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Senior artist vs graphics specialist

The differences between senior artists and graphics specialists 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 graphics specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a senior artist has an average salary of $83,394, which is higher than the $56,007 average annual salary of a graphics specialist.

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

Senior artist vs graphics specialist overview

Senior ArtistGraphics Specialist
Yearly salary$83,394$56,007
Hourly rate$40.09$26.93
Growth rate5%3%
Number of jobs3,66512,267
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
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 graphics specialist do?

A graphics specialist is an expert at conceptualizing and developing visual art for businesses or individuals, typically for marketing or information purposes. Moreover, there are also opportunities for employment in the web and media industry. As a graphics specialist, their responsibilities include liaising with clients to identify their needs, understanding the purpose and message of the project, developing proposals, coordinating with team members, and conducting revisions as needed, all while adhering to the goals and deadlines set by the client or management.

Senior artist vs graphics specialist salary

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

Senior ArtistGraphics Specialist
Average salary$83,394$56,007
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $128,000Between $38,000 And $81,000
Highest paying CityReno, NVSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaWashington
Best paying companyMetaZeniMax Media
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between senior artist and graphics specialist education

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

Senior ArtistGraphics Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior artist vs graphics specialist demographics

Here are the differences between senior artists' and graphics specialists' demographics:

Senior ArtistGraphics Specialist
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 71.8% Female, 28.2%Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6%
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 graphics specialist 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

Graphics specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead the development and execution of several overhead presentations, advertising design, brochure marketing, and desktop publishing initiatives.
  • Create graphics / artwork for screen print, dye-sublimation, embroidery, apparel, fliers, and web graphics.
  • Prepare page layouts for posters, signage, handouts, brochures, business cards, stationery, and direct mail pieces.
  • Edit HTML for menu systems in CBT courses.
  • Work with large format digital printers, plotters, and lamination machines.
  • Create an HTML template defining the look and feel for UNITEC's intranet.
  • Show more

Senior artist vs graphics specialist skills

Common senior artist skills
  • Maya, 12%
  • Animation, 7%
  • AAA, 7%
  • ZBrush, 6%
  • In-Game, 6%
  • VFX, 5%
Common graphics specialist skills
  • Graphic Design, 12%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 9%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 7%
  • Adobe Indesign, 5%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 5%
  • Visualization, 5%

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