Best paying arts and media jobs

The highest-paying occupations in arts and media, ranked with median wage weighted heaviest.

How this ranking is scored

score = .70·pay + .10·growth + .10·employment + .10·openings

Each factor is scaled to the strongest occupation on this list, then weighted and summed. Weights differ by list type. Full methodology.

Wages — OEWS May 2025

Growth & openings — EP 2024–34

Rank by Overall score ·Pay ·Growth ·Openings

Compare · management·business and finance·technology

#

Occupation

MEDIAN PAY

P25–P75

Growth

Employed

Open/yr

Score

01

Art Directors · Bachelor's degree · 27-1011

$114,850

+4.2%

53,070

12,300

100

02

Producers and Directors · Bachelor's degree · 27-2012

$90,360

+4.9%

143,120

12,800

87

03

Public Relations Specialists · Bachelor's degree · 27-3031

$74,750

+4.8%

283,380

27,600

86

04

Special Effects Artists and Animators · Bachelor's degree · 27-1014

$102,030

+1.6%

19,970

5,000

82

05

Technical Writers · Bachelor's degree · 27-3042

$90,390

+0.9%

45,500

4,500

73

06

Commercial and Industrial Designers · Bachelor's degree · 27-1021

$83,910

+3.2%

33,490

2,500

71

07

Coaches and Scouts · Bachelor's degree · 27-2022

$47,320

+6.4%

248,950

41,800

71

08

Writers and Authors · Bachelor's degree · 27-3043

$76,910

+3.6%

47,940

13,400

71

09

Editors · Bachelor's degree · 27-3041

$77,920

+0.6%

91,690

9,800

66

10

Film and Video Editors · Bachelor's degree · 27-4032

$75,420

+4.0%

25,610

3,600

66

11

Fashion Designers · Bachelor's degree · 27-1022

$80,960

+2.0%

21,450

2,300

66

12

Graphic Designers · Bachelor's degree · 27-1024

$62,960

+2.1%

197,830

20,000

66

13

Media and Communication Workers, All Other · High school diploma or equivalent · 27-3099

$73,620

+2.7%

19,590

3,000

62

14

Set and Exhibit Designers · Bachelor's degree · 27-1027

$75,240

+2.3%

10,630

2,500

62

15

Interior Designers · Bachelor's degree · 27-1025

$67,190

+3.2%

71,500

7,800

62

16

Athletes and Sports Competitors · No formal educational credential · 27-2021

$66,710

+5.5%

15,070

2,100

62

17

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film · Bachelor's degree · 27-4031

$74,990

+1.2%

21,550

2,900

60

18

Music Directors and Composers · Bachelor's degree · 27-2041

$73,710

-0.3%

12,540

4,300

57

19

Sound Engineering Technicians · Postsecondary nondegree award · 27-4014

$73,130

-1.7%

13,080

1,200

56

20

Artists and Related Workers, All Other · No formal educational credential · 27-1019

$71,240

+0.8%

6,930

1,200

56

21

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners · Postsecondary nondegree award · 27-3092

$72,420

-0.3%

12,870

1,700

55

22

Audio and Video Technicians · Postsecondary nondegree award · 27-4011

$58,100

+3.3%

70,230

7,300

55

23

Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other · High school diploma or equivalent · 27-4099

$70,720

+0.6%

12,450

1,100

55

24

Designers, All Other · Bachelor's degree · 27-1029

$64,950

+2.0%

9,480

2,200

54

25

Choreographers · High school diploma or equivalent · 27-2032

$55,310

+6.1%

2,860

700

53

Showing top 25 of 36 scored occupations — show all 36show top 25

#

Occupation

MEDIAN PAY

Growth

Score

26

Interpreters and Translators · Bachelor's degree

$60,170

+1.7%

53

27

Lighting Technicians · Postsecondary nondegree award

$68,060

-4.6%

52

28

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists · Bachelor's degree

$62,200

-3.9%

49

29

Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers · High school diploma or equivalent

$39,390

+3.2%

49

30

Broadcast Technicians · Associate's degree

$59,570

-2.8%

46

31

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials · High school diploma or equivalent

$40,710

+5.7%

43

32

Photographers · High school diploma or equivalent

$44,660

+1.8%

43

33

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators · Bachelor's degree

$55,490

-1.2%

43

34

Craft Artists · No formal educational credential

$46,080

+2.1%

39

35

Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys · Bachelor's degree

$47,340

-5.5%

37

36

Floral Designers · High school diploma or equivalent

$37,360

-5.9%

31

Fastest-growing arts and media careers

01 Coaches and Scouts +6.4%

02 Choreographers +6.1%

03 Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials +5.7%

04 Athletes and Sports Competitors +5.5%

05 Producers and Directors +4.9%

arts and media careers without a four-year degree

01 Media and Communication Workers, All Other $73,620

02 Athletes and Sports Competitors $66,710

03 Sound Engineering Technicians $73,130

04 Artists and Related Workers, All Other $71,240

05 Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $72,420

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About arts and media careers

How many arts and media careers are there?

Jobs.best ranks 36 arts and media occupations with published wages, from OEWS May 2025.

What is the highest-paying arts and media job?

Art Directors, with a national median of $114,850.

Can you enter arts and media without a degree?

Yes — 5 of the ranked arts and media occupations typically need no four-year degree, including Media and Communication Workers, All Other.