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The differences between multimedia designers and multimedia specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a multimedia designer, becoming a multimedia specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a multimedia designer has an average salary of $61,468, which is higher than the $52,299 average annual salary of a multimedia specialist.
The top three skills for a multimedia designer include graphic design, video production and animation. The most important skills for a multimedia specialist are video production, graphic design, and photography.
| Multimedia Designer | Multimedia Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $61,468 | $52,299 |
| Hourly rate | $29.55 | $25.14 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 45,329 | 21,798 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A multimedia designer is responsible for creating graphic content and animations for digital platforms and media advertisements. Multimedia designers produce high-quality visual materials according to business requirements and budget limitations. They coordinate with the whole design team for the accuracy of deliverables and modifications as needed. A multimedia designer must be highly technical and creative, especially in utilizing various software applications and programs to develop graphic animations that adhere to quality standards and ensuring its appeal to the target audience.
A multimedia specialist is in charge of developing multimedia and visual materials according to project and program needs. They typically work together with a company's creative team where they are responsible for performing research and analysis, understanding the purpose of projects, conceptualizing plans, identifying market trends, preparing samples for client approval, and developing strategies to optimize operations. Furthermore, as a multimedia specialist, it is essential to adhere to project timelines and budgets, including the company's policies and regulations.
Multimedia designers and multimedia specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Multimedia Designer | Multimedia Specialist | |
| Average salary | $61,468 | $52,299 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $83,000 | Between $38,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellevue, WA | Newport, RI |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Gap Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Technology |
There are a few differences between a multimedia designer and a multimedia specialist in terms of educational background:
| Multimedia Designer | Multimedia Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Communication |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between multimedia designers' and multimedia specialists' demographics:
| Multimedia Designer | Multimedia Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% | Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7% |
| 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, 4.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 11% |