Figures for average salaries and potential earnings are compiled according to data from the US Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook; other sources include professional organizations such as the Association of Art Museum Directors, FabriCAD, Graphic Artists Guild and the National Associations of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey and the Princeton Review.

Advertising Design

Occupations

Advertising Copywriter
Advertising Producer
Art Director
Campaign Strategist
Creative Director
Graphic Designer
Marketing Manager
Multimedia Advertising
Owner/Employee of Ad Agency
Print Advertising

Employment Outlook

Web Designer College graduates with related experience, a high level of creativity, and strong communication skills should have the best job opportunities. Employers will particularly seek those who have the computer skills to conduct advertising, marketing promotions, public relations and sales activities on the internet.

Potential Earnings

Starting salary in 2006 was $32,037.
Advertising/Promotions Manager, average $63,610
Art Director range $48,000-$70,000
Creative Director range $63,000-100,000
Freelance $23-50 hour
Marketing Manager $87,640
Web Designer $40,000-56,700

Animation

Occupations

2-D/3-D Animator
Art Director
Character Designer
Compositor
Demo Artist
Director
Illustrator
Instructor
Layout/Background Artist
Mixed Media Animator
Producer
Stop Motion Animator
Storyboard/Concept Artist
Technical Director

Employment Outlook

Growth in the entertainment industry, including cable and other pay television broadcasting as well as motion picture production and distribution, will continue to provide new job opportunities. Competition for most jobs will be strong because the number of people interested in these positions usually exceeds the number of available openings. There has been a growth demand for animation artists since 2006.

Potential Earnings

2-D/3-D Feature & Post production Animator $35,000-60,000
Animator, 5+ yrs experience $50,000-100,000

Architecture

Occupations

Civil Engineering
Construction Management
Engineering
Industrial Design
Interior Design
Landscape Architect
Real Estate Development
Urban Planner
Historical Management
Preservation Planner
Architectural Researcher

Employment Outlook

Architecture market will continue to remain competitive, especially if the number of students graduating with architecture degrees remains the same or above national levels. Internships and extensive knowledge of CAD technology will give recent graduates a distinct advantage. Opportunities that focus on historical preservation should remain strong as efforts to curb urban sprawl lead to increased re-use and rehabilitation.

Potential Earnings

Intern Architect $35,200
Civil Drafter $35.220
Architect, firm $38,000-58,000
Architect Project Manager $50,000
Architect Partner $35,000-132,500
Preservation Architect with BA $34,000
Preservation Architect with MA 3-5 years experience $47,500-67,000
Preservation Architect with MA 5+ years experience $80,000-90,000

Art History

Occupations

Architectural Conservation
Art Appraiser
Art Law
Art Librarian
Art Publishing
Art Representative
Arts Organizational Consultant
Collections Manager
Gallery Dealer
Corporate Curator
Freelance Writer/Art Critic
Preservationist
Historic Site Supervisor

Employment Outlook

Art and history museums will have the most job opportunities available for curators, since they are the largest employers in the museum industry. Conservator positions are good career choices for those art historians with foreign language skills, computer skills, and willing to relocate. Graduates with Archive or Records Management should have extensive computer skills.

Potential Earnings

Archive Technician $41,347
Archivist, Federal Government or managerial $75,876
Art Dealers, first 5 years $30,000-70,000
Chief Conservator $54,000
Curator $58,000
Museum Curator $76,126
Museum Specialist $55,291

Broadcast Design and Motion Graphics

Occupations

Advertising
Animator
Audiovisual Production
Broadcast Graphics
Commercial Designer
Designer
Graphic Designer
Motion Pictures
Multimedia Design
Package Design
Presentation Graphics
Publishing Industry
Record Companies
Special Effects

Employment Outlook

Despite strong growth in jobs, competition is intense. Advances in technology for the use of broadcasting, digital imaging, and special effects will increase the needs for graduates with motion graphics experience. Demand for designers should remain strong with visual appeal in product design, advertising, marketing, and television.

