### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Craft and Fine Artists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			craft and fine artists imageFine art painters paint landscapes, portraits, and other subjects in a variety of styles, ranging from realistic to abstract.							
						Quick Facts:     Craft and Fine Artists2023     Median Pay
            						$52,910     per year
										$25.44     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Long-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    54,600Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    4% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    2,400What Craft and Fine Artists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Many artists work in fine- or commercial-art studios located in office buildings, warehouses, or lofts. Others work in private studios in their homes. Some artists share studio space, where they also may exhibit their work.
            
                                                How to Become a Craft or Fine Artist
                                                
                        
Craft and fine artists improve their skills through practice and repetition. A bachelor’s degree is common for these artists.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for craft and fine artists was $52,910 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of craft and fine artists is projected to grow							 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 5,500 openings for craft and fine artists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for craft and fine artists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of craft and fine artists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about craft and fine artists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Craft and Fine Artists Do 
            

			Craft and fine artistsCraft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition.			
Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create original works of art for sale and exhibition. Craft artists create objects, such as pottery, glassware, and textiles, that are designed to be functional. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, create pieces of art more for aesthetics than for function.
Duties
Craft and fine artists typically do the following:
Use techniques such as knitting, weaving, glassblowing, painting, drawing, and sculpting
Develop creative ideas or new methods for making art
Create sketches, templates, or models to guide their work
Select which materials to use on the basis of color, texture, strength, and other criteria
Shape, join, or cut materials for a final product
Use visual techniques, such as composition, color, space, and perspective, to produce desired artistic effects
Develop portfolios highlighting their artistic styles and abilities to show to gallery owners and others interested in their work
Display their work at auctions, craft fairs, galleries, museums, and online marketplaces
Complete grant proposals and applications to obtain financial support for projectsArtists create objects that are beautiful, thought provoking, and sometimes shocking. They often strive to communicate ideas or feelings through their art.
Craft artists work with many different materials, including ceramics, glass, textiles, wood, metal, and paper. They use these materials to create unique pieces of art, such as pottery, quilts, stained glass, furniture, jewelry, and clothing. Many craft artists also use fine-art techniques—for example, painting, sketching, and printing—to add finishing touches to their products.
Fine artists typically display their work in museums, in commercial or nonprofit art galleries, at craft fairs, in corporate collections, on the Internet, and in private homes. Some of their artwork may be commissioned (requested by a client), but most is sold by the artist or through private art galleries or dealers. The artist, gallery, and dealer together decide in advance how much of the proceeds from the sale each will keep.
Most craft and fine artists spend their time and effort selling their artwork to potential customers and building a reputation. In addition to selling their artwork, many artists have at least one other job to support their craft or art careers.
Some artists work in museums or art galleries as art directors or as archivists, curators, or museum workers, planning and setting up exhibits. Others teach craft or art classes or conduct workshops in schools or in their own studios. For more information on workers who teach art classes, see the profiles on kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers, career and technical education teachers, and postsecondary teachers.
Craft and fine artists specialize in one or more types of art. The following are examples of types of craft and fine artists:
***Cartoonists*** create simplified or exaggerated drawings to visually convey political, advertising, comic, or sports concepts. Some cartoonists work with others who create the idea or story and write captions. Others create plots and write captions themselves. Most cartoonists have humorous, critical, or dramatic talent, in addition to drawing skills.
***Ceramic artists*** shape, form, and mold artworks out of clay, often using a potter’s wheel and other tools. They glaze and fire pieces in kilns, which are large, special furnaces that dry and harden the clay.
***Digital artists***use design and production software to create interactive art online. The digital imagery may then be transferred to paper or some other form of printmaking or made available directly on web-accessible devices.
***Fiber artists*** use fabric, yarn, or other natural and synthetic materials to weave, knit, crochet, or sew textile art. They may use a loom to weave fabric, needles to knit or crochet yarn, or a sewing machine to join pieces of fabric for quilts or other handicrafts.
***Fine-art painters*** paint landscapes, portraits, and other subjects in a variety of styles, ranging from realistic to abstract. They may work in a variety of media, such as watercolors, oil paints, and acrylics.
***Furniture makers*** cut, sand, join, and finish wood and other materials to make handcrafted furnishings. For information about other workers who assemble wood furniture, see the profile on woodworkers.
***Glass artists*** process glass in a variety of ways—such as by blowing, shaping, staining, or joining it—to create artistic pieces. Some processes require the use of kilns, ovens, and other equipment and tools that bend glass at high temperatures. These workers also decorate glass objects, such as by etching or painting.
***Illustrators*** create pictures for books, magazines, and other publications and for commercial products, such as textiles, wrapping paper, stationery, greeting cards, and calendars. Illustrators increasingly use computers in their work. They might draw in pen or pencil and then scan the image, using software to add color, or they might use a special pen to draw images directly onto the computer.
***Jewelry artists*** use metals, stones, beads, and other materials to make objects for personal adornment, such as earrings or necklaces. For more information about other workers who create jewelry, see the profile on jewelers and precious stone and metal workers.
***Medical and scientific illustrators*** combine drawing skills with knowledge of biology or other sciences. Medical illustrators work with computers or with pen and paper to create images, three-dimensional models, and animations of human anatomy and surgical procedures. Scientific illustrators draw animal and plant life, atomic and molecular structures, and geologic and planetary formations. These illustrations are used in medical and scientific publications and in audiovisual presentations for teaching purposes. Some medical and scientific illustrators work for lawyers, producing exhibits for court cases.
***Public artists***create large paintings, sculptures, and displays called “installations” that are meant to be seen in open spaces. These works are typically displayed in parks, museum grounds, train stations, and other public areas.
***Printmakers*** create images on a silk screen, woodblock, lithography stone, metal etching plate, or other types of matrices. A printing hand press then creates the final work of art, inking and transferring the matrix to a piece of paper.
***Sculptors*** design and shape three-dimensional works of art, either by molding and joining materials such as clay, glass, plastic, and metal or by cutting and carving forms from a block of plaster, wood, or stone. Some sculptors combine various materials to create mixed-media installations, such as by incorporating light, sound, and motion into their work.
***Sketch artists*** are a type of illustrator who often use pencil, charcoal, or pastels to create likenesses of subjects. Their sketches are used by law enforcement agencies to help identify suspects, by the news media to show courtroom scenes, and by individual customers for their own enjoyment.
***Tattoo artists***use stencils and draw by hand to create original images and text on skin. With specialized needles, these artists use a variety of styles and colors based on their clients’ preferences.
***Video artists*** record avant-garde, moving imagery that is typically shown in a loop in art galleries, museums, or performance spaces. These artists sometimes use multiple monitors or create unusual spaces for the video to be shown.
 Work Environment
			Craft and fine artistsMany artists work in fine art or commercial art studios located in office buildings, warehouses, or lofts.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Craft and fine artists held about 54,600 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up craft and fine artists was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
                29,100Artists and related workers, all other
                14,000Craft artists
                11,500The largest employers of craft and fine artists were as follows:
        Self-employed workers
                55%Independent artists, writers, and performers
                9Federal government, excluding postal service
                6Motion picture and sound recording industries
                4Personal care services
                3Many artists work in fine- or commercial-art studios located in office buildings, warehouses, or lofts. Others work in private studios in their homes. Some artists share studio space, where they also may exhibit their work.
Studios are usually well lit and ventilated. However, artists may be exposed to fumes from glue, paint, ink, and other materials. They may also have to deal with dust or other residue from filings, splattered paint, or spilled cleaning and other fluids. Artists often wear protective gear, such as breathing masks and goggles, in order to remain safe from exposure to harmful materials. Ceramic and glass artists must use caution in working with materials that may break into sharp pieces and in using equipment that can get very hot, such as kilns.
Injuries and Illnesses
Artists and related workers, all other have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. ("All other" titles represent occupations with a wide range of characteristics that do not fit into any of the other detailed occupations.)
Work Schedules
Most craft and fine artists work full time, although part-time and variable schedules are also common. Many hold another job in addition to their work as an artist. During busy periods, artists may work additional hours to meet deadlines. Those who are self-employed usually determine their own schedules.
 How to Become a Craft or Fine Artist

