Ranked list · 48 careers
48 Art Jobs, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)
Chief Marketing Officer tops this list at $166,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +6.9% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 48 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 48From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $65,305BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 29 of 48BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 291,300Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Careers built on visual and applied art: fine artists, illustrators, designers, animators, conservators and the people who exhibit and sell art. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Careers built on visual and applied art: fine artists, illustrators, designers, animators, conservators and the people who exhibit and sell art. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The list
The top 48 art jobs
100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
- 1
1. Chief Marketing Officer
Specialty within marketing manager
- Median pay
- $1,917,000typical, The Conference Board, CMO Compensation 2024 Edition
- Growth
- +6.9%
- Openings / yr
- 34,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
The executive who leads a company's marketing, brand, customer insight and demand generation, and reports to the CEO.
- 2
2. Art Director
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $114,850median a year
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 12,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film.
- 3
3. Concept Artist
Specialty within special effects artist and animator
- Median pay
- $102,030median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs the look of characters, creatures, environments and props before they are built for films, games and animation.
- 4
4. Special Effects Artist and Animator
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $102,030median a year
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.
- 5
5. Storyboard Artist
Specialty within special effects artist and animator
- Median pay
- $102,030median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Draws sequences of panels that plan the shots, staging and action of films, animated shows, commercials and games.
- 6
6. Commercial and Industrial Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $83,910median a year
- Growth
- +2.4%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys.
- 7
7. Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $78,620median a year
- Growth
- +2.2%
- Openings / yr
- 8,000
- Education
- Master's
Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts.
- 8
8. Themed Entertainment Designer
Specialty within set and exhibit designer
- Median pay
- $75,240median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs rides, attractions, themed lands and immersive experiences for theme parks, museums, resorts and entertainment venues.
- 9
9. Appraiser of Personal and Business Property
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $67,960median a year
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Appraise and estimate the fair value of tangible personal or business property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment.
- 10
10. Auction House Specialist
Specialty within appraiser of personal and business property
- Median pay
- $67,960median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Evaluates, researches and sells fine art, antiques and collectibles at auction houses, advising consignors and buyers.
- 11
11. Interior Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $67,190median a year
- Growth
- +2.7%
- Openings / yr
- 7,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings.
- 12
12. Provenance Researcher
Specialty within curator
- Median pay
- $63,420median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Master's
Traces the ownership history of artworks and artifacts to verify authenticity and identify looted or stolen objects.
- 13
13. Graphic Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $62,960median a year
- Growth
- −1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 16,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos.
- 14
14. Motion Graphics Designer
Specialty within graphic designer
- Median pay
- $62,960median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 16,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Animates typography, graphics and illustration for commercials, title sequences, apps, broadcasts and social video.
- 15
15. Packaging Designer
Specialty within graphic designer
- Median pay
- $62,960median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 16,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs the boxes, bottles, labels and structures that protect and sell consumer products.
- 16
16. Type Designer
Specialty within graphic designer
- Median pay
- $62,960median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 16,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs typefaces and fonts for brands, publishers, software and the type foundries that license them.
- 17
17. Children's Book Illustrator
Specialty within fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
- Median pay
- $55,490median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Creates illustrations for picture books, early readers and middle-grade novels published for children.
- 18
18. Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $55,490median a year
- Growth
- −2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.
- 19
19. Medical Illustrator
Specialty within fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
- Median pay
- $55,490median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- Master's
Creates accurate illustrations, animations and interactive visuals of anatomy, disease and medical procedures.
- 20
20. Scenic Artist
Specialty within fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
- Median pay
- $55,490median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Paints sets, backdrops and surfaces to look like stone, wood, marble or aged materials for theatre, film, TV and theme parks.
- 21
21. Tattoo Artist
Specialty within fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
- Median pay
- $55,490median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- High school
Designs and applies permanent tattoos for clients, working under health regulations in licensed studios.
- 22
22. Art Handler
Specialty within museum technician and conservator
- Median pay
- $51,440median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Packs, moves, crates and installs valuable artworks and artifacts for museums, galleries, auction houses and private collectors.
- 23
23. Anaplastologist
Specialty within medical appliance technician
- Median pay
- $48,030median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 1,300
- Education
- High school
Designs and makes custom lifelike prostheses for the face and body, such as artificial ears, noses, eyes, and fingers.
- 24
24. Ocularist
Specialty within medical appliance technician
- Median pay
- $48,030median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 1,300
- Education
- High school
Makes and fits custom artificial eyes for people who have lost an eye to injury, cancer, or disease.
- 25
- Median pay
- $46,170median a year
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 5,100
- Education
- High school
Shape molten glass according to patterns.
- 26
26. Neon Sign Bender
Specialty within glass blower, molder, bender, and finisher
- Median pay
- $46,170median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 5,100
- Education
- High school
Heats and bends glass tubing by hand into letters and shapes, then fills it with gas to create glowing neon signs and art.
