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The differences between visual information specialists and graphic 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 graphic designer. Additionally, a visual information specialist has an average salary of $65,085, which is higher than the $49,450 average annual salary of a graphic designer.
The top three skills for a visual information specialist include photography, video production and adobe creative suite. The most important skills for a graphic designer are adobe creative suite, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.
| Visual Information Specialist | Graphic Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,085 | $49,450 |
| Hourly rate | $31.29 | $23.77 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 66,802 | 45,625 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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.
Graphic designers are visual communicators who create graphic ideas to deliver a message through art and images which inspire, inform, and motivate consumers with the use of computer software, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign or by hand. They have the ability to design stunning illustrations that are easily understood, even without a lot of thinking or based on the demand of their clients. It is very crucial to them as well to be flexible and to stay on top of the design trends. They create websites, posters, packaging, logos, advertising, and marketing materials, depending on the nature of the business.
Visual information specialists and graphic designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Visual Information Specialist | Graphic Designer | |
| Average salary | $65,085 | $49,450 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $102,000 | Between $34,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Food and Drug Law Institute | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a visual information specialist and a graphic designer in terms of educational background:
| Visual Information Specialist | Graphic Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | 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 visual information specialists' and graphic designers' demographics:
| Visual Information Specialist | Graphic Designer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0% | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% |
| 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% |