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The differences between senior designers and senior leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a senior designer, becoming a senior leader takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior leader has an average salary of $114,328, which is higher than the $102,058 average annual salary of a senior designer.
The top three skills for a senior designer include sketch, graphic design and human centered design. The most important skills for a senior leader are java, project management, and architecture.
| Senior Designer | Senior Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $102,058 | $114,328 |
| Hourly rate | $49.07 | $54.97 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 47,503 | 214,805 |
| Job satisfaction | 1 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 38 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
Senior designers are typically in charge of realizing design solutions that adhere to the business goals and marketing strategies of an organization. They should be comfortable managing graphics designers and making decisions. They must have extensive knowledge of styles, layout techniques, and graphic design while also managing projects and people effectively. Senior designers have a variety of duties, which include delegating tasks to junior designers, maintaining high-quality standards, and collaborating to improve digital creativity standards.
A senior leader specializes in overseeing the business operations and work progress within a particular department or office. Focusing on the workflow and the workforce, they are in charge of assessing performances and motivating staff to meet goals and stay within the allotted time and budget. They may also participate in the hiring and training of new employees, utilizing their talents and shaping them into valuable members of the workforce, all while implementing company rules and regulations.
Senior designers and senior leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Designer | Senior Leader | |
| Average salary | $102,058 | $114,328 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $143,000 | Between $80,000 And $162,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Lyft | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Media | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior designer and a senior leader in terms of educational background:
| Senior Designer | Senior Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior designers' and senior leaders' demographics:
| Senior Designer | Senior Leader | |
| Average age | 38 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0% | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.6% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 8% |