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Graphic technician vs graphic design specialist

The differences between graphic technicians and graphic design 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 technician and a graphic design specialist. Additionally, a graphic design specialist has an average salary of $55,925, which is higher than the $42,632 average annual salary of a graphic technician.

The top three skills for a graphic technician include graphic design, adobe illustrator and adobe photoshop. The most important skills for a graphic design specialist are graphic design, adobe creative suite, and visualization.

Graphic technician vs graphic design specialist overview

Graphic TechnicianGraphic Design Specialist
Yearly salary$42,632$55,925
Hourly rate$20.50$26.89
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs8,85049,055
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

Graphic technician vs graphic design specialist salary

Graphic technicians and graphic design specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Graphic TechnicianGraphic Design Specialist
Average salary$42,632$55,925
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $60,000Between $38,000 And $80,000
Highest paying CityPhoenix, AZSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyVentura County Community FoundationBerkshire Hathaway
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between graphic technician and graphic design specialist education

There are a few differences between a graphic technician and a graphic design specialist in terms of educational background:

Graphic TechnicianGraphic Design Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Graphic technician vs graphic design specialist demographics

Here are the differences between graphic technicians' and graphic design specialists' demographics:

Graphic TechnicianGraphic Design Specialist
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 58.3% Female, 41.7%Male, 50.0% Female, 50.0%
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 technician and graphic design specialist duties and responsibilities

Graphic technician example responsibilities.

  • Create spec sheets, perform mathematical typesetting, proofread comps and color separations, and manage file archive.
  • Apply graphics to vehicles, windows and billboards.
  • Typeset new jobs, printing and bindery work.
  • Maintain print files for digital retrieval on PC and Macintosh computers.
  • Operate copy center, run bindery equipment, and basic typesetting.
  • Maintain Macintosh and PC network with associate output devices (plotters, printers etc . )
  • Show more

Graphic design specialist example responsibilities.

  • Launch and manage the acquistion, design and catalog for the animation line of liscens products.
  • Lead the development and execution of several overhead presentations, advertising design, brochure marketing, and desktop publishing initiatives.
  • Create presentations from customer direction, including graphics, charts, and animation.
  • Build email campaigns, database selection, HTML presentation and quality assurance of all outbound campaigns.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations for pharmaceutical companies through the process of drug approval in front of the FDA regulatory committee.
  • Assist with the launch of several services, including an HTML newsletter, district YouTube channel and emergency notification system.
  • Show more

Graphic technician vs graphic design specialist skills

Common graphic technician skills
  • Graphic Design, 16%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 14%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • PC, 7%
  • Windows, 6%
  • Computer Graphics, 5%
Common graphic design specialist skills
  • Graphic Design, 19%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
  • Visualization, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
  • HTML, 4%
  • Brochures, 4%

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