Potential Earnings

Art Director $48,000-70,000
Creative Director $63,00-150,000
Designer, entry level $26,000-35,000

Fashion

Occupations

Apparel Designer
CAD Fashion Designer
Costume Designer
Couturier
Embroidery Designer
Fashion Buyer
Fashion Promotions
Fashion Stylist
Fashion Seamstress
Label Designer
Patternmaker
Production Management
Retail Management
Showroom sales
Technical Designer
Textile Designer/Colorist
Theater Wardrober
Visual Merchandiser

Employment Outlook

Demand for fashion will continue to rise. Individuals must be creative, imaginative, persistent, and able to communicate their ideas both visually and verbally. Strong problem skills and ability to work independently are extremely important. Business sense and sales ability are for those who work or run their own business.

Potential Earnings

Buyer/Merchandiser $36.265
Designer $24,700-103,970
Designer, top firm $75,000 and up

Fibers

Occupations

Bookbinder
CAD Textile Designer
Display Designer
Embroider
Fine Artist
Hand Weaver
Knitwear Designer
Papermaker
Surface Designer
Studio Production Artist
Textile Colorist
Textile Designer
Textile Museum Curator
Theater/Film Costume Designs

Employment Outlook

The job market for textile designers is expected to widen as the increase in consumer demand for products continues to grow. Designers should enter competitions and obtain work experience.

Potential Earnings

Apparel/Textile Designer with CAD skills $50,290-55,145
Designer, automotive $61,000
Designer for apparel and fabrics $39,000
Designer, textile manufacturer converters $58,285

Film & Television

Occupations

Cable and Television Networks
Camera Operator
Cinematographer
Commercial Motion Pictures
Documentaries
Entertainment
Film Editor
Gaffer
Government
Grip
Independent television stations
Local Television
Music Videos
News events
Postproduction
Preproduction
Technical Adviser

Employment Outlook

The hot industries of cable TV, satellite TV, internet, advertising, and entertainment are constantly creating jobs for people with skills in television and film. Artists in television, video, and film may gain reputation by working with post production companies and networking with other professionals in the business.

Potential Earnings

Camera Operator $26,585-37,548
Film & Video Editors $34,160 with range of $24,800-71,280
TV & Motion Picture Operator $27,870 with a range of $19,230-63,690

Furniture Design

Occupations

Design Management
Environmental Designer
Exhibition Designer
Product Designer
Project Director
Project Engineer
Staff Designer
Studio Artist

Employment Outlook

Design internship experience and computer design skills give recent graduates a distinct advantage. Furniture designers must have knowledge of design trends, competitors products, productions methods and consumer markets to create home and office furniture that is both functional and attractive.
Earnings vary by industry, geographic region, design skills, and educational level.

Potential Earnings

Designer, entry level $30,000-50,000.

Graphic Design

Occupations

Advertising Display
Art Director
Logo Designer
Editorial Designer
Environmental Designer
Graphic Designer
Production artist
Sign System Designer
Staff Designer
Web Designer

Employment Outlook

Demand will remain strong as producers of information, goods and services put increasing emphasis on visual appeal in product design, advertising, marketing, and television. Excellent design skills, artistic ability and educational background in graphic design must be exhibited in the portfolio. Training in the latest technology is critical.

Potential Earnings

Creative Director $90,000
Firm owner $90,000
Freelance averages $50 per hour
Graphic Designer, entry level $32,000
Graphic Designer 5+ years of experience or supervisory level $42,5000-56,000
Web Designer $42,500-64,000

Illustration

Occupations

Advertising
Art Director
Book Cover Illustrator
Caricaturist
Character developer for animation
Children’s Books
Commercial Illustrator
Digital Illustrator
Graphic Artist
Greeting Card Illustrator
Mural Artist Product Illustrator
Set Designer
Storyboard Artist

Employment Outlook

Demand for illustrators will remain strong as producers of information, goods and services place increasing emphasis on visual appeal in product design, advertising, marketing, and television. Desirable skills include illustrating on the computer using software such as Illustrator, Photoshop, QuarkExpress, and InDesign.

