17% 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.
23 Creative Careers That Pay Well, Ranked by Median Wage (2026)
Art Director tops this list at $114,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +4.2% projected employment change over 2024–2034. Below are 23 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
Occupations with a strong Artistic interest profile or high creative-thinking demands that pay at least 25% above the US median wage.
- Careers on this list
- 23
- Median pay on the list
- $77,930
- Projected to grow
- 21 of 23
- Openings a year
- 176,100
From 923 in the bank
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Combined, BLS EP
How we built this list
- Included when the O*NET Artistic interest score leads the profile or creative-thinking demands score highly.
- Also required to pay at least 25% above the $50,980 US median wage.
- 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 top 23 creative careers that pay well
1. Art Director
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $114,850
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 12,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
2. Video Game Designer
Computer and Mathematical
- Median pay
- $104,000
- Growth
- +7.0%
- Openings / yr
- 9,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design core features of video games.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
3. Special Effects Artist and Animator
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $102,030
- Growth
- +1.6%
- Openings / yr
- 5,000
- 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.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
4. Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $97,150
- Growth
- +8.1%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Certificate
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $90,360
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 12,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction.
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $90,360
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 12,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $90,360
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 12,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
8. Commercial and Industrial Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $83,910
- Growth
- +3.2%
- Openings / yr
- 2,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
9. Fashion Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $80,960
- Growth
- +2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 2,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design clothing and accessories.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
10. Landscape Architect
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $79,870
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 1,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
11. Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $78,620
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 9,000
- 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.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
12. Art Therapist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $77,930
- Growth
- +11.5%
- Openings / yr
- 4,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan or conduct art therapy sessions or programs to improve clients' physical, cognitive, or emotional well-being.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
13. Music Therapist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $77,930
- Growth
- +11.5%
- Openings / yr
- 4,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
14. Editor
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $77,920
- Growth
- +0.6%
- Openings / yr
- 9,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
15. Writer and Author
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 13,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
16. Poet, Lyricist and Creative Writer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 13,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
17. Film and Video Editor
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $75,420
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 3,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Edit moving images on film, video, or other media.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
18. Set and Exhibit Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $75,240
- Growth
- +2.3%
- Openings / yr
- 2,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
19. Camera Operator, Television, Video, and Film
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $74,990
- Growth
- +1.2%
- Openings / yr
- 2,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $74,750
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 27,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations.
21. Music Director and Composer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $73,710
- Growth
- -0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 4,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
22. Sound Engineering Technician
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $73,130
- Growth
- -1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 1,200
- Education
- Certificate
Assemble and operate equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce sound, including music, voices, or sound effects, for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
23. Interior Designer
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Median pay
- $67,190
- Growth
- +3.2%
- Openings / yr
- 7,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings.
Profile coming in the next tranche.
Creative Careers That Pay Well: FAQ
What is the top career on the creative careers that pay well list?
Art Director leads the list with a median wage of $114,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +4.2% over 2024–2034. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.
How was this list put together?
Occupations with a strong Artistic interest profile or high creative-thinking demands that pay at least 25% above the US median wage. Included when the O*NET Artistic interest score leads the profile or creative-thinking demands score highly. Also required to pay at least 25% above the $50,980 US median wage. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET 30.3 Database.
How much do creative careers that pay well pay?
Across the 23 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $77,930 a year, from $67,190 at the bottom to $114,850 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
2 of the 23 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, 2024–2034).