High-Paying Jobs in Fine Arts: Careers & Specializations

Henri Matisse hit the ball out of the park when he said Creativity takes courage. Indeed, creative professions come with their fair share of risks and rewards. Yet, gone are the days when finding work was complex and professional guidance was hard to come by. Today, fine arts have evolved to the next degree, offering high-paying careers with numerous creative opportunities. Yes, you read it right. This article will take you through the available jobs in fine arts, specializations, and other helpful information you need to get started. 

Why Choose Fine Arts? 

Any reason will do if you're a creative professional, especially when it comes to embarking on a journey that helps you showcase your skills and get paid handsomely for it too. Here are still a few reasons that are compelling enough for aspirants: 

• Good Job Prospects- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates growth in career opportunities for fine arts by 2% between 2021 and 2031, leading to at least 20,500 new jobs and 94,500 openings annually for replacement and growth purposes. And that's for the U.S. alone! Get the picture? The world is full of opportunities for creative people in the field of fine arts.
• Excellent Wages- Along with numerous career options in fine arts, you also stand to earn lucrative salaries in the field. The BLS reports median annual salaries of $48,220 in May 2021, which is higher than the average median wage of $45,760 in the U.S. And it is still growing at a faster pace as the field branches out with new roles and possibilities..
• Unlimited Opportunities- Jobs in fine arts encompass the whole spectrum, from visual and industrial art to animation, product-making, creative writing, and a lot more. The sky is the limit when it comes to fine arts job opportunities. You need to be creative and adaptable while getting paid to have fun, and that too, without limiting yourself to a single domain. Yes, you read that right! 
• Hone Your Skills- While you may be confident of your creative talents and skills, there's no harm in refining them further, particularly before you enter the competitive market of fine arts jobs worldwide. Learn from top instructors, practice unique art forms, communicate and interact with equally-talented peers, and build industry-ready capabilities that will help in the future. 

Major Specializations in Fine Arts

Fine arts specializations basically cover the length and breadth of the creative industry, including the following (and a lot more): 

• Visual Arts
• Photography
• Filmmaking
• Theater
• Dance
• Art History
• Acting
• Creative Writing
• Graphic Design
• Fashion Design
• Costume Design
• Product Design 
• Industrial Design
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Drawing
• Ceramics
• Architecture 

Top Career Opportunities after Fine Arts

As you'll soon discover, there are numerous jobs after attaining a fine arts degree that are available for talented professionals. Some of them include the following: 

• Art Directors- They hold responsibility for visual images and styles in product packaging, newspapers, magazines, television, movie productions, and so on. They earn median salaries of $100,890 annually. (bls.gov report)
• Craft and Fine Artists- They use multiple techniques and materials to create art for exhibition and sale. Their average salaries hover around $49,960 per year. (bls.gov report)
• Fashion Designers- They create footwear, clothing, and accessories for a wider audience across categories. They also earn annual salaries of $77,450 (bls.gov report). 
• Floral Designers- These professionals specialize in flower arrangements, decorative displays, and the like, earning $29,880 in median annual salaries. 
• Graphic Designers- They develop visual concepts using software or by hand while communicating compelling ideas and concepts to clients. Their median annual salaries hover around $50,710 (bls.gov report). 
• Industrial Designers- These professionals develop concepts for products and combine engineering, art, and business. Median annual salaries stand at $77,030 (bls.gov report). 
• Interior Designers- They are responsible for designing interior spaces, earning around $60,340 (bls.gov report) annually. 
• Special Effects Artists and Animators- They create visual effects and moving images for various purposes, earning median annual salaries of $78,790. 

And these are only a few of the opportunities available for fine arts graduates. Many can also find work as writers, performing artists, dramatists, creative directors, visual or creative communication specialists, musicians, and more. 

Top Recruiters for Fine Arts

Here are a few of the leading providers of jobs in the fine arts field worldwide: 

• Amazon
• Rockstar Games
• Zynga
• Embibe
• Ubisoft
• Games2Win
• Tata Consultancy Services
• Sephora
• Walt Disney Company
• Electronic Arts
• Microsoft
• PlayStation
• McDonald's
• Warner Bros. 
• Meta
• Walmart

Fine Arts Jobs & Salaries

Here are some more fine arts jobs with their average annual salaries: 

• Music Director- $34,955 per year. 
• Illustrator- $41,882 per year. 
• Animator- $43,759 per year. 
• Web Designer- $47,000 per year. 
• Art Teacher- $47,647 per year. 
• Musician- $47,786 per year. 
• Curator- $50,096 per year. 
• Artist- $53,861 per year. 
• Video Game Designer- $65,639 per year. 
• Writer- $61,662 per year. 
• Videographer- $76,417 per year. 
• Concept Artist- $79,948 per year. 
• UI (User Interface) Designer- $84,485 per year. 
• Architect- $109,864 per year.
• UX Designer- $101,352 per year. 

Conclusion

As they say, Creativity has no bounds, especially when it comes to adapting itself to diverse professional and commercial needs. That is exactly what fine arts jobs entail, enabling excellent opportunities for skilled and talented professionals to build rewarding careers in numerous industries. If this has been your dream all along, then now is the best time to go for it!