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The differences between photo specialists and digital retouchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a digital retoucher has an average salary of $51,547, which is higher than the $51,490 average annual salary of a photo specialist.
The top three skills for a photo specialist include customer service, patients and customer issues. The most important skills for a digital retoucher are adobe photoshop, retouch, and photography services.
| Photo Specialist | Digital Retoucher | |
| Yearly salary | $51,490 | $51,547 |
| Hourly rate | $24.75 | $24.78 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 326 | 16,110 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Photo specialists are responsible for operating the photo processing machinery that prints photos from digital files or negatives. Their duties and responsibilities may vary from store-to-store, but generally, they are responsible for photo printing, maintaining the printing and processing equipment, monitoring ink supply levels, and answering customer questions and concerns. Additionally, they are also expected to oversee the photo laboratory cash register and take and organize customer orders. Typically, most employers do not require any previous work experience but prefer applicants who have an understanding or knowledge of industry procedures and terminology.
A digital retoucher specializes in altering or enhancing images using special computer software. Their responsibilities usually include assessing photos to identify which areas need retouching, accepting requests from the clients, removing blemishes, adjusting the brightness or sharpness, cropping or re-sizing the images, and changing color temperatures. In some establishments, a digital retoucher may also restore old photos, change backgrounds, and take the clients' photos. When it comes to employment, a digital retoucher may work for shops offering photography services or as an independent contractor working remotely.
Photo specialists and digital retouchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Photo Specialist | Digital Retoucher | |
| Average salary | $51,490 | $51,547 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $107,000 | Between $24,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a photo specialist and a digital retoucher in terms of educational background:
| Photo Specialist | Digital Retoucher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Photography |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between photo specialists' and digital retouchers' demographics:
| Photo Specialist | Digital Retoucher | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 13.2% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 13.5% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |