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The differences between motion graphics artists and graphic artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a motion graphics artist, becoming a graphic artist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a motion graphics artist has an average salary of $67,079, which is higher than the $54,900 average annual salary of a graphic artist.
The top three skills for a motion graphics artist include video production, animation and cinema. The most important skills for a graphic artist are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.
| Motion Graphics Artist | Graphic Artist | |
| Yearly salary | $67,079 | $54,900 |
| Hourly rate | $32.25 | $26.39 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 4,288 | 8,752 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A motion graphics artist is responsible for conceptualizing digital designs and creating motion pictures according to business requirements and client specifications. Motion graphics artists produce media content and portray the message to the audience through creative multimedia projects. They should also have excellent technical skills in utilizing various software tools and applications. A motion graphics artist works closely with the whole production team for concept brainstorming and adjusting initial layouts as needed to ensure that the plans meet budget requirements and timetables.
A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project. A graphic artist may work with a graphic designer in order to convey the overall message of a project. The portfolio of a graphic artist includes cartoons, illustrations, and graphic novels.
Motion graphics artists and graphic artists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Motion Graphics Artist | Graphic Artist | |
| Average salary | $67,079 | $54,900 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $103,000 | Between $35,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Providence, RI | Bellevue, WA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | Media | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a motion graphics artist and a graphic artist in terms of educational background:
| Motion Graphics Artist | Graphic Artist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Animation | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between motion graphics artists' and graphic artists' demographics:
| Motion Graphics Artist | Graphic Artist | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4% | Male, 54.6% Female, 45.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 11% | 13% |