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Technical illustrator vs cartoonist

The differences between technical illustrators and cartoonists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a technical illustrator and a cartoonist. Additionally, a cartoonist has an average salary of $73,859, which is higher than the $52,828 average annual salary of a technical illustrator.

The top three skills for a technical illustrator include adobe illustrator, engineering drawings and technical illustrations. The most important skills for a cartoonist are adobe photoshop, student newspaper, and comics.

Technical illustrator vs cartoonist overview

Technical IllustratorCartoonist
Yearly salary$52,828$73,859
Hourly rate$25.40$35.51
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs69,93242
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4040
Years of experience66

Technical illustrator vs cartoonist salary

Technical illustrators and cartoonists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Technical IllustratorCartoonist
Average salary$52,828$73,859
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $91,000Between $47,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between technical illustrator and cartoonist education

There are a few differences between a technical illustrator and a cartoonist in terms of educational background:

Technical IllustratorCartoonist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorGraphic DesignGraphic Design
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Technical illustrator vs cartoonist demographics

Here are the differences between technical illustrators' and cartoonists' demographics:

Technical IllustratorCartoonist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 68.7% Female, 31.3%Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between technical illustrator and cartoonist duties and responsibilities

Technical illustrator example responsibilities.

  • Identify and initiate wholesale computer upgrade to accommodate new CMS while allocating and managing staff resources devote to developing the software.
  • Utilize SolidWorks and CATIA to export select views from 3D models in formats compatible with illustration development applications.
  • Sketch new items into drawings.
  • Develop guidelines on how to proofread your content.
  • Use SolidWorks to create 3D assemblies for RPSTL and technical manual graphics.
  • Require design are in FrameMaker for paper deliverable and export PDF format.
  • Show more

Cartoonist example responsibilities.

  • Used Applescript, Javascript, and Photoshop actions to automate tasks.
  • Publish a series of comics short stories about the local music scene in Columbus.
  • Design posters, signage, print advertisements.
  • Create monthly political comic strips in ASL and English.
  • Illustrate relevant political cartoons each week for UB's student-run newspaper
  • Create signs for print production for in-store product ads and POS.
  • Show more

Technical illustrator vs cartoonist skills

Common technical illustrator skills
  • Adobe Illustrator, 10%
  • Engineering Drawings, 8%
  • Technical Illustrations, 7%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Solidworks, 6%
  • Technical Manuals, 5%
Common cartoonist skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 25%
  • Student Newspaper, 24%
  • Comics, 17%
  • Graphic Design, 7%
  • Comic Books, 7%
  • Logo, 6%

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