Art Career Statistics

Looking into art school to pursue a career as an artist, photographer, or designer? Study up on these figures first (from the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook)..

• About 62% of artists and related workers are self-employed. Almost one-fourth of fashion designers and 30% of commercial or industrial designers are self-employed.
  
• Employment of artists and related workers is projected to grow 16% through 2016, faster than the national average for other fields.
  
• Multi-media artists and animators will be most in demand through 2016 -- that profession will see a 26% increase in employment.
  
• Fine artists will see a 10% increase in employment.
  
• Commerical and industrial designers will face an average employment growth of 7%. They earn an average of $54,560.
  
• Art directors earn a median annual salary of $68,100. The lowest ten percent earn less than $37, 920, and the highest ten percent earn more than $135,090.
  
• Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, earn a median annual salary of $41,970.
  
• Multi-media artists and animators earn roughly $52,000 (this does not include figures from self-employed animators).
  
• Artists (multi-media, fine, and craft artists, art directors, and animators) hold approximately 218,000 jobs in the U.S.
  
• Interior designers hold 72,000 jobs.
  
• Employment of interior designers will grow 19 percent through 2016, faster than average.
  
• The highest concentration of fashion designers are employed in New York City and California.
  
• The majority of artists develop their skills through a bachelor's degree program or other postsecondary training in art.

Figures are from the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.