This article was originally published on Indeed.
Studying art in college can be a compelling experience full of creative opportunities. Once you graduate from art school, though, it can be challenging to figure out what career path you should take—while some art degree graduates try to find success selling their original works, others are passionate about applying their skills in different capacities. If you’re a recent graduate or current student working on an art degree, it’s a good idea to consider the career options available to you. In this article, we outline 45 unique job options for those with art degrees within a variety of specialties.
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What can you do with an art degree?
There are many career opportunities for those who earn art degrees. Depending on the concentration of your degree, you may be able to work in industries such as arts administration, education, media, communications, technology and more. Some career professionals work directly with art, while others apply an artistic vision to careers outside of the world of art—these jobs build upon the foundational creative skills that students learn while earning their degrees. Whether you have a background in fine arts, visual arts, film, design or art history, there’s a career out there to suit your specific needs.
Fine arts jobs
Fine arts refers to the overarching study of artistic expression. Here are 9 jobs to consider in the field:
1. Artist
National average salary:$85,424 per yearPrimary duties: Artists work with different mediums to create and sell original works. They may focus on painting, drawing, weaving, glassblowing or other mediums.
2. Production artist
National average salary:$51,213 per yearPrimary duties: Production artists assist design teams to produce high-quality print materials, packaging and display projects within different industries. They may work for publishing houses, product design teams, advertising agencies and more.
3. Photographer
National average salary:$47,073 per yearPrimary duties: Photographers work within industries like journalism, event production and portraiture to take properly composed photos of people and landscapes.
4. Print manager
National average salary:$66,290 per yearPrimary duties: Print managers supervise printing teams and oversee the printing of marketing materials, signage, media publications and other materials. They are typically responsible for quality assurance and interfacing with clients.
5. Art teacher
National average salary:$61,090 per yearPrimary duties: Art teachers educate students on different artistic mediums and movements to encourage expression and appreciation.
6. Theatre manager
National average salary:$58,212 per yearPrimary duties: Theatre managers oversee the operations and staff of performing arts centers to curate excellent guest experiences. They may design spaces, coordinate performances and plan specific events.
7. Art supervisor
National average salary:$70,443 per yearPrimary duties: Art supervisors manage graphic design and visual art personnel to guide the generation of creative marketing campaigns.
8. Art director
National average salary:$90,487 per yearPrimary duties: Art directors oversee large advertising and design projects. They hire staff and coordinate workflow to ensure high-quality production.Read more:Learn About Being an Art Director
9. Creative director
National average salary:$117,204 per yearPrimary duties: Creative directors develop visions for advertising campaigns, presentations and brand curation. While they are often involved with big-picture ideas, they may also manage staff and workflow.Read more:Learn About Being a Creative Director
Visual arts jobs
Visual arts refer to the study of arts created primarily for visual perception, such as painting, sculpture, drawing, graphics and decorative arts. Here are a few jobs in the field:
1. Engraver
National average salary:$32,945 per yearPrimary duties: Engravers etch designs, words and images into materials like glass, metal, stone and wood for a variety of clients. They may create promotional materials or focus on unique creations used for personal purposes.
2. Floral designer
National average salary:$38,237 per yearPrimary duties: Floral designers arrange live, dried and silk flowers to create decorative displays for events, celebrations and holidays. They may work in floral shops or as contractors hired by clients to curate flowers and install large-scale displays.
3. Furniture finisher
National average salary:$36,616 per yearPrimary duties: Furniture finishers preserve and restore damaged, used or older furniture with paint, oil, stain, wax to achieve a desired finish.
4. Interior decorator
National average salary:$72,826 per yearPrimary duties: Interior decorators arrange and furnish spaces with decor, accessories, lighting fixtures, color schemes and artwork. They may specialize in business spaces, homes, offices or retail stores.
5. Sculptor
National average salary:$66,852 per yearPrimary duties: Sculptors work with clay, stone, marble, wood and other materials to create primarily three-dimensional art, like statues. Often, these sculptures are displayed in public spaces and therefore, sculptors must also perform preservation duties.
6. Illustrator
National average salary:$53,545 per yearPrimary duties: Illustrators draw and draft images for intended audiences based on client needs. They may illustrate books, advertising materials and more.
