What does a graphic technician do?
Graphic technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real graphic technician resumes:
- 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 . )
- Package products and do a lot of hands on bindery work including collating, padding, shrink wrapping and pallet stacking.
- Create PowerPoint presentations and content.
- Identify discrepancies with sales/customer service representative; press and bindery operators, technical support.
- Develop additions to portfolio by providing project base experience from conception to finish given various types of business environments.
- Coordinate catalog traffic activities; maintain an extensive photography library; proofing and quality control; create artwork for reproduction on garments
- Add snow to terrain and create 2D animate graphics and sprites for rain and snow effects for vehicle windows.
- Edit and proofread company documents and contributor articles for publication.
Graphic technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Graphic Technicians are proficient in Graphic Design, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Graphic Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Graphic Design, 16%
Conceptualized and established highly profitable Graphic Design Department within a once strictly print production facility.
- Adobe Illustrator, 14%
Performed all necessary pre-press graphic work in Adobe Illustrator and Pack Edge.
- Adobe Photoshop, 9%
Make minor adjustments to artwork containing CT's when necessary using Adobe Photoshop.
- PC, 7%
Maintain and update all computer hardware and software for graphics systems on both Mac and PC.
- Windows, 6%
Applied graphics to vehicles, windows and billboards.
- Computer Graphics, 5%
Operated the video and computer graphics for sermons and special events at my home church.
Most graphic technicians use their skills in "graphic design," "adobe illustrator," and "adobe photoshop" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential graphic technician responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a graphic technician to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what graphic technicians do because "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." Additionally, a graphic technician resume shows how graphic technicians use analytical skills: "maintained computer graphics design and databases. "
Artistic ability. Another essential skill to perform graphic technician duties is artistic ability. Graphic technicians responsibilities require that "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." Graphic technicians also use artistic ability in their role according to a real resume snippet: "use of traditional artistic media, well as digital computer graphics on both macs & pcs. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for graphic technicians to perform their duties. For an example of how graphic technician responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a graphic technician: "expedited telecommunication projects by utilizing time management skills and the autocad 2013 program. ".
Computer skills. graphic technician responsibilities often require "computer skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." This resume example shows what graphic technicians do with computer skills on a typical day: "updated and prepared building sets and standards for the computer-aided design of service stations in california. "
Creativity. Another crucial skill for a graphic technician to carry out their responsibilities is "creativity." A big part of what graphic technicians relies on this skill, since "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." How this skill relates to graphic technician duties can be seen in an example from a graphic technician resume snippet: "freelance creative graphics orange, ca late 80's-90's small typesetting business specializing in business forms. "
Time-management skills. Another skill commonly found on graphic technician job descriptions is "time-management skills." It can come up quite often in graphic technician duties, since "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day graphic technician responsibilities: "make sure all plotters ran smoothly, check for quality and meet all deadline. "
The three companies that hire the most graphic technicians are:
- Anheuser-Busch2 graphic technicians jobs
- Sun Chemical
2 graphic technicians jobs
- Cenveo1 graphic technicians jobs
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Compare different graphic technicians
Graphic technician vs. Lead designer
A lead designer is responsible for addressing the clients' needs of digital content and coordinating with the design team for the planning and innovation of the visual design and concept. Lead designers conduct the initial layout of frameworks and collaborate with the art staff for the specifications and outputs using various software applications and digital boards. They regularly update the client of the project's status, including adjustment and design recommendations, ensuring that the plan meets the client's budget goals. A lead designer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on running diagnostic tests to improve optimal performance.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a graphic technician are more likely to require skills like "pc," "computer graphics," "software programs," and "adobe indesign." On the other hand, a job as a lead designer requires skills like "human centered design," "user experience," "html css," and "architecture." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Lead designers earn the highest salaries when working in the start-up industry, with an average yearly salary of $118,563. On the other hand, graphic technicians are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $52,001.The education levels that lead designers earn slightly differ from graphic technicians. In particular, lead designers are 6.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a graphic technician. Additionally, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Graphic technician vs. Web designer
A web designer is a creative professional responsible for creating and redesigning the content and layout of websites. Web designers are required to meet clients and users to discuss the needs and goals of their clients. To create graphics, colors, and fonts, web designers usually use HTML coding to alter the website's layout. Web designers must build their portfolio by taking on unique projects for themselves and the people they know.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real graphic technician resumes. While graphic technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "computer graphics," "software programs," "adobe indesign," and "autocad," web designers use skills like "css," "wordpress," "html css," and "javascript."
Web designers earn a higher average salary than graphic technicians. But web designers earn the highest pay in the internet industry, with an average salary of $81,039. Additionally, graphic technicians earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $52,001 annually.web designers earn similar levels of education than graphic technicians in general. They're 4.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Graphic technician vs. Designer
A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a graphic technician is likely to be skilled in "computer graphics," "software programs," "autocad," and "cad," while a typical designer is skilled in "customer service," "css," "html css," and "javascript."
Designers earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $87,754. Comparatively, graphic technicians have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $52,001.When it comes to education, designers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to graphic technicians. In fact, they're 4.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Graphic technician vs. Assistant designer
Assistant designers act as administrative support to senior designers in creating innovative designs by negotiating with the vendors about the prices of decoration materials. They are keen and up-to-date to the latest fashion and trends by conducting surveys and research. They are exceptionally creative and innovative and have excellent IT skills as they use illustration, typography, and photography layouts in the design process. However, being an assistant designer, career development relies on his/her /her specialism, reputation, and experience depending on how its opportunities are influenced by the company he/she works for.
Types of graphic technician
Updated January 8, 2025
