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The differences between graphics illustrators and freelance 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 graphics illustrator and a freelance designer. Additionally, a graphics illustrator has an average salary of $64,943, which is higher than the $57,260 average annual salary of a freelance designer.
The top three skills for a graphics illustrator include adobe photoshop, graphic design and adobe indesign. The most important skills for a freelance designer are sketch, CSS, and HTML.
| Graphics Illustrator | Freelance Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $64,943 | $57,260 |
| Hourly rate | $31.22 | $27.53 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 2,854 | 45,914 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A graphics illustrator is an artist that is skilled in drawing, painting, digital illustration, art history, and sometimes marketing. Your job as an illustrator is to create a visual representation of an idea or associated text. Unlike a graphic designer, a graphic illustrator does a lot more drawing, product package design, book illustrations, and graphic novels. As a graphics illustrator, you may be required to lead lots of projects that deal with advertising design and publishing initiatives. In addition to that, you may be expected to produce mockups, wireframes, prototypes, and design specifications.
Freelance designers are creative, independent contractors who create visual and graphic designs for their clients. They develop text and illustrated versions of brands, messages, and communications with strong visible influence with their clients. Typical activities include networking, seeking projects, and negotiating prices to their customers. They manage client proposals, develop concepts, present solutions, and ensure the timely completion of projects. Freelance visual and graphic designers are creative, self-motivated as well as result and deadline oriented.
Graphics illustrators and freelance designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graphics Illustrator | Freelance Designer | |
| Average salary | $64,943 | $57,260 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $101,000 | Between $39,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Uber Technologies | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a graphics illustrator and a freelance designer in terms of educational background:
| Graphics Illustrator | Freelance Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between graphics illustrators' and freelance designers' demographics:
| Graphics Illustrator | Freelance Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1% | Male, 48.0% Female, 52.0% |
| 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% |