more

Graphics specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead the development and execution of several overhead presentations, advertising design, brochure marketing, and desktop publishing initiatives.
  • Create graphics / artwork for screen print, dye-sublimation, embroidery, apparel, fliers, and web graphics.
  • Prepare page layouts for posters, signage, handouts, brochures, business cards, stationery, and direct mail pieces.
  • Edit HTML for menu systems in CBT courses.
  • Work with large format digital printers, plotters, and lamination machines.
  • Create an HTML template defining the look and feel for UNITEC's intranet.
  • Show more

Graphic designer/production vs graphics specialist skills

Common graphic designer/production skills
  • Graphic Design, 14%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 8%
  • Art Direction, 6%
  • Adobe Indesign, 5%
  • Signage, 5%
Common graphics specialist skills
  • Graphic Design, 12%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 9%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 7%
  • Adobe Indesign, 5%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 5%
  • Visualization, 5%

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