Art Careers

The best way to ensure your career satisfaction is to choose a career that allows you to do work about which you are passionate. I can think of few people who are more passionate than artists. Is a career in art a good idea? After all there is that term "starving artist." It turns out artists can make a living following their passion. Those who want to work in the art field have a variety of careers from which to choose. Learn about a few of these career choices.

Animator

Animators use computer graphics design software and other tools to create series of pictures that form animated images. Their work can be seen on both movie and television screens and in video games. Aspiring animators should attain a bachelor's degree in fine arts. Animators earned a median annual salary of $58,250 in 2009.
Learn More About Becoming an Animator

Desktop Publisher

Desktop publishers produce books, business cards, magazines and other print materials. They use computer software to do their jobs. While a college degree isn't required, those who do have certificates, or associate or bachelor's degrees will increase their chances of finding jobs. Desktop publishers earned a median annual salary of $36,470 in 2009.
Learn More About Becoming a Desktop Publisher

Fashion Designer

Fashion designers create dresses, suits, pants, skirts and other articles of clothing. Some also design accessories. A fashion designer might even specialize in costume design. To work as a fashion designer one needs an associate or bachelor's degree in fashion design. Fashion designers earned a median annual salary of $64,260 in 2009.
Learn More About Becoming a Fashion Designer

Graphic Designer

Graphic designers use a variety of techniques and visual elements to communicate messages. They work with both print and electronic media. To work as a graphic designer one needs a bachelor's degree. Graphic designers earned a median annual salary of $43,180 in 2009.
Learn More About Becoming a Graphic Designer

Interior Designer

As the job title implies, interior designers tend to the interior environment of apartments, houses, offices and other spaces. Training for this occupation ranges from two to four years. One can earn an associate degree or certificate by completing a two to three year program in interior design or a bachelor's degree by attending a four year program. Professional design schools and many colleges and universities offer programs in interior design. Interior designers earned a median annual salary of $46,180 in 2009.
Learn More About Becoming an Interior Designer

Photographer

Photographers tell stories by photographing people, places, events and objects. Entry-level photojournalists and commercial and scientific photographers need a college degree in photography or a field related to the industry in which they want to work. Freelance and portrait photographers usually need only technical proficiency. Photographers earned a median annual salary of $29,770 in 2009.
Learn More About Becoming a Photographer

^{Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ and
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/ (visited May 18, 2011).}

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Comparing Art Careers
	Minimum Education	License	Median Salary
Animator	Bachelor's	None	$58,250
Desktop Publisher	None but a certificate, associate or bachelor's degree is recommended	None	$36,470
Fashion Designer	Associate or bachelor's	None	$64,260
Graphic Designer	Bachelor's	None	$43,180
Interior Designer	Certificate, associate or bachelor's	Varies by state	$46,180
Photographer	Bachelor's for many full-time jobs	None	$29,770