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Visual artist vs painter

The differences between visual artists and painters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a visual artist, becoming a painter takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a visual artist has an average salary of $81,873, which is higher than the $42,339 average annual salary of a painter.

The top three skills for a visual artist include animation, maya and visual development. The most important skills for a painter are ladders, coats, and safety procedures.

Visual artist vs painter overview

Visual ArtistPainter
Yearly salary$81,873$42,339
Hourly rate$39.36$20.36
Growth rate5%1%
Number of jobs7,2094,482
Job satisfaction-4.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%High School Diploma, 49%
Average age4042
Years of experience2-

What does a visual artist do?

Visual artists are the type of artists that engage their audience through their eyes. This type of artist expresses their feelings in different ways. They can use any material to make their feelings known. Sometimes, they express their feelings using carved wood, digital imagery, and installations from objects they find randomly. They may use water vapor or bee pollen to let the world see their feelings, thoughts, and ideals. They can also choose to work independently or work with studios that produce cartoons, develop games, and have a fixed schedule to work on a project.

What does a painter do?

Painters are skilled professionals who handle the painting needs of clients. They work closely with their clients to ensure that they will be able to do what is expected of them. Painters are responsible for preparing paints needed for the project. They mix and swatch paints to determine which would be the best fit for the clients' needs. Painters are expected to be experts on different types of surfaces and paint bases that work on each type. As such, painters are responsible for preparing the surface for paint jobs. This may include the removal of previous paints or wallpapers. Once they have prepared the surface, they then start putting on coats of paint until the desired color or effect is met.

Visual artist vs painter salary

Visual artists and painters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Visual ArtistPainter
Average salary$81,873$42,339
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $127,000Between $30,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CitySparks, NVSacramento, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaNew Jersey
Best paying companyNVIDIADell
Best paying industry-Energy

Differences between visual artist and painter education

There are a few differences between a visual artist and a painter in terms of educational background:

Visual ArtistPainter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%High School Diploma, 49%
Most common majorFine ArtsBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Pennsylvania-

Visual artist vs painter demographics

Here are the differences between visual artists' and painters' demographics:

Visual ArtistPainter
Average age4042
Gender ratioMale, 59.5% Female, 40.5%Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 28.6% Asian, 2.1% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage11%5%

Differences between visual artist and painter duties and responsibilities

Visual artist example responsibilities.

  • Edit video, write copy for television, radio, and web-base commercials while managing the scheduling of all studio employees.
  • Design creative materials, including advertisements, media kits, logo and promotional materials for several collaborative projects.
  • Model, texture and integrate 3D mesh FX with 3DSMax
  • Modele and shade 3D facial replacements and simulate smoke effects in Maya.
  • Design texture sheets and unique materials and shaders for particles and mesh FX.
  • Used Maya and Photoshop to create matte paintings and landscape environment using modeling and camera projection techniques.
  • Show more

Painter example responsibilities.

  • Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, and relate materials.
  • Cover roofs with layers of roofing feel or asphalt strips before installing tile, slate, or composition materials.
  • Involve escalating ladders and scaffolding.
  • Shop assistant, get tools, clean up, paint trim, paint walls, run errands, etc )
  • Mask homes to prepare for painting.
  • Support journeymen painters with daily task.
  • Show more

Visual artist vs painter skills

Common visual artist skills
  • Animation, 15%
  • Maya, 11%
  • Visual Development, 9%
  • Visual Effects, 7%
  • VFX, 6%
  • Motion Graphics, 5%
Common painter skills
  • Ladders, 13%
  • Coats, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 7%
  • Scaffolding, 7%
  • Caulking, 6%
  • Exterior Surfaces, 5%

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