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The differences between graphics illustrators and senior 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 graphics illustrator and a senior graphic designer. Additionally, a senior graphic designer has an average salary of $73,921, which is higher than the $64,943 average annual salary of a graphics illustrator.
The top three skills for a graphics illustrator include adobe photoshop, graphic design and adobe indesign. The most important skills for a senior graphic designer are sketch, adobe creative suite, and creative concepts.
| Graphics Illustrator | Senior Graphic Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $64,943 | $73,921 |
| Hourly rate | $31.22 | $35.54 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 2,854 | 46,310 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
A senior graphic designer oversees all of the designing operations in a company, from conceptualization to production. One of their primary responsibilities is to ensure that all designs produced are according to a client's preference and brand. They also encourage fresh ideas from the team, communicate with clients or representatives, and manage the schedules to meet all deadlines. Furthermore, as a senior graphic designer, they are responsible for leading and mentoring a team of graphic designers, all in the joint effort to reach project goals.
Graphics illustrators and senior graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graphics Illustrator | Senior Graphic Designer | |
| Average salary | $64,943 | $73,921 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $101,000 | Between $51,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Uber Technologies | Practice Fusion |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a graphics illustrator and a senior graphic designer in terms of educational background:
| Graphics Illustrator | Senior Graphic Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between graphics illustrators' and senior graphic designers' demographics:
| Graphics Illustrator | Senior Graphic Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1% | Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8% |
| 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% |