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Visual information specialist vs artist

The differences between visual information specialists and artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an artist has an average salary of $68,690, which is higher than the $65,085 average annual salary of a visual information specialist.

The top three skills for a visual information specialist include photography, video production and adobe creative suite. The most important skills for an artist are maya, adobe photoshop, and customer service.

Visual information specialist vs artist overview

Visual Information SpecialistArtist
Yearly salary$65,085$68,690
Hourly rate$31.29$33.02
Growth rate3%6%
Number of jobs66,8023,870
Job satisfaction54
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age3840
Years of experience12-

What does a visual information specialist do?

A visual information specialist is in charge of developing visual materials in adherence to the needs of a company or business. In a company setting, their responsibilities include coordinating with different departments to gather and analyze data, come up with designs and layouts, plan materials based on the purpose and availability of resources, and work together with the creative team. Furthermore, as a visual information specialist, it is essential to maintain active communication with teammates for a smooth and efficient workflow.

What does an artist do?

An Artist specializes in creating various artworks or prose; the audience can vary from individuals or the general public. An artist's responsibility depends on the industry, company, or position where they are assigned. However, most of the time, Artists are expected to work under specific guidelines, deliver materials in a required format within an allotted time and perform revisions according to what is preferred by an editor or client. Furthermore, independent artists may work freelance and receive commissions for their craft.

Visual information specialist vs artist salary

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

Visual Information SpecialistArtist
Average salary$65,085$68,690
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $102,000Between $42,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Rafael, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyFood and Drug Law InstituteMeta
Best paying industryGovernmentTechnology

Differences between visual information specialist and artist education

There are a few differences between a visual information specialist and an artist in terms of educational background:

Visual Information SpecialistArtist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorGraphic DesignFine Arts
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaHarvard University

Visual information specialist vs artist demographics

Here are the differences between visual information specialists' and artists' demographics:

Visual Information SpecialistArtist
Average age3840
Gender ratioMale, 56.0% Female, 44.0%Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8%
Race ratioBlack 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, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage13%11%

Differences between visual information specialist and artist duties and responsibilities

Visual information specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage content updates and PR/communication material on intranet website and ensure content are visible on mobile phones and tablets.
  • Manage and maintain the organization s online content via a proprietary content management systems (CMS) and social media channels.
  • Manage and utilize extensive internal photography libraries and external resources.
  • Lead the development and execution of several overhead presentations, advertising design, brochure marketing, and desktop publishing initiatives.
  • Administer in house CSS and HTML training for colleagues and coworkers.
  • Develop and deliver proofreading and software training to other word processing operators.
  • Show more

Artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage studio workload and advise print direction to in-house and freelance cad artists.
  • Manage online product catalog using Dreamweaver.
  • Assist customers with product selection and process POS transactions.
  • Provide comparative analysis on traditional vs. Mac vs. PC production.
  • Animate in-game characters, user interface assets and particle effects.
  • Own & operate a specialize faux painting, mural and art business.
  • Show more

Visual information specialist vs artist skills

Common visual information specialist skills
  • Photography, 15%
  • Video Production, 7%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 7%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 6%
  • Adobe Indesign, 5%
  • Web Pages, 5%
Common artist skills
  • Maya, 13%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Graphic Design, 7%
  • Photography, 7%
  • VFX, 6%

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