			Craft and fine artistsEducation gives artists an opportunity to develop their portfolio, which is a collection of an artist’s work that demonstrates his or her styles and abilities.			
Craft and fine artists improve their skills through practice and repetition. Formal education is often helpful for these artists.
Education
Most fine artists pursue postsecondary education to improve their skills and job prospects. A formal educational credential is typically not needed to be a craft artist. However, it is difficult to gain adequate artistic skills without some formal education. For example, high school art classes can teach prospective craft artists the basic drawing skills they need.
A number of colleges and universities offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fields related to fine and performing arts. In addition to studio art and art history, postsecondary programs may include core subjects, such as English, marketing, social science, and natural science. Independent schools of art and design also offer postsecondary education programs, which can lead to a certificate in an art-related specialty or to an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in fine arts.
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accredits more than 360 postsecondary institutions with programs in art and design. Most of these schools award a degree in art.
Medical illustrators must have artistic ability and a detailed knowledge of human or animal anatomy, living organisms, and surgical and medical procedures. They usually need a bachelor’s degree that combines art and premedical courses. Medical illustrators may choose to get a master’s degree in medical illustration. Four accredited schools offer this degree in the United States.
Education gives artists an opportunity to develop their portfolio, which is a collection of an artist’s work that demonstrates his or her styles and abilities. Portfolios are essential, because art directors, clients, and others look at them when deciding whether to hire an artist or to buy the artist’s work. In addition to compiling a physical portfolio, many artists choose to create a portfolio online.
Those who want to teach fine arts at public elementary or secondary schools usually must have a teaching certificate in addition to a bachelor’s degree. For more information on workers who teach art classes, see the profiles on kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers, career and technical education teachers, and postsecondary teachers.
Training
Craft and fine artists improve their skills through practice and repetition. They can train in several ways other than, or in addition to, formal schooling. Craft and fine artists may train with simpler projects before attempting something more ambitious.
Some artists learn on the job from more experienced artists. Others attend noncredit classes or workshops or take private lessons, which may be offered in artists’ studios or at community colleges, art centers, galleries, museums, or other art-related institutions.
Important Qualities
***Artistic ability.*** Craft and fine artists create artwork and other objects that are visually appealing or thought provoking. This endeavor usually requires significant skill and attention to detail in one or more art forms.
***Business skills.*** Craft and fine artists must promote themselves and their art to build a reputation and to sell their art. They often study the market for their crafts or artwork to increase their understanding of what prospective customers might want. Craft and fine artists also may sell their work on the internet, so developing an online presence is often an important part of their art sales.
***Creativity.*** Artists must have active imaginations to develop new and original ideas for their work.
***Customer-service skills.*** Craft and fine artists, especially those who sell their work themselves, must be good at dealing with customers and prospective buyers.
***Dexterity.*** Artists must be good at manipulating tools and materials to create their art.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Artists should be comfortable interacting with people, including customers, gallery owners, and the public.
Advancement
Craft and fine artists advance professionally as their work circulates and as they establish a reputation for their particular style. Successful artists continually develop new ideas, and their work often evolves over time.
Until they become established as professional artists, many artists create artwork while continuing to hold a full-time job. Others work as an artist part time while still in school to develop experience and to build a portfolio.
Self-employed and freelance artists try to establish a set of clients who regularly contract for work. Some of these artists are recognized for their skill in a specialty, such as cartooning or illustrating children’s books. They may earn enough to choose the types of projects they undertake.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Craft and Fine ArtistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Craft and fine artists$52,910  Art and design workers$51,660  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for craft and fine artists was $52,910 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,110, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $129,440.

