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The differences between operating system designers and lead designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an operating system designer and a lead designer. Additionally, a lead designer has an average salary of $110,001, which is higher than the $58,414 average annual salary of an operating system designer.
The top three skills for an operating system designer include co-op, CAD and facebook. The most important skills for a lead designer are sketch, user experience, and architecture.
| Operating System Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $58,414 | $110,001 |
| Hourly rate | $28.08 | $52.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 68,084 | 45,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
OS Designers are responsible for creating and developing customized operating systems geared to cater to a specific task type. These tasks may range from business management to medical-related applications to government and military defense systems. An operating system is the foundation and soul of any computer-based program, so OS designers apply computer science and analysis to develop these operating systems for efficiency and functionality. A typical OS Designer earns an average of $47,865 per year.
A lead designer is responsible for addressing the clients' needs of digital content and coordinating with the design team for the planning and innovation of the visual design and concept. Lead designers conduct the initial layout of frameworks and collaborate with the art staff for the specifications and outputs using various software applications and digital boards. They regularly update the client of the project's status, including adjustment and design recommendations, ensuring that the plan meets the client's budget goals. A lead designer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on running diagnostic tests to improve optimal performance.
Operating system designers and lead designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operating System Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Average salary | $58,414 | $110,001 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $98,000 | Between $78,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | - | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an operating system designer and a lead designer in terms of educational background:
| Operating System Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between operating system designers' and lead designers' demographics:
| Operating System Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| 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% |