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The differences between motion graphics artists and production 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 production artist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a motion graphics artist has an average salary of $67,079, which is higher than the $61,870 average annual salary of a production artist.
The top three skills for a motion graphics artist include video production, animation and cinema. The most important skills for a production artist are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe creative suite.
| Motion Graphics Artist | Production Artist | |
| Yearly salary | $67,079 | $61,870 |
| Hourly rate | $32.25 | $29.75 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 4,288 | 59,103 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 production artist is responsible for managing digital content, meeting clients' standard specifications and requests for successful project completion. Production artists must have computer proficiency, especially on utilizing various software tools and applications to create illustrations and layouts. They also work closely with the creative team, cooperating in brainstorming sessions to ensure the consistency for each assigned task. A production artist should be keen on details, adjusting outputs as needed to maintain the highest quality for the actual presentation.
Motion graphics artists and production artists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Motion Graphics Artist | Production Artist | |
| Average salary | $67,079 | $61,870 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $103,000 | Between $40,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | Providence, RI | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between a motion graphics artist and a production artist in terms of educational background:
| Motion Graphics Artist | Production Artist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Animation | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between motion graphics artists' and production artists' demographics:
| Motion Graphics Artist | Production Artist | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4% | Male, 57.2% Female, 42.8% |
| 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% |