45 Jobs You Can Do With an Arts Degree
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.
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: $13.99 per hour
Primary 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: $16.88 per hour
Primary 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: $17.17 per hour
Primary 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: $37,156 per year
Primary 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: $19.64 per hour
Primary duties: Art teachers educate students on different artistic mediums and movements to encourage expression and appreciation.
6. Theatre manager
National average salary: $45,818 per year
Primary 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: $62,894 per year
Primary duties: Art supervisors manage graphic design and visual art personnel to guide the generation of creative marketing campaigns.
8. Art director
National average salary: $75,142 per year
Primary 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: $99,973 per year
Primary 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: $12.53 per hour
Primary 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: $14.07 per hour
Primary 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: $16.29 per hour
Primary 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: $16.91 per hour
Primary 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: $17.36 per hour
Primary 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.
