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The differences between multimedia specialists and visual artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a multimedia specialist and a visual artist. Additionally, a visual artist has an average salary of $81,873, which is higher than the $52,299 average annual salary of a multimedia specialist.
The top three skills for a multimedia specialist include video production, graphic design and photography. The most important skills for a visual artist are animation, maya, and visual development.
| Multimedia Specialist | Visual Artist | |
| Yearly salary | $52,299 | $81,873 |
| Hourly rate | $25.14 | $39.36 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 21,798 | 7,209 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Visual artists are the type of artists that engage their audience through their eyes. This type of artist expresses their feelings in different ways. They can use any material to make their feelings known. Sometimes, they express their feelings using carved wood, digital imagery, and installations from objects they find randomly. They may use water vapor or bee pollen to let the world see their feelings, thoughts, and ideals. They can also choose to work independently or work with studios that produce cartoons, develop games, and have a fixed schedule to work on a project.
Multimedia specialists and visual artists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Multimedia Specialist | Visual Artist | |
| Average salary | $52,299 | $81,873 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $71,000 | Between $52,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newport, RI | Sparks, NV |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Gap Inc. | NVIDIA |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a multimedia specialist and a visual artist in terms of educational background:
| Multimedia Specialist | Visual Artist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Communication | Fine Arts |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between multimedia specialists' and visual artists' demographics:
| Multimedia Specialist | Visual Artist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7% | Male, 59.5% Female, 40.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |