Builds and performs puppets for television, film, theatre, theme parks and educational programs. BLS does not publish separate figures for craft artists; it counts them within craft artist (SOC 27-1012), whose median pay is $46,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 27-1012
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Puppeteer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $46,080a year, or $22.15/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $26KTop 10% $72K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.0%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,00011,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202511.5K
- Projected 203511.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 11.5K Projected 2035 11.8K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school17.4%
- High school26.1%
- Certificate26.1%
- Some college17.4%
- Bachelor's8.7%
- Post-bacc certificate4.4%
Highest education held by craft artists Segment Value Less than high school 17.4% High school 26.1% Certificate 26.1% Some college 17.4% Bachelor's 8.7% Post-bacc certificate 4.4%
Also advertised as: Puppet Performer, Puppet Builder, Animatronic Puppeteer, Marionettist, Puppet Designer.
Pay
How much do Craft Artists make?
Every puppeteer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$46,080
Middle half earn $35,020 to $58,240
- 10th
- $25,960
- 25th
- $35,020
- 75th
- $58,240
- 90th
- $71,990
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $25,960 |
| 25th | $35,020 |
| Median | $46,080 |
| 75th | $58,240 |
| 90th | $71,990 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $46,080
- Median hourly wage
- $22.15/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $49,740
- People employed
- 4,580
Versus all US occupations
At $46,080, Craft Artists earn 10% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,900 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 32% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $71,990 or more while the bottom 10% earn $25,960, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 13% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $100,540, and still leads at $90,806 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Craft Artists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $100,540 | $90,806 | 170 |
| 2Missouri | $61,780 | $68,027 | 140 |
| 3Wisconsin | $58,650 | $62,331 | 190 |
| 4Texas | $54,690 | $56,348 | 870 |
| 5Maine | $53,380 | $55,003 | 50 |
| 6Oregon | $51,060 | $49,400 | 170 |
| 7New York | $49,020 | $45,422 | 50 |
| 8Georgia | $48,880 | $50,762 | N/A |
| 9Florida | $48,710 | $47,102 | 270 |
| 10Massachusetts | $47,660 | $45,066 | 50 |
Job outlook
Is Puppeteer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Craft Artists | +2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Craft Artists to change 2.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,000 openings are projected each year, 8.7% of the 11,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Puppeteer
Puppeteers train through theatre and puppetry programs, workshops and apprenticeships. The University of Connecticut offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in puppet arts, one of the few degree programs of its kind in the United States, and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center hosts the National Puppetry Conference.
Puppeteers of America and UNIMA-USA support the field with festivals, guilds and resources. Many performers start in local theatre or children's programs and build demo reels. Television and film puppeteering under SAG-AFTRA contracts often comes through workshops run by established companies.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as craft artists.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)26.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate26.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma17.4%
- Some College Courses17.4%
- Bachelor's Degree8.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 26.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 26.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 17.4% |
| Some College Courses | 17.4% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 8.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Puppeteer do?
Puppeteers bring objects to life. Performers operate hand-and-rod puppets for television, perform with marionettes, shadow puppets and large-scale puppets in theatre, and control animatronic creatures with remote systems on film sets. Television puppetry is often performed while watching a monitor, with arms raised overhead for long takes.
Many puppeteers also design and build puppets using foam, fabric, carving and mechanical systems, and some specialize as fabricators at creature shops. Others perform in theme park shows, children's theatre, educational programs and touring productions. The craft combines acting, voice, physical precision and a strong understanding of how small movements convey emotion.
Day-to-day tasks
- Perform puppets for live shows and filmed productions
- Design and build puppets from foam, fabric and wood
- Operate animatronic puppets with remote controls
- Develop character movement and voice
- Rehearse with directors and other performers
- Maintain and repair puppets during runs
- Teach puppetry workshops and educational programs
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Puppeteers work in theatres, studios, film sets, theme parks and workshops. Performing can be physically demanding, with arms held overhead or crouching under sets. Building puppets involves tools, foam and adhesives. Work is often freelance, project-based and can involve touring.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Mathematics2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Persuasion2.8
- Service Orientation2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Operations Analysis2.6
- Coordination2.5
- Quality Control Analysis2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
| Service Orientation | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Operations Analysis | 2.6 |
| Coordination | 2.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Electronic mail software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Instant messaging software
- Internet browser software
- Point of sale POS software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Puppeteer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ARS) built on O*NET's Craft Artist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Puppeteer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 6 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Artistic6.0
- Realistic5.9
- Enterprising2.9
- Conventional2.7
- Social2.6
- Investigative1.9
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Puppeteer
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More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with craft artists highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Puppeteer$46,080
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Puppeteer | $46,080 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Puppeteer appears on
Questions
Puppeteer: frequently asked questions
How much do Craft Artists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for craft artists. It counts them within craft artist, whose median pay is $46,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $35,020 and $58,240, and the top 10% earn $71,990 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Puppeteer?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Craft Artists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 26.1% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Puppeteer a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.0% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Puppeteer do?
Puppeteers bring objects to life. A typical task: perform puppets for live shows and filmed productions. Employers most often ask for Web page creation and editing software.
Which states pay Craft Artists the most?
The highest state medians for Craft Artists are California ($100,540), Missouri ($61,780), Wisconsin ($58,650) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Puppeteer?
O*NET scores Craft Artists highest on the Artistic and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INFP, INTP, ISFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.