Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between package 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 a package designer and a lead designer. Additionally, a lead designer has an average salary of $110,001, 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 a lead designer are sketch, user experience, and architecture.
| Package Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,273 | $110,001 |
| Hourly rate | $25.13 | $52.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 59,292 | 45,423 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
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.
Package designers and lead designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Package Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Average salary | $52,273 | $110,001 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $75,000 | Between $78,000 And $154,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Leandro, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | The Home Depot | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a package designer and a lead designer in terms of educational background:
| Package Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between package designers' and lead designers' demographics:
| Package Designer | Lead Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.9% Female, 41.1% | 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% |