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Package designer vs assistant designer

The differences between package designers and assistant designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a package designer and an assistant designer. Additionally, an assistant designer has an average salary of $52,475, which is higher than the $52,273 average annual salary of a package designer.

The top three skills for a package designer include graphic design, CAD and adobe creative suite. The most important skills for an assistant designer are sketch, tech packs, and adobe illustrator.

Package designer vs assistant designer overview

Package DesignerAssistant Designer
Yearly salary$52,273$52,475
Hourly rate$25.13$25.23
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs59,29247,598
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age3838
Years of experience1212

What does a package designer do?

A package designer is responsible for designing and developing safe and attractive packaging for warehouse products and merchandise. Package designers strategize their concepts according to product features, business requirements, and client specifications. They identify cost-effective resources and market demands within quality standards and regulations. A package designer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in utilizing various software tools and applications. Package designers generate designs and adjust design illustrations to meet clients' excellent feedback and consumer satisfaction.

What does an assistant designer do?

Assistant designers act as administrative support to senior designers in creating innovative designs by negotiating with the vendors about the prices of decoration materials. They are keen and up-to-date to the latest fashion and trends by conducting surveys and research. They are exceptionally creative and innovative and have excellent IT skills as they use illustration, typography, and photography layouts in the design process. However, being an assistant designer, career development relies on his/her /her specialism, reputation, and experience depending on how its opportunities are influenced by the company he/she works for.

Package designer vs assistant designer salary

Package designers and assistant designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Package DesignerAssistant Designer
Average salary$52,273$52,475
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $75,000Between $37,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CitySan Leandro, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyThe Home DepotPVH
Best paying industryManufacturingConstruction

Differences between package designer and assistant designer education

There are a few differences between a package designer and an assistant designer in terms of educational background:

Package DesignerAssistant Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Package designer vs assistant designer demographics

Here are the differences between package designers' and assistant designers' demographics:

Package DesignerAssistant Designer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 58.9% Female, 41.1%Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between package designer and assistant designer duties and responsibilities

Package designer example responsibilities.

  • Modify SRV-1 source code using JavaScript software to attain tracking at any instantaneous time.
  • Participate in brainstorming of conceptual designs and perform feasibility studies of relate concepts.
  • Participate in brainstorming for visual direction and mechanical solutions for active and upcoming projects.
  • Develop handbags from initial sketch through final product including material sourcing, development of prototypes, sampling and technical specifications.
  • Work closely with printer for final PDF.
  • Provide detail review of PDF files to identify and alleviate errors.
  • Show more

Assistant designer example responsibilities.

  • Develop marketing and brand awareness initiatives through social media outlets; create and manage company Facebook and Houzz profiles.
  • Direct yarn development team.- propose PLM transitional initiatives.- Collaboratively work to evaluate and elevate in-house design process efficiency.
  • Work in mac format adobe suite programs and pc format u4ia.
  • Generate and update style numbers and BOM's in WebPDM system BlueCherry.
  • Research fashion, textile, make up, accessory, and footwear trends.
  • Acquire in depth training in the PLM and used this system on a daily basis.
  • Show more

Package designer vs assistant designer skills

Common package designer skills
  • Graphic Design, 11%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
  • Design Solutions, 5%
  • Package Design, 5%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 5%
Common assistant designer skills
  • Sketch, 15%
  • Tech Packs, 9%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 7%
  • Line Sheets, 5%
  • Trend Research, 4%
  • Garment Construction, 4%

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