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Technical illustrator vs fine artist

The differences between technical illustrators and fine artists 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 fine artist. Additionally, a fine artist has an average salary of $61,680, 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 fine artist are graphic design, sculpture, and adobe photoshop.

Technical illustrator vs fine artist overview

Technical IllustratorFine Artist
Yearly salary$52,828$61,680
Hourly rate$25.40$29.65
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs69,9324,246
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4040
Years of experience66

Technical illustrator vs fine artist salary

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

Technical IllustratorFine Artist
Average salary$52,828$61,680
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $91,000Between $35,000 And $106,000
Highest paying City-Pasadena, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-MBI
Best paying industry-Insurance

Differences between technical illustrator and fine artist education

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

Technical IllustratorFine Artist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorGraphic DesignFine Arts
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Technical illustrator vs fine artist demographics

Here are the differences between technical illustrators' and fine artists' demographics:

Technical IllustratorFine Artist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 68.7% Female, 31.3%Male, 40.2% Female, 59.8%
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, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between technical illustrator and fine artist 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

Fine artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage studio workload and advise print direction to in-house and freelance cad artists.
  • Create sculpture, illustrations, and cartoons for private customers
  • Utilize social media platforms including Facebook to connect with college community.
  • Conceptualize and develop terrain models using Maya and partner with director and animators to correspond and produce effective shots.
  • Perform typesetting duties when necessary.

Technical illustrator vs fine artist skills

Common technical illustrator skills
  • Adobe Illustrator, 10%
  • Engineering Drawings, 8%
  • Technical Illustrations, 7%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Solidworks, 6%
  • Technical Manuals, 5%
Common fine artist skills
  • Graphic Design, 11%
  • Sculpture, 9%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Portfolio, 9%
  • Fine Arts, 8%
  • Watercolor, 7%

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