Artist and Designer: Job Profile & Salary

Overview

Whether you're the art director of the Museum of Modern Art, a graphic designer for a major publication, or a craft artist who peddles handmade goods on the online marketplace Etsy, you're using your artistic vision and voice to communicate an idea, thought, or feeling. For an artist or designer, there are a variety of mediums to bring those ideas to fruition, such as painting, ceramics, illustration, photography, film, video, and online media. "There are so many fields of design one could choose to practice, from industrial to fashion, graphic to interior, and just as many clients," says Maria Habib, senior director of design and design instructor for the Corcoran Gallery of Art, College of Art + Design, in Washington, D.C. "There are also various forums to work within, such as freelance versus in-house. Either way, it's definitely a rigorous field of work."

Finding a job as an artist or designer can be competitive and oftentimes frustrating, but you can stand out from the pack by volunteering at an art gallery or creating a website displaying a portfolio of your best work. Habib says that if your artistic work evolves into a career, you will probably be involved in the business aspect of it, and you will need to manage expectations of yourself and your clients.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects artist and designer employment growth of 9.8 percent between 2010 and 2020, which translates to approximately 76,100 new artist and designer positions to fill.

Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median annual wage for artists and designers was $58,840 in 2010. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made approximately $163,430, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $28,730. The highest-paid work is in the metropolitan areas of Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, N.Y., White Plains, N.Y., and Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.

Training

A bachelor's degree in your speciality—for example, graphic design or fine art—is usually required for most entry-level positions. Independent schools of art and design provide postsecondary studio training in the fine, craft, and multimedia arts, which could lead to certificates in the specialties, or to an associate's or bachelor's degree in fine arts. Art directors, clients, and others will almost always ask to see your portfolio, which is a collection of samples of your best work. Postsecondary training in art or visual communications, as well as an internship, are excellent ways to build a successful portfolio.

Reviews and Advice

According to Habib, it's not just the programs within your specialty that you need to be up to date with, but also the fundamentals of design theory and history. "Your vision is most important, and separates the professional designer, from desktop publishers and production artists," recommends Habib. "A four-year BFA degree from a reputable design college or internships that hone your work ethic certainly helps."

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