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The differences between visual artists and technical artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a visual artist and a technical artist. Additionally, a technical artist has an average salary of $90,692, which is higher than the $81,873 average annual salary of a visual artist.
The top three skills for a visual artist include animation, maya and visual development. The most important skills for a technical artist are python, animation, and C++.
| Visual Artist | Technical Artist | |
| Yearly salary | $81,873 | $90,692 |
| Hourly rate | $39.36 | $43.60 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 7,209 | 70,696 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
Visual artists and technical artists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Visual Artist | Technical Artist | |
| Average salary | $81,873 | $90,692 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $127,000 | Between $57,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sparks, NV | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Nevada |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a visual artist and a technical artist in terms of educational background:
| Visual Artist | Technical Artist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Fine Arts | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between visual artists' and technical artists' demographics:
| Visual Artist | Technical Artist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.5% Female, 40.5% | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |