Fine Arts
Art Careers: Everywhere an Art Degree Can Take You in 2025
by Donna Abosch | December 6, 2024
The 2022 Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) surveyed arts and design alums and found that 75% of those in the workforce have arts- or design-related job duties. Within that group, 47% reported having a career related to their education, 46% said they use the skills they learned in art school in their careers, and 70% felt that having an art or design degree was “very important” or “important” to their career success.
And the moral of this story is? Earning an art degree can actually lead to a fulfilling career in a field where artistic skills are valued and important. In this guide, we will explore some ways to turn your artistic talent into a (profitable) professional path.
IN THIS GUIDE:
What is an Art Degree?
Art degrees allow individuals to focus and specialize on one or more subjects in the arts and humanities. For the last several centuries, art education has been centered around “fine art”: what we consider painting, drawing, and sculpture. Often, when one thinks of an art degree, they may immediately think of these mediums first, as they have been the traditional career paths for artists.
However, the last century has shown us that art is much more. In today’s modern age, art degrees include other visual arts such as photography, cinematography, graphic design, fashion and textile design, and more. They give students opportunities to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration skills as well as how to give and receive constructive feedback—all valuable talents for a broad range of careers outside of becoming an exhibiting artist.
Current and prospective art students should view formal art education and art school as a way to immerse oneself in a creative environment where you can interact with other artists, learn how to give and receive constructive criticism, and gain an understanding of how to use visual communication to shape human perception. And in many art school programs today, students gain the opportunity to fuse studies in traditional arts disciplines such as drawing and painting, with classes in design, digital media, and more.
Essential Skills for Success in Art Careers
What skills do you need to get started? Art careers famously require a mix of specific and transferable skills, a blend of cultivated skills and innate talent. As the way we think about art continues to modernize and evolve, artists must not only master traditional techniques but also embrace the technical and digital revolution. After all, the ability to recognize and hone the right mix of hard and soft skills is integral for artists if they want to adapt, thrive, and leave a lasting impression.
Let’s discuss some indispensable skills artists can use as a framework when looking to have a successful art career.
Creative Skills for Artists
At the center of an artist’s career, you’ll always find their creative vision and original personality. These traditional creative skills are all about harnessing your own unique perspective and imagination to create pieces that resonate with their intended audience. An artist is able to conceptualize abstract ideas, experiment with different art mediums, and push boundaries.
Soft Skills for Artists
While there is an “I” in creativity, successful artists are rarely reclusive geniuses. Networking, exploring different social and cultural environments, and collaborating within the arts community and with audience members can all be important components of success.
Aesthetic sensibility, adaptability, collaboration, communication, discipline, emotional intelligence, and time management are important soft skills that will help any artist tell their story and adapt to dynamic challenges.
Technical Skills for Artists
A career in the arts is generally as technically demanding as it is creative. Artists must develop real skill in the media in which they engage. Depending on your focus, this could mean everything from the nuances of cross-hatching or mixing paint color, to learning how to use specialized tools and software such as Adobe Creative Suite.
Additional technical skills that will set you up for a successful art career may include drawing and illustration techniques, color theory, digital painting with tablets, 3D modeling, photography and image processing, printmaking, and screen printing.
Training as an Artist in the Modern World
How you train as an artist in the modern world can depend on your goals, passions, and resources. For those interested in earning a degree, Associate and Bachelor’s degree programs can provide a structured environment for training and self-discovery. Specialized accreditors like the National Association of Schools of Art and Design or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission set the standards for quality education.
Outside of formal education, modern artists employ many different tactics in their training, such as consistent practice, experimentation, analyzing the work of others, networking, developing their creativity, and developing their self-awareness.
A host of information about art is available at your local museum. Many museums have a range of ways for beginning artists to develop their knowledge. The National Gallery of Art, for example, provides free educational resources, including virtual tours, interactive tools, and detailed lesson plans centered around fine art history and techniques. Through a variety of online materials and programs, aspiring professionals can explore the gallery’s extensive collection, learn about different artistic movements, and enhance their understanding of visual arts.
Fine arts education offers students a foundation in art theory and artistic technique. Fine arts programs are important because they teach the fundamentals and cover essential concepts such as line, mass, form, perspective, value, and composition. This foundation will help you branch out into the world of digital art and set you apart from others in the job market.
Blending traditional and digital techniques opens new possibilities for artists to create art with precision and ease, too. Digital applications have made it easy to share art and collaborate with others, using social media to reach a broad audience while also collecting valuable feedback.
Here are two online artistic communities for new and established artists to share their work:
- DeviantArt is one of the most robust online communities for visual artists to share their work, get feedback, and connect with others across diverse artistic styles and mediums. The platform also offers free tutorials and resources from community members.
- ArtStation is a prominent online platform for visual artists, especially those working in digital art. It allows them to showcase their portfolios, connect with potential clients, and enhance their visibility in the art community.
The Diversity of Art Careers
If you’ve always dreamed of a career as an artist, you’re not alone. Careers in the arts have been popular for millennia. Traditional art careers mainly focused on art forms such as painting, sculpture, weaving, pottery, and drawing. Contemporary art careers are much more diverse. Art and design graduates work in many professional areas, including marketing and business, fashion, illustration, and professional photography.
Where will you make your mark? Let your imagination run wild—the world is truly your oyster!
Understanding Career Pathways in the Arts
If you’re looking for an exciting career in the arts, there are many new pathways you can explore, especially in the digital arts. As you consider your options, keep in mind that your first career choice may lead you down the path to another. Traditional careers in the arts, such as painters or art historians, will always exist. However, today’s most significant demand is for digital artists, and there are many career paths in emerging professions for those with art degrees.
One of the best ways to find out what role art education can play in an artist’s future success is to ask those who have experienced its impact on their careers.
Here are some of the fastest-growing careers in art, the skills required, and the median salaries earned, based on current U.S. Bureau of Labor data.
Fine Artist
Skills: Fine artists are skilled in manipulating various materials to create art.
Traditionally, fine artists are known for their original works of art that only serve aesthetic purposes. They employ a mix of techniques and materials including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, traditional crafts, and printmaking. Today, contemporary fine artists blend aesthetic with functionality through wallpaper design, fashion, jewelry, and much more. Some fine artists specialize in certain subject matters and mediums while others mix and match.
Median annual salary: $52,910
Illustrator
Skills: Illustrators must be skilled in drawing and using illustration software.
Illustrators have several career path options including illustrating for children’s books, technical applications, and medical textbooks as well as cartoonists, storyboard artists, product design, animators, and concept artists.
Median annual salary: $59,300
Multimedia Artist
Skills: Multimedia artists are skilled at using animation and special effects software.
Using a diversity of mediums like audio, video, animation, and other digital tools, multimedia artists create stunning visual effects, interactive media, and animations. They can be found in many different industries, including but not limited to film, television, video games, advertising, publishing, and teaching!
Median annual salary: $99,060
Digital Photographer
Skills: Photographers need skills in composition and attention to detail.
Digital photographers use photographic imagery to capture moments in time and tell a visual story. Photographers can specialize in weddings, sports, journalism, portraits, and many other areas. While they often run their own businesses, you can also find photographers at news agencies, marketing agencies, on in-house design teams, and as teachers.
Median annual salary: $40,760
Graphic Designer
Skills: Graphic designers need technical skills to use illustration software, drafting materials, and design-related tools.
The graphic design career path is one that’s ever-evolving. Graphic designers can work as freelancers running their own business, work with in-house marketing agency teams, or even explore teaching opportunities. Ultimately, they communicate ideas by creating visual concepts using a combination of technology and art.
Median annual salary: $58,910
Web Designer
Skills: Web designers need skills in animation, user interface/user experience, typography, coding, design software, and graphic design.
Responsible for the look and feel of websites, web designers craft intuitive layouts, increase usability, and elevate user experience online. Many use a combination of design programs and code to develop and implement these designs. Graphic designers can often be found in marketing agencies, working as freelance designers, or as teachers!
Median annual salary: $92,750
With all the art mediums available today, many artists have taken an interdisciplinary approach. Some have transferred their design expertise to fashion or web design careers, while others remain on more traditional paths. Those forging their own way are often found blending contemporary and traditional techniques.
It’s an exciting time in the art world where boundaries are constantly being pushed and new ideas accepted. The sky’s the limit for artists and creatives seeking alternative careers.
The Role of AI in Enhancing Your Art Skill and Creativity
Are you curious about how GenAI tools can enhance your art techniques? While AI cannot replace human creativity, as AI evolves, fine art education programs are developing new forms of training that explore the use of AI as a creative tool. Art students should consider familiarizing themselves with AI technology and machine learning algorithms. Having a fundamental understanding of art principles can give you a unique advantage when creating with AI.
Today’s art schools are just beginning to address both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. Students can learn how to use AI to augment the creative process, rather than using it as a substitute for human creativity. Art schools teach students to think critically, which helps them decide whether to incorporate AI into their art, and how to do so.
When used responsibly, AI gives artists additional artistic options, such as new styles and techniques, but it doesn’t replace their talent and creativity. Rather, AI can be used to enhance an artist’s output.
Frequently Asked Questions About Careers in Art
Q: What Jobs Can I Get with an Art Degree?
Jobs in graphic design, illustration, digital photography, fine art, and multimedia art are among the many well-served by an art degree. An artistic training can be the foundation of many creative roles.
Q: Are Fine Art Degrees Worth It?
Absolutely! While not necessary, having an art degree is very helpful. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job titles like Art Director, Fashion Designer, Interior Designer, Special Effects Artist, and Graphic Designer that require Bachelor’s degrees had a median annual wage of $76,250 in May 2023, which is 58% higher than the median annual wage for all occupations.
Q: What Careers Can I Do if I Like Art?
If you like art and want to make a career out of it, your options are limitless. You can consider traditional art careers such as painting and illustrating and careers in digital art forms such as UX design and digital photography. Don’t be afraid to try new mediums or integrate multiple mediums.
Q: What is the Highest-Paying Art Job?
The highest-paying art degree jobs include:
- Creative director: Average annual salary of $149,516
- Art director: Median yearly salary of $106,500
- Multimedia artist: Median yearly salary of $99,060
Start Your Art Career Today
The outlook for art-related careers is as bright as it is colorful. There’s an ongoing need for artists with traditional and digital skills in many industries. Arming yourself with the fine art and technical skills you’ll need is the best way to remain competitive in the job market. If you’re serious about pursuing a career in the arts, a Certificate in Fine Arts from Sessions is a great place to start.
Or consider one of the many Bachelor’s, Associate or Certificate programs available at Sessions College. Our 100% online and asynchronous, project-based degree and certificate programs in art, design, and photography foster success in many traditional and contemporary creative fields.
Why not spend your days doing work you are passionate about and enjoy? Contact us to find out if an online design and digital media education at Sessions College is right for you.
Donna Abosch is a content writer and marketing professional. Donna has a proven track record of delivering impactful messaging that drives audience engagement. Read more articles by Donna.
RELATED PROGRAMS AT SESSIONS COLLEGE: