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The differences between junior graphic designers and lead 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 junior graphic designer and a lead designer. Additionally, a lead designer has an average salary of $110,001, which is higher than the $44,518 average annual salary of a junior graphic designer.
The top three skills for a junior graphic designer include graphic design, adobe creative suite and powerpoint. The most important skills for a lead designer are sketch, user experience, and architecture.
| Junior Graphic Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $44,518 | $110,001 |
| Hourly rate | $21.40 | $52.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 55,460 | 45,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A junior graphic designer is an entry-level professional who creates imaginative and impressive designs that promote the vision of an organization. Under the supervision of a senior graphic designer, junior graphic designers must help design digital marketing materials by using graphic design applications such as Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. They must collaborate with the team to launch projects and improve their skills by using feedback from other designers. Junior graphic designers should also be able to create logos, banners, and interfaces.
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.
Junior graphic designers and lead designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Graphic Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Average salary | $44,518 | $110,001 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $62,000 | Between $78,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a junior graphic designer and a lead designer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Graphic Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between junior graphic designers' and lead designers' demographics:
| Junior Graphic Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| 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% |