8 Best High-Salary First Jobs in the Arts

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The median yearly wage for the arts and design industry is $51,660, according to latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. But not every artistic job pays that amount. Some pay much more.

If you’re interested in getting a job in the arts, you’ve got options. Pulling data from the BLS, here are some of the highest-paying jobs in this field — and what you need to get them.

Special Effects Artist or Animator

• Median pay: $99,060
• Required education: Bachelor’s degree

As a special effects artist or animator, you generate moving images and visual effects across different forms of media. You can work from home or in the office. Both roles are indispensable when it comes to everything, from game designs to television shows.

Set and Exhibit Designer

• Median pay: $59,490
• Required education: Bachelor’s degree

As a set and exhibit designer, you’ll work to create displays and other tactile spaces for plays, musicals and other productions. You might not make as much starting out, but you could earn six figures as a set and exhibit designer. Some professionals earn around $100,000.

Interior Designer

• Median pay: $62,510
• Required education: Bachelor’s degree

If you have an eye for creating cohesive, creative and functional indoor spaces, interior design might be for you. You’ll need to plan different layouts, understand your client’s needs and analyze the space requirements.

Industrial Designer

• Median pay: $76,250
• Required education: Bachelor’s degree

Industrial designers are professionals who combine art with tech — and often business or engineering — to create the concepts behind different manufactured products, like home appliances or toys. It’s a great way to use your artistic skills while making a high salary.

Graphic Designer

• Median pay: $58,910
• Required education: Bachelor’s degree

You can work for yourself or a company as a graphic designer. As a graphic designer, you’ll create all kinds of visual concepts, ranging from logos to advertisements to brochures. Once you get an established portfolio or a little experience you can work your way up to six figures.

Fashion Designer

• Median pay: $79,290
• Required education: Bachelor’s degree

Do you love working with fabrics? Do you have a keen eye for fashion? If so, the life of a fashion designer could be the perfect fit. As a fashion designer, you can work on fashion shows, create your own business or partner with an established company to bring your designs to life.

Art Director

• Median pay: $106,500
• Required education: Bachelor’s degree

Art directors oversee the visuals, layout, production and more across different mediums — like product packaging, magazines and even television productions. There’s a lot of potential in this field, but even the starting pay is high.

UI/UX Designer

• Average pay (Glassdoor): $122,705
• Required education: Bachelor’s degree

User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) designers are always in high demand. These professionals combine artistic and other creative talent with advanced tech skills to optimize user experience.

You don’t necessarily have to know how to code, but you’ll need to be able to make strategic design decisions, conduct usability testing, prototyping and more.

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