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Museums & Galleries
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate, MoMA
Artists and Related Workers, All Other
Artists in this catch-all category make original work that does not fit a single specialty label, such as paintings, sculpture, installations, mixed media, or digital pieces. The job is defined by constant choices about style, materials, and presentation, so the work is as much about building a portfolio, pricing pieces, and finding buyers as it is about making art. The tradeoff is clear: the median pay is $72,760, but the field is small, with only about 7,370 jobs and growth that is essentially flat.
Also known as Visual ArtistStudio ArtistFine ArtistMixed Media ArtistFreelance Artist
Median Salary
$72,760
Mean $79,490
U.S. Workforce
~7K
1.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+0.8%
13.9K to 14K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Artists and Related Workers, All Other sits in the Creative category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~7K workers, with a median annual pay of $72,760 and roughly 1.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 13.9 K in 2024 to 14K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Studio Assistant and can progress toward Established Artist. High-value skills usually include Traditional Drawing, Painting & Composition, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign), and Procreate & Digital Illustration, paired with soft skills such as Creativity, Persistence, and Self-Management.
Core Responsibilities
- Sketch new ideas and plan the look, size, materials, and style of each piece before starting the final version.
- Create finished artwork using the right medium for the project, whether that means paint, clay, digital tools, or mixed materials.
- Set up and maintain the workspace, including supplies, tools, and specialty materials for each job or series.
- Photograph, scan, and organize finished pieces for portfolios, websites, gallery submissions, and sales listings.
Keep exploring: more Creative careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Sketch new ideas and plan the look, size, materials, and style of each piece before starting the final version.
02 Create finished artwork using the right medium for the project, whether that means paint, clay, digital tools, or mixed materials.
03 Set up and maintain the workspace, including supplies, tools, and specialty materials for each job or series.
04 Photograph, scan, and organize finished pieces for portfolios, websites, gallery submissions, and sales listings.
05 Talk with clients, curators, or buyers about commissions, revisions, deadlines, and pricing.
06 Package, ship, install, or present work for exhibitions, events, and private collections, and handle the paperwork that goes with sales.
Industries That Hire
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Film, TV & Animation
Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks Animation
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Video Games
Nintendo, Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment
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Publishing & Editorial
Penguin Random House, Condé Nast, HarperCollins
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Advertising & Branding
Wieden+Kennedy, Ogilvy, BBDO
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The median pay of $72,760 and mean pay of $79,490 are solid for a creative occupation, especially for artists who can keep a steady stream of commissions or sales.
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BLS says no formal educational credential is typical, so the field is one of the few where a portfolio can matter more than a diploma.
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The work can be varied across galleries, commissions, licensing, and digital sales, which gives artists multiple ways to make money from the same core skill set.
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The occupation is small, with about 7,370 workers, so a distinctive style or niche can help someone stand out faster than in larger creative fields.
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Long-term on-the-job training lets people keep improving while working, which can be better than a rigid classroom path for highly individual art practices.
Challenges
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Growth is nearly flat, rising only 0.8% from 13.9 thousand projected jobs in 2024 to 14.0 thousand in 2034, so the field is not adding many new opportunities.
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There are only about 1.2 thousand annual openings, which means competition for paid work, gallery space, and commissions stays intense.
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Income can be unstable because a lot of the work is freelance or project-based, and busy months can be followed by long dry spells.
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The career ceiling can be real: there are relatively few salaried roles, so many artists have to self-market for years to reach higher earnings.
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Generative AI, stock assets, and template-based design tools can undercut routine illustration and decorative work, making some types of paid art harder to sell.
Career Progression
Studio Assistant
0-2 years
$30K-$44K
Helps with prep work, materials, documentation, shipping, and basic studio tasks while learning how professional artists keep projects moving.
Artist and Related Worker
2-6 years
$45K-$79K
Creates and sells original work, takes on commissions, and spends a meaningful share of the week on portfolio, promotion, and client communication.
Experienced Artist THIS ROLE
6-12 years
$80K-$114K
Handles larger or more complex projects, develops a recognizable style, and often works with galleries, repeat clients, or licensing opportunities.
Established Artist
12+ years
$115K-$160K
Commands higher fees, larger commissions, or more selective gallery opportunities and may also earn from teaching, speaking, or brand collaborations.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
BLS lists this as the typical entry point for the occupation, and many artists build a portfolio through self-study, workshops, and repeated practice instead of a degree.
Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Studio Art, or a related field
A degree can help with critique, studio access, and professional contacts, but it is an alternative route rather than a requirement for this role.
Certificate, apprenticeship, or long-term portfolio-building path
BLS says long-term on-the-job training is typical, which fits artists who learn through assistant work, mentorship, and steady portfolio development.
Key Skills
Technical
Traditional Drawing, Painting & Composition 92%
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign) 84%
Procreate & Digital Illustration 78%
Photography, Scanning & Image Editing 69%
Blender, ZBrush & 3D Sculpting 61%
Soft Skills
CreativityPersistenceSelf-ManagementAdaptabilityCommunicationAttention to Detail Job Outlook and Trends
+0.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 13.9K to 14 K over the next decade, representing 0.8% growth. Around 1.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.