Art Careers in Today’s Job Market: Fine Arts to Digital Design

An art career typically involves creating visual artwork and expressing your creativity. Careers in the arts exist across multiple disciplines, ranging from museum curators to video game designers. A combination of passion and talent can help you succeed in several artistic jobs. 

Explore the responsibilities of various art and design careers, as well as the skills needed to succeed in the visual arts. Discover the salaries and job outlooks for art roles and how to start your career as an artist.

10 design and art careers to consider

If you’re just beginning your studies, actively pursuing an art degree, or starting your professional job search, let these careers provide a glimpse into working in the art industry. 

All annual salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of September 2024 and does not include additional pay, such as commission or benefits. All job outlook data is sourced from BLS as of September 2024. 

1. Graphic designer

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $65,344 

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 3 percent

How to get the job: Graphic designers are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related fine arts field. You should prepare an original portfolio showcasing your work and remain updated on emerging visual software.

As a graphic designer, you create visuals using technology to promote advertising or marketing campaigns within your company. Graphic designers transform an idea into a visual concept for communication purposes. Common graphic designer tasks include: 

• Meeting with clients to understand their vision for a project

• Using digital software to create designs

• Choosing the fonts and colors that will be indicative of your company

• Editing and updating designs according to client or company’s needs

This role might be a good fit if: You have creative skills, enjoy networking and asking questions, and have a background working with technology.

2. Animator

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor):  $69,483 

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032):  8 percent 

How to get the job: Animator positions typically require a bachelor’s degree in animation or a graphic arts-related field of study. As an animator, you should know animation software and possess a portfolio demonstrating your creative abilities.

You should expect to not only design and build worlds but also to conceptualize them from the ground up. Animators are in a unique position as they are often tasked with bringing a client’s idea to life in the form of video games, films, or other forms of entertainment. An animator’s tasks typically include:

• Storyboarding with a team of artists

• Designing the characters and environment within an animated world

• Recording voice actors for character dialogue

• Developing special effects to enhance visuals

This role might be a good fit if: You enjoy storytelling, and have artistic talent including the ability to illustrate. 

3. Video game designer

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor):  $89,017

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 8 percent 

How to get the job:  Video game designers typically require a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. Game designers should have advanced technology skills as well as creative and artistic skills. Game designing internships may benefit your professional job search as you work to gain experience before applying to work at a game company.

As a video game designer, you use elements of animation in conjunction with advanced software engineering technology to conceptualize and design worlds within video games. Game designers are typically required to perform tasks such as:

• Designing the plot and layout of a video game

• Working with a team of artists to design characters and background

• Collaborating with video game developers to create code for the game

This role might be a good fit if: You have a passion for video games and design talent.

4. UX designer

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor):  $79,181

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 16 percent 

How to get the job: UX designers often have a degree in graphic design, interaction design, or an alternative degree in a related field. It’s becoming more common for companies to hire UX designers who do not have degrees. For some, exhibiting the skill set of a UX designer is enough for hiring. 

A UX designer, or user experience designer, aims to create a positive relationship between humans and the products they interact with. As a UX designer, your tasks may include design and everything surrounding the experience between a customer and a product. You'll likely be involved in:

• Acquiring a new product for your company through user research

• Integrating that product into a smooth, easy experience for customers to interact with

• Designing prototypes and plans to test the influence of the product

• Ensuring that the process of interaction is positive

This role might be a good fit if: You understand how and why people perceive products, and you can curate positive experiences.

5. Product designer

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor):  $92,858

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 2 percent

How to get the job: Product designers may need a bachelor’s degree in marketing, engineering, graphic design, or a related field. 

As a product designer, you work closely with UX designers to formulate a product. Product designers are heavily involved in the entire process of designing a product and often brainstorm ideas for products. In this role, you may be in charge of connecting different specialists and paying attention to detail so you can design products successfully. As a product designer, your tasks may include:

• Acting as a liaison between UX designers and other members of your team

• Defining goals and achieving success in product development

• Analyzing market data to understand the impact of your product

This role might be a good fit if: You have strong leadership skills and express interest in the business side of product design in addition to the physical design. 

Read more: What Is a Product Designer? Salaries, Skills, and More

6. Front-end developer

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor):   $85,364

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032):  16 percent

How to get the job: Front-end developers typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, web development, programming, or a related field and should master coding software such as HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and Python. 

