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The differences between photo specialists and photo retouchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a photo retoucher has an average salary of $51,529, 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 photo retoucher are adobe photoshop, product photography, and style guides.
| Photo Specialist | Photo Retoucher | |
| Yearly salary | $51,490 | $51,529 |
| Hourly rate | $24.75 | $24.77 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 326 | 281 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 Photo Retoucher retouches the assigned digital photos to the client's standards. They communicate with the production team and digital imaging manager to ensure each task complies with the highlighted standards. Besides using natural-looking results to edit beauty images and skin photos, photo retouchers also review the clients' notes and specifications about execution and photo retouching. They prepare photos for client delivery, deliver their services according to the required procedures, and highlight work processes to meet the desired results.
Photo specialists and photo retouchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Photo Specialist | Photo Retoucher | |
| Average salary | $51,490 | $51,529 |
| 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 photo retoucher in terms of educational background:
| Photo Specialist | Photo Retoucher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between photo specialists' and photo retouchers' demographics:
| Photo Specialist | Photo Retoucher | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% |
| 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, 5.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 14.9% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |