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The differences between visual information specialists and freelance designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a visual information specialist and a freelance designer. Additionally, a visual information specialist has an average salary of $65,085, which is higher than the $57,260 average annual salary of a freelance designer.
The top three skills for a visual information specialist include photography, video production and adobe creative suite. The most important skills for a freelance designer are sketch, CSS, and HTML.
| Visual Information Specialist | Freelance Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,085 | $57,260 |
| Hourly rate | $31.29 | $27.53 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 66,802 | 45,914 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
Freelance designers are creative, independent contractors who create visual and graphic designs for their clients. They develop text and illustrated versions of brands, messages, and communications with strong visible influence with their clients. Typical activities include networking, seeking projects, and negotiating prices to their customers. They manage client proposals, develop concepts, present solutions, and ensure the timely completion of projects. Freelance visual and graphic designers are creative, self-motivated as well as result and deadline oriented.
Visual information specialists and freelance designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Visual Information Specialist | Freelance Designer | |
| Average salary | $65,085 | $57,260 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $102,000 | Between $39,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Food and Drug Law Institute | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a visual information specialist and a freelance designer in terms of educational background:
| Visual Information Specialist | Freelance Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between visual information specialists' and freelance designers' demographics:
| Visual Information Specialist | Freelance Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0% | Male, 48.0% Female, 52.0% |
| 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% |