# Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

> Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fine-artists-including-painters-sculptors-and-illustrators
- SOC code: 27-1013.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $55,490 (10th percentile $31,630, 90th percentile $144,210)
- Projected growth: Decline, -2.9%
- Openings a year: 2,200
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ARI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 51 |
| Investigative (I) | 28 |
| Artistic (A) | 100 |
| Social (S) | 21 |
| Enterprising (E) | 23 |
| Conventional (C) | 22 |

## What you'd do

- Thinking Creatively (importance 95/100)
- Getting Information (importance 73/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 68/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 64/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 64/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 62/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 62/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 59/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 59/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 54/100)

## Skills

Active Learning, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Writing

## Knowledge

Design, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Production and Processing, Fine Arts, Education and Training, Communications and Media, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics, Administration and Management

## Also called

3D Artist (Three Dimensional Artist), 3D Artist (Three-Dimensional Artist), Animated Cartoons Painter, Artist, Artist in Residence (AIR), Automotive Artist, Balloon Artist, Blacksmith, Book Illustrator, Card Painter

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Fine and Studio Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5007) (CIP 5007, 1,455 colleges)
- [Visual and Performing Arts, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5001) (CIP 5001, 571 colleges)
- [Medical Illustration and Informatics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5127) (CIP 5127, 178 colleges)
- Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art (CIP 5011, 10 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Temple University-Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/temple-university-pennsylvania-2687) | Medical Illustration and Informatics | $57,289 | $76,927 | $27,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Fine and Studio Arts | $32,077 | $72,428 | $19,875 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Fine and Studio Arts | not reported | $68,523 | not reported |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Fine and Studio Arts | $38,697 | $66,846 | $19,708 |
| [Vassar College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vassar-college-3116) | Fine and Studio Arts | $40,754 | $63,418 | not reported |
| [Connecticut College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/connecticut-college-700) | Fine and Studio Arts | $37,971 | $61,321 | not reported |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Fine and Studio Arts | not reported | $60,985 | $17,420 |
| [Fordham University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fordham-university-990) | Fine and Studio Arts | $36,007 | $60,515 | $27,000 |

## Related careers

- [Special Effects Artists and Animators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/special-effects-artists-and-animators): $102,030 median pay
- [Graphic Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/graphic-designers): $62,960 median pay
- [Craft Artists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/craft-artists): $46,080 median pay
- [Etchers and Engravers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/etchers-and-engravers): $43,310 median pay
- [Art Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-directors): $114,850 median pay
- [Set and Exhibit Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/set-and-exhibit-designers): $75,240 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.