Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between technical artists and artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a technical artist has an average salary of $90,692, which is higher than the $68,690 average annual salary of an artist.
The top three skills for a technical artist include python, animation and C++. The most important skills for an artist are maya, adobe photoshop, and customer service.
| Technical Artist | Artist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,692 | $68,690 |
| Hourly rate | $43.60 | $33.02 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 70,696 | 3,870 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Technical artists are employees with an artistic streak and an in-depth knowledge of programming. They are usually employed to work on video games and other related media. They are expected to understand the technical aspects of both sides of the project: the art and the system behind it. They are involved in the creation of storyboards, art palettes, and animation schemes. They are also involved in the creation of the codes and programs to make the video game work. As such, they know how to balance the needs of both sides. They should be able to determine the feasibility of various elements in the project.
An Artist specializes in creating various artworks or prose; the audience can vary from individuals or the general public. An artist's responsibility depends on the industry, company, or position where they are assigned. However, most of the time, Artists are expected to work under specific guidelines, deliver materials in a required format within an allotted time and perform revisions according to what is preferred by an editor or client. Furthermore, independent artists may work freelance and receive commissions for their craft.
Technical artists and artists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Artist | Artist | |
| Average salary | $90,692 | $68,690 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $141,000 | Between $42,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a technical artist and an artist in terms of educational background:
| Technical Artist | Artist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Fine Arts |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between technical artists' and artists' demographics:
| Technical Artist | Artist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% | Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |