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Senior artist vs motion graphics designer

The differences between senior artists and motion graphics designers 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 motion graphics designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a senior artist has an average salary of $83,394, which is higher than the $62,558 average annual salary of a motion graphics designer.

The top three skills for a senior artist include maya, animation and AAA. The most important skills for a motion graphics designer are animation, style frames, and cinema.

Senior artist vs motion graphics designer overview

Senior ArtistMotion Graphics Designer
Yearly salary$83,394$62,558
Hourly rate$40.09$30.08
Growth rate5%3%
Number of jobs3,66544,960
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
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 motion graphics designer do?

A motion graphic designer specializes in producing artworks used in television, film, and web. Their responsibilities often revolve around submitting within a deadline, attending creative meetings, collaborating with fellow designers, following directives from clients, producing trial designs, and editing them in adherence to senior designers or clients' recommendations. There are also instances when a motion graphic designer must manage documentation, address inquiries and concerns, and report to higher-ranking personnel. Furthermore, one may choose to work for a company or independently.

Senior artist vs motion graphics designer salary

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

Senior ArtistMotion Graphics Designer
Average salary$83,394$62,558
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $128,000Between $44,000 And $87,000
Highest paying CityReno, NVSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNevadaWashington
Best paying companyMetaApple
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between senior artist and motion graphics designer education

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

Senior ArtistMotion Graphics Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior artist vs motion graphics designer demographics

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

Senior ArtistMotion Graphics Designer
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 71.8% Female, 28.2%Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6%
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 motion graphics designer 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

Motion graphics designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead team brainstorming sessions to solve creative problems.
  • Lead team of motion designers which include brainstorming, mood boards, creation of mock-ups and presentations to clients and stakeholders.
  • Train & supervise newly appoint employee in achieving realistic looking effects and help integrating the effects in compositing with cg elements.
  • Design and build interactive digital content for musicians including photography, video and custom HTML, CSS & JavaScript development.
  • Create brochures, fliers, posters, and other print materials for conferences, special events, and non-profit functions.
  • Code flash banners with XML, HTML, and ActionScript.
  • Show more

Senior artist vs motion graphics designer skills

Common senior artist skills
  • Maya, 12%
  • Animation, 7%
  • AAA, 7%
  • ZBrush, 6%
  • In-Game, 6%
  • VFX, 5%
Common motion graphics designer skills
  • Animation, 23%
  • Style Frames, 15%
  • Cinema, 7%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 4%
  • Sketch, 4%
  • Video Content, 3%

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