Potential Earnings

Consumer Magazine, freelance $500-6500 per assignment
Daily newspaper, freelance $300-5000 per assignment
Full-time Illustrator average $31,190 range of $14,690-58,580
Trade Magazine, freelance $500-5500 per assignment
Weekly newspaper, freelance $200-2200 per assignment

Industrial Design

Occupations

Design Management
Environmental Designer
Exhibition Designer
Interaction Designer
Marine Designer
Medical Equipment Designer
Package Designer
Industrial Designer
Prop Designer
Toy Designer
Transportation Designer
Special effects for entertainment industry
Sports Equipment Designer

Employment Outlook

Consumers are continuously demanding new products to meet their ever-changing expectations and to make their lives simpler and more comfortable. This creates a demand on industry to continue to design new and improved products that meet users needs.

Potential Earnings

Designer, entry level $35,000-40,000
Designer 5+ years experience average $65,000
Senior Designer/Management $80,000-180,000

Interactive Design and Gaming Development

Occupations

Interface Designer
Art Director
Game Designer
Level Designer
Programmer for media
Web Designer
Concept Artist
Technical Director
Web Programmer
Creative Technologist
Interactive Designer
Game Artist

Employment Outlook

Over the past decade, the growth of interactive media has resulted in a global demand for creative individuals who can design and develop interactive projects for a wide variety of media outlets. Advances in technology, digital imaging and special visual effects will increase the need for artists with interactive skills. Skills in drawing, computer applications, math, acting, and human/animal anatomy are beneficial.

Potential Earnings

Game Designer, entry level $35,000-40,000
Interactive Designer average $50,437 ranging $16,491-150,000
Lead Designer $100,000
Multimedia Artist average $41,130 ranging $30,700-54,040

Interior Design

Occupations

CAD Specialist
Commercial Interior Design
Display/Exhibition Designer
Hospitality Design
Product Design
Professional Rendering
Residential Interior Design
Showroom Management
Space Planning
Specifications Writer
Stage Design

Employment Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of designers of all types is likely to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2008. Well prepared interior designers will have business skills as well as excellent skills in rendering, hand drafting and CAD, space planning furniture and materials specifications, strong sense of color and shape, and 3-D conceptualization.

Potential Earnings

Designer, Engineering or architectural firm, average $40,710
Designer, entry-level, average $30,000
Designer, mid-level, range $35,000-40,000
Designer, range $50,000-55,000
Principal or partner in top firm, range $75,000-100,000

Metals and Jewelry

Occupations

Accessory Designer
Art Jeweler
Casting
Commercial Designer
Conservation & Restoration
Consultant
Custom Design
Display Designer
Enameling
Fine Artist
Gallery Owner
Gem Worker
Goldsmithing
Lapidary
Model Maker
Repair
Researcher
Sculptor
Silversmithing
Teacher
Technician

Employment Outlook

Demands for professionals in the jewelry field are largely affected by the amount of disposable income people have. The increasing number of affluent individuals, working women, double-income households, and fashion conscious men are expected to keep jewelry sales strong. Designers and jewelers market their products through a variety of outlets. Production companies and designers market to boutiques and larger department stores, while one-of-a-kind artists succeed in gallery settings. Many prefer to attend or exhibit at industry trade shows to sell their work and network with other professionals in the field.

Potential Earnings

Jeweler, average $26,000, range $19,100-44,120
Sales for this profession vary greatly. Custom designers work on salary or commission, which may cause great fluctuations in salaries throughout the field.

Painting

Occupations

Art Consultant
Art Critic
Art Director
Art Educator
Art Studio Manager
Artist-in-Residence
Buyer
Consultant for private or corporate collections
Designer
Exhibition Designer
Gallery owner or administrator
Independent studio artist
Muralist
Museum Curator
Portrait Artist
Set Designer

Employment Outlook

The success of independent studio artists depends on the quality, quantity, and nature of their artwork along with their drive and determination in organizing the business aspects of their endeavors. Many painters maintain their creative production in addition to working in the related fields in a museum, gallery, or instructional context. With the preponderance of mass-produced reproductions on the market, original work possesses an uncontested appeal. Many artists show their work in galleries in various geographic regions of the US and abroad, in order to develop a broad base for their work.

Potential Earnings

Fine art portraiture, $1,000-15,000 per commission
Muralist, up to $1,000 a day
Artists gradually increase their prices as their reputations mature. Painters completing commissions may request substantial compensation die to the customized nature of their work, taking into account more than their talent, time, and materials.