- 27
27. Potter, Manufacturing
Production
- Median pay
- $46,170median a year
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 5,100
- Education
- High school
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
- 28
- Median pay
- $46,170median a year
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 5,100
- Education
- High school
Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.
- 29
29. Craft Artist
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $46,080median a year
- Growth
- +2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,000
- Education
- No formal credential
Create or reproduce handmade objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.
- 30
30. Ice Sculptor
Specialty within craft artist
- Median pay
- $46,080median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,000
- Education
- No formal credential
Carves blocks of ice into sculptures for weddings, hotels, corporate events, festivals and competitions using chainsaws, chisels and die grinders.
- 31
31. Puppeteer
Specialty within craft artist
- Median pay
- $46,080median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,000
- Education
- No formal credential
Builds and performs puppets for television, film, theatre, theme parks and educational programs.
- 32
32. Stained Glass Artisan
Specialty within craft artist
- Median pay
- $46,080median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,000
- Education
- No formal credential
Designs, builds and restores stained and leaded glass windows for churches, historic buildings, homes and public art projects.
- 33
33. Photographer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $44,660median a year
- Growth
- −0.7%
- Openings / yr
- 10,700
- Education
- High school
Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects.
- 34
34. Photojournalist
Specialty within photographer
- Median pay
- $44,660median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.7%
- Openings / yr
- 10,700
- Education
- High school
Tells news stories through photographs, covering events, people and issues for newspapers, wire services and digital outlets.
- 35
35. Etcher and Engraver
Production
- Median pay
- $43,310median a year
- Growth
- −0.7%
- Openings / yr
- 800
- Education
- High school
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials.
- 36
36. Production Designer
Specialty within art director
- Median pay
- $114,850median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 12,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads the art department and designs the overall visual world of a film or TV series, from sets and locations to color palette.
- 37
37. Digital Product Designer
Specialty within web designer
- Median pay
- $170,000typical, Levels.fyi
- Growth
- +6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 8,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs how apps and websites look and work, from user flows and wireframes to polished interfaces, prototypes and design systems.
- 38
38. Level Designer
Specialty within video game designer
- Median pay
- $104,000median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 8,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Builds the playable spaces in video games, laying out maps, missions, puzzles and encounters that guide players through the game.
- 39
39. Video Game Designer
Computer and Mathematical
- Median pay
- $104,000median a year
- Growth
- +6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 8,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design core features of video games.
- 40
40. Web Designer
Computer and Mathematical
- Median pay
- $104,000median a year
- Growth
- +6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 8,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design digital user interfaces or websites.
- 41
41. Character Artist
Specialty within special effects artist and animator
- Median pay
- $102,030median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Sculpts, models and textures the 3D characters and creatures in video games, films and other real-time projects.
- 42
42. Cinematic Artist
Specialty within special effects artist and animator
- Median pay
- $102,030median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Creates the cutscenes and story sequences in video games, staging cameras, animation and lighting inside the game engine.
- 43
43. Technical Artist
Specialty within special effects artist and animator
- Median pay
- $102,030median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Bridges art and programming in games and animation, building shaders, rigs, tools and pipelines that let artists' work run in real time.
- 44
44. VFX Compositor
Specialty within special effects artist and animator
- Median pay
- $102,030median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Combines live-action footage, computer-generated elements and effects into seamless final shots for film, TV and commercials.
- 45
45. Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $97,150median a year
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 600
- Education
- Certificate
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
- 46
46. Perfumer
Specialty within chemist
- Median pay
- $91,240median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings / yr
- 5,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Creates fragrances for perfumes, personal care, and household products by blending natural and synthetic raw materials into formulas.
- 47
47. Automotive Designer
Specialty within commercial and industrial designer
- Median pay
- $83,910median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.4%
- Openings / yr
- 2,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Creates the look and feel of cars, trucks and motorcycles, from early sketches and digital models to the final shapes of exteriors and interiors.
- 48
48. Fashion Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $80,960median a year
- Growth
- +0.1%
- Openings / yr
- 2,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design clothing and accessories.
Questions
Art Jobs: FAQ
What is the top career on the art jobs list?
Chief Marketing Officer leads the list with a median wage of $166,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +6.9% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.
How was this list put together?
Careers built on visual and applied art: fine artists, illustrators, designers, animators, conservators and the people who exhibit and sell art. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers built on visual and applied art: fine artists, illustrators, designers, animators, conservators and the people who exhibit and sell art. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.
How much do art jobs pay?
Across the 48 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $65,305 a year, from $43,310 at the bottom to $1,917,000 at the top (BLS OEWS May 2025 and the industry compensation sources cited on each career page). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
15 of the 48 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).