			
                    	Median annual wages for craft and fine artists in May 2023 were as follows:
        Artists and related workers, all other
		$74,750Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
		59,300Craft artists
		36,600In May 2023, the median annual wages for craft and fine artists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                $105,640Motion picture and sound recording industries
                95,590Personal care services
                49,170Independent artists, writers, and performers
                45,970Earnings for self-employed artists vary widely. Some charge only a nominal fee while they gain experience and build a reputation for their work. Artists who are well established may earn more than salaried artists.
Most craft and fine artists work full time, although part-time and variable schedules are also common. In addition to pursuing their work as an artist, many hold another job because it may be difficult to rely solely on income earned from selling paintings or other works of art. During busy periods, artists may have long workdays to meet deadlines.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Craft and Fine ArtistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Craft and fine artists4%  Total, all occupations3%  Art and design workers3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of craft and fine artists is projected to grow				 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 5,500 openings for craft and fine artists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Employment growth for artists depends largely on the overall state of the economy and whether people are willing to spend money on art, because people usually buy art when they can afford to do so. During good economic times, people and businesses are interested in buying more artwork; during economic downturns, they generally buy less. However, there is always some demand for art by private collectors and museums.
Job growth for craft and fine artists may be limited by the sale of inexpensive, machine-produced items designed to look like handmade crafts. A continued interest in locally made products and crafted goods will likely offset some of these employment losses.

			

                        Employment projections data for     craft and fine artists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Craft and fine artists**
			—
			54,600
			57,000
			4
			2,400
			—**Craft artists**
			27-1012
			11,500
			12,000
			4
			400
			Get data**Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators**
			27-1013
			29,100
			30,600
			5
			1,500
			Get data**Artists and related workers, all other**
			27-1019
			14,000
			14,500
			3
			500
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Artists and related workers, all other
					Craft artists
					Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of craft and fine artists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Art Directors**
            Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions.
            Bachelor's degree
            $106,500**Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers**
            Archivists and curators oversee institutions’ collections, such as of historical items or of artwork. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore items in those collections.
            See How to Become One
            $57,120**Fashion Designers**
            Fashion designers create clothing, accessories, and footwear.
            Bachelor's degree
            $79,290**Graphic Designers**
            Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers.
            Bachelor's degree
            $58,910**Industrial Designers**
            Industrial designers combine art, business, and engineering to develop the concepts for manufactured products.
            Bachelor's degree
            $76,250**Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers**
            Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers design, construct, adjust, repair, appraise and sell jewelry.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $47,450**Special Effects Artists and Animators**
            Special effects artists and animators create images that appear to move and visual effects for various forms of media and entertainment.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,060**Photographers**
            Photographers use their technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills to produce and preserve images.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $40,760**Woodworkers**
            Woodworkers manufacture a variety of products, such as cabinets and furniture, using wood, veneers, and laminates.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $39,390
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about art and design and a list of accredited college-level programs, visit
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
For more information about careers in the craft arts and for a list of schools and workshops, visit
American Craft Council
For more information about careers in the arts, visit
New York Foundation for the Arts
For more information about careers in medical illustration, visit
Association of Medical Illustrators
For information about grant-funding programs and other local resources for artists, contact your state arts agency. A list of these agencies is available from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
For more information about how the federal government awards grants for art, visit
National Endowment for the Arts
CareerOneStop
For career videos on craft and fine artists, visit
Craft Artists
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Artists and Related Workers, All OtherCraft ArtistsFine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Craft and Fine Artists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/craft-and-fine-artists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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