As a front-end developer, your job includes building the websites for your company viewed by your clients. Though similar, a front-end developer completes tasks that differ from those of a front-end engineer. For example, a front-end developer is in charge of how a website or user interface looks and makes it easy to navigate. As a front-end developer, your tasks may include:

• Using software like JavaScript or HTML to design websites

• Developing comfortable user experiences when navigating a website

• Testing for bugs or errors in the code and fixing them

This role might be a good fit if: You have problem-solving and advanced coding skills.

Read more: What Does a Front-End Developer Do?

7. Art teacher

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor):  $53,686

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 1 percent

How to get the job: Art teachers typically have a bachelor’s degree in education, and if you become a public school teacher, you need to earn a teaching license in your state based on its specific requirements.

As an art teacher, you shape the minds and skills of the next generation. Teaching positions vary from preschool to high school, and each teacher has a responsibility to ensure the welfare and education of their students while helping them develop their abilities in painting, sculpture, drawing, and other visual arts. If you pursue a career in teaching, your day-to-day responsibilities may include:

• Formulating lesson plans and curriculums

• Accommodating and encouraging students

• Evaluating and grading student assignments

• Assisting a student when they are struggling

• Attending parent-teacher conferences

This role might be a good fit if: You love working with kids and have a passion for art and education.

8. Art therapist

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor):  $77,110

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 15 percent 

How to get the job: Art therapist employers usually require a bachelor’s degree in art therapy or a combination of a studio art and psychology degree. Art therapists have a license in either art therapy or professional counseling. Additionally, you need to earn a master’s degree in either art therapy or professional counseling.

As an art therapist, you help adults, children, or both to process their emotions by creating works of art. Art therapy allows people to engage in the process of personal development, and art therapists assist in that process and guide people toward developing better-coping skills and managing their emotions. Your responsibilities as an art therapist may include:

• Designing artistic activities to teach emotional regulation

• Guiding lessons in emotional awareness

• Utilizing art through a therapeutic lens

• Using art to heal subconscious emotions

This role might be a good fit if: You have a passion for art and helping others. You must have good communication skills and have a background in psychology.

9. Curator

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $80,459

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 10 percent

How to get the job: Employers may expect aspiring curators to have a bachelor’s degree in art history, arts administration, or a related field and a master’s in museum studies or an art history-focused program. It may benefit your career to complete an internship at a museum or gallery to gain experience.

As a museum curator, you’re responsible for which art a museum chooses to display and how the design of that display engages the public. Curators are responsible for the acquisition of artwork and designing exhibition themes to cohesively tell a story through art. As a curator, your day-to-day tasks may include:

• Meeting with art collectors and deciding which art the museum will acquire

• Developing themes and ideas to compose an exhibition

• Cataloging works of art into the museum’s collection

• Writing informative labels to provide a history of the individual artworks

This role might be a good fit if: You are passionate about art or art history and have a talent for designing thematic exhibits.

10. Advertising creative director

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $80,297

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 6 percent

How to get the job: You typically need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in creative advertising or a related field such as graphic design or marketing to begin your career as an advertising creative director.

As an advertising creative director, your role involves designing advertisements that make your company stand out in the market. You use design creative marketing strategies and online ads and originally promote your company. As an advertising creative director, your tasks may include:

• Conveying your company’s message through advertisements

• Designing engaging physical and virtual flyers

• Collaborating within your company to develop new ideas

• Making an impression with your advertising

This role might be a good fit if: You are creative and passionate about marketing and advertising.

Do you need a degree for an art career?

You may need a degree in preparation for entering the professional workforce for your art career. If you earn a degree in studio art or graphic design, numerous positions are available that you may apply for as they cover a breadth of disciplines. If you know you want a specific position, such as a teacher or curator, you may choose to earn a more specific degree such as education or art history. A therapeutic or counseling job, such as an art therapist, usually requires a master's degree.

Next steps

Art careers range from graphic design, web design, and teaching to art therapy. If you’re interested in beginning your career as an artist, consider the salary, job outlook, and educational requirements of each role in the art industry. 

To discover which art career you wish to have, start by narrowing down if you are a more technical or design-focused person. Then, establish if you are more drawn to positions that require only a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree. Finally, understand what skills you possess or need to acquire that will allow you to thrive in your career. 

To begin your art career, explore courses such as Graphic Design Specialization offered by the California Institute of the Arts or Art & Activity: Interactive Strategies for Engaging with Art by The Museum of Modern Art on Coursera.