7. Curator
National average salary:$69,796 per yearPrimary duties: Curators design and build collections of art in galleries and museums. They often buy pieces of art and organize exhibits. In addition, curators may design suitable art storage processes.Read more:Learn About Becoming a Curator
8. Set manager
National average salary:$48,882 per yearPrimary duties: Set managers supervise employees working on a stage or set. They may oversee set design and direct artistic personnel to ensure the aesthetic quality of a production.
9. Tattoo artist
National average salary:$58,012 per yearPrimary duties: Tattoo artists draw and draft tattoos based on client needs. Then, they use ink tattooing methods to permanently impose their designs on clients. They may also specialize in tattoo removal or coverup procedures.
Art history jobs
Art history refers to the study of the specific context and history behind artistic expression and movements. Here are 9 jobs within the field:
1. Art framer
National average salary:$42,773 per yearPrimary duties: Art framers create custom framing solutions for client collections. They mount pieces, design frames and assemble them for presentation. They may specialize in using certain materials or aesthetic designs.
2. Gallery manager
National average salary:$47,793 per yearPrimary duties: Gallery managers perform administrative tasks within art galleries and museums. They coordinate shipping, storage and presentation of art. In addition, they may oversee gallery staff to ensure streamlined operations.
3. Program coordinator
National average salary:$41,787 per yearPrimary duties: Program coordinators often oversee specific arts programs and initiatives. They often serve administratively and support participants.Read more:Learn About Being a Program Coordinator
4. Art consultant
National average salary:$64,940 per yearPrimary duties: Art consultants assist clients with selecting and acquiring art pieces to display in their homes, businesses or personal collections. They may acquire art from galleries, museums or artists themselves.
5. Professor
National average salary:$64,268 per yearPrimary duties: Professors teach students at colleges and universities in a variety of disciplines. They may also perform research, secure grant funding, advise students and develop curriculum.
6. Art manager
National average salary:$70,443 per yearPrimary duties: Art managers work within arts departments of different organizations. They oversee, plan, direct and coordinate all activities performed by departmental staff.
7. Archivist
National average salary:$60,813 per yearPrimary duties: Archivists evaluate, preserve, arrange and store special materials, such as important documents, publications and photos.
8. Historian
National average salary:$69,194 per yearPrimary duties: Historians perform research and gather data from various sources to interpret historical information. They often write books and journal articles to synthesize this information.
9. Art agent
National average salary:$33,619 per yearPrimary duties: Art agents represent artists who create original work. They interface with buyers, such as gallery and museum professionals, handling sales and promotion.
Film jobs
Film refers to the study of multimedia expression, such as videos, sound, movies, news media and digital media. Here are 9 jobs within the field of film to consider:
1. Video editor
National average salary:$60,656 per yearPrimary duties: Video editors assemble and edit raw footage and sound to create broadcast-ready products. They may specialize in television, movies, commercials or other types of filmed content.
2. Sound technician
National average salary:$44,671 per yearPrimary duties: Sound technicians are responsible for setting up recording equipment, such as microphones, and managing sound levels during film production. They may also work in recording studios or concert venues.
3. Producer
National average salary:$78,896 per yearPrimary duties: Producers come up with visions for projects, finance them and source personnel to realize their visions. They may arrange writers, directors and other important creatives to complete production duties.
4. Filmmaker
National average salary:$58,335 per yearPrimary duties: Filmmakers work within a variety of genres to create movies, documentaries, television shows and more. They direct and develop these productions to completion with the assistance of other film professionals.
5. Broadcast technician
National average salary:$58,417 per yearPrimary duties: Broadcast technicians work in newsrooms and other live television stations to set up, operate and manage the equipment necessary to record, edit and transmit media. They often control incoming and outgoing broadcasts.
6. Digital content manager
National average salary:$69,570 per yearPrimary duties: Digital content managers create online marketing and brand curation materials to help clients achieve their goals. They oversee web analytics and other metrics to determine how to maximize traffic.
7. Game designer
National average salary:$89,799 per yearPrimary duties: Game designers create video games using computer programming languages to write code. They create game rules, characters, settings, challenges, puzzles and animation. They may also curate gameplay processes.
8. Videographer
National average salary:$128,988 per yearPrimary duties: Videographers specialize in recording and filming news media, live events, documentaries, sports events, training videos and commercials. They typically work on small scale video production teams.
9. Communications director
National average salary:$94,974 per yearPrimary duties: Communications directors manage multimedia campaigns and direct marketing and design professionals. They typically oversee creative processes and the flow of media.
