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Graphic technician vs graphic designer

The differences between graphic technicians and graphic 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 technician and a graphic designer. Additionally, a graphic designer has an average salary of $49,450, 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 designer are adobe creative suite, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

Graphic technician vs graphic designer overview

Graphic TechnicianGraphic Designer
Yearly salary$42,632$49,450
Hourly rate$20.50$23.77
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs8,85045,625
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

Graphic technician vs graphic designer salary

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

Graphic TechnicianGraphic Designer
Average salary$42,632$49,450
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $60,000Between $34,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityPhoenix, AZWashington, DC
Highest paying stateWashingtonMassachusetts
Best paying companyVentura County Community FoundationMeta
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between graphic technician and graphic designer education

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

Graphic TechnicianGraphic Designer
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 designer demographics

Here are the differences between graphic technicians' and graphic designers' demographics:

Graphic TechnicianGraphic Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 58.3% Female, 41.7%Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2%
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 designer 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 designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead the transition from paste-up, typesetting, pasting up page layout to digital ad/page building and web printing.
  • Design new template for magazine as well as ads, flyers, brochures, and cards for a variety of events.
  • Plan the development of a social networking site website using HTML, CSS, PHP, and a WordPress management system.
  • Compose and create daily advertisements for national automotive dealerships utilizing typography and design concepts while adhering to corporate brand standards.
  • Follow style guide requirements to maintain brand integrity with specific treatments of photography, typography, graphic elements and team/sponsor/arena logos.
  • Create UI kit for the website.
  • Show more

Graphic technician vs graphic designer skills

Common graphic technician skills
  • Graphic Design, 16%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 14%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • PC, 7%
  • Windows, 6%
  • Computer Graphics, 5%
Common graphic designer skills
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 6%
  • Typography, 5%
  • Brochures, 5%
  • Design Concepts, 5%

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