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The differences between photo specialists and retouchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a retoucher has an average salary of $51,538, 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 retoucher are color correction, adobe photoshop, and product photography.
| Photo Specialist | Retoucher | |
| Yearly salary | $51,490 | $51,538 |
| Hourly rate | $24.75 | $24.78 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 326 | 135 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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.
Retouchers are skilled professionals who use advanced computer imaging software to change or modify the appearance of a photo or other digital image. These professionals must interface directly with clients to perform multiple image composition, color correction, and image manipulation. They are required to use Photoshop to carry out editing tasks such as masking, rebuilding, and cleaning of images. Retouchers must work exclusively with photographers and manage high volumes of photo organization. They must also maintain an organized electronic database of digital images.
Photo specialists and retouchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Photo Specialist | Retoucher | |
| Average salary | $51,490 | $51,538 |
| 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 retoucher in terms of educational background:
| Photo Specialist | Retoucher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Photography |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between photo specialists' and retouchers' demographics:
| Photo Specialist | Retoucher | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% | Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 14.2% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |