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The differences between junior graphic designers and lead 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 junior graphic designer and a lead graphic designer. Additionally, a lead graphic designer has an average salary of $76,009, 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 graphic designer are adobe photoshop, graphic design, and design concepts.
| Junior Graphic Designer | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $44,518 | $76,009 |
| Hourly rate | $21.40 | $36.54 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 55,460 | 46,260 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 graphic designer is responsible for creating, designing, and updating the company's visual aspects. The lead graphic designer works closely with the branding department alongside the advertising and marketing team. It is essential for the lead graphic designer must be creative, willing to think outside the box, and brave to dare novel ideas. The lead graphic designer is also responsible for leading the creative department in accomplishing assigned tasks from management.
Junior graphic designers and lead graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Graphic Designer | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Average salary | $44,518 | $76,009 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $62,000 | Between $44,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Netflix |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a junior graphic designer and a lead graphic designer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Graphic Designer | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 graphic designers' demographics:
| Junior Graphic Designer | Lead Graphic Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3% | Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2% |
| 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% |