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Senior artist vs graphic artist

The differences between senior artists and graphic artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior artist, becoming a graphic artist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a senior artist has an average salary of $83,394, which is higher than the $54,900 average annual salary of a graphic artist.

The top three skills for a senior artist include maya, animation and AAA. The most important skills for a graphic artist are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

Senior artist vs graphic artist overview

Senior ArtistGraphic Artist
Yearly salary$83,394$54,900
Hourly rate$40.09$26.39
Growth rate5%3%
Number of jobs3,6658,752
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4038
Years of experience212

What does a senior artist do?

A senior artist has a variety of duties and responsibilities. These include designing all the concept art, online advertising assets, and graphics, designing and creating marketing brochures, invitations, greeting cards, and other materials, and creating the process for different artwork. Additionally, you will be responsible for identifying client objectives and translating them into an efficient multimedia solution. As a senior artist, you are also expected to create original graphics and user interfaces for multimedia projects.

What does a graphic artist do?

A graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project. A graphic artist may work with a graphic designer in order to convey the overall message of a project. The portfolio of a graphic artist includes cartoons, illustrations, and graphic novels.

Senior artist vs graphic artist salary

Senior artists and graphic artists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior ArtistGraphic Artist
Average salary$83,394$54,900
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $128,000Between $35,000 And $84,000
Highest paying CityReno, NVBellevue, WA
Highest paying stateNevadaWashington
Best paying companyMetaParsons
Best paying industryTechnologyNon Profits

Differences between senior artist and graphic artist education

There are a few differences between a senior artist and a graphic artist in terms of educational background:

Senior ArtistGraphic Artist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior artist vs graphic artist demographics

Here are the differences between senior artists' and graphic artists' demographics:

Senior ArtistGraphic Artist
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 71.8% Female, 28.2%Male, 54.6% Female, 45.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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 Percentage11%13%

Differences between senior artist and graphic artist duties and responsibilities

Senior artist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team of artists to create a series of space adventure games for the PC.
  • Edit video, write copy for television, radio, and web-base commercials while managing the scheduling of all studio employees.
  • Maintain servers, install software packages for Apple/Mac base computers and maintain editing suites for video and audio production.
  • Design and programme pop-ups using HTML.
  • Mentore team members and conduct Zbrush training.
  • Edit footage, and photography base on authentic styles.
  • Show more

Graphic artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage external communications such as brochures and other sales collateral for direct mail from inception to circulation.
  • Develop, debug, and maintain client websites using HTML & CSS, WordPress, and basic use of JavaScript.
  • Flash & Dreamweaver software assisting in production of the company website.
  • Create custom graphic art for cars, windows, store fronts, business signs.
  • Design and implement the company's first Facebook app and engages in designing everything encompassing pixels and print.
  • Design, develop and maintain websites as projects present themselves with the use of HTML and WYSIWYG web development tools.
  • Show more

Senior artist vs graphic artist skills

Common senior artist skills
  • Maya, 12%
  • Animation, 7%
  • AAA, 7%
  • ZBrush, 6%
  • In-Game, 6%
  • VFX, 5%
Common graphic artist skills
  • Graphic Design, 12%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 10%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 9%
  • Art Direction, 7%
  • Photography, 5%
  • Brochures, 4%

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