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The differences between user experience designers and graphic design specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a user experience designer and a graphic design specialist. Additionally, a user experience designer has an average salary of $91,159, which is higher than the $55,925 average annual salary of a graphic design specialist.
The top three skills for a user experience designer include sketch, UI and user research. The most important skills for a graphic design specialist are graphic design, adobe creative suite, and visualization.
| User Experience Designer | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $91,159 | $55,925 |
| Hourly rate | $43.83 | $26.89 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 52,582 | 49,055 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A User Experience (UX) designer is an individual who measures and optimizes applications to improve the experience of end-users. His/Her or her duties and responsibilities include considering a design's human-computer interaction element, defining interaction models, and working with creative directors and designers. The key skills for UX designers include strong mathematical and problem-solving skills and excellent information technology and programming skills. Having a bachelor's degree in a design or computing-related subject is an advantage to qualify for the UX designer position.
A graphic design specialist utilizes their artistic expertise in creating imagery and designs that convey a particular message. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to determine their needs and goals, developing concepts and subjecting it for client approval, and revising designs as necessary. In a company setting, a graphic design specialist may work with a team, coordinating with them while sticking to budgets and deadlines. Furthermore, as a team member, it is essential to report to managers or supervisors, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
User experience designers and graphic design specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| User Experience Designer | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Average salary | $91,159 | $55,925 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $127,000 | Between $38,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | BitGo | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Technology |
There are a few differences between a user experience designer and a graphic design specialist in terms of educational background:
| User Experience Designer | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between user experience designers' and graphic design specialists' demographics:
| User Experience Designer | Graphic Design Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% | Male, 50.0% Female, 50.0% |
| 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, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |