# Careers in Art Part of the Art Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/art/guide/index.md) *Exploring the Art World* > **7.** Find out about three career opportunities in art. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you. Art is not just a hobby — it is a career path that millions of people follow every day. Chances are, almost everything you have touched, worn, or looked at today was shaped by someone with art skills. Your phone was designed by an industrial designer. The app icons were drawn by a graphic designer. The movie you watched was created by animators, set designers, and visual effects artists. Art careers are everywhere, and many of them pay well and are in high demand. ### Career Fields in Art Here is a look at some of the many career paths available to people with art skills. For this requirement, you need to research **three** of these (or others you discover), then do a deep dive into **one**. ![A montage showing different art professionals at work: a graphic designer at a computer, an architect reviewing blueprints, a muralist painting a wall, and an animator working on a tablet](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/art/guide/art-careers-montage?v=d9f72e9b) ### Visual & Fine Arts **Fine Artist / Painter / Sculptor** Creates original works of art for galleries, commissions, and personal expression. Fine artists may sell through galleries, at art fairs, online, or through commissions from collectors and businesses. **Illustrator** Creates images for books, magazines, advertisements, products, and digital media. Illustrators work in publishing, advertising, editorial, medical, scientific, and children's book illustration. **Muralist** Paints large-scale works on walls and buildings. Muralists work with cities, businesses, schools, and community organizations to create public art. **Printmaker** Creates art through printing processes — screen printing, lithography, woodcuts, and etching. Printmakers may produce limited-edition prints for collectors or create designs for commercial products. ### Design & Applied Arts **Graphic Designer** Creates visual content for print and digital media — logos, websites, advertisements, packaging, and branding. This is one of the most in-demand art careers. Nearly every business needs a graphic designer. **Industrial / Product Designer** Designs the physical products people use every day — furniture, appliances, sporting goods, vehicles, and consumer electronics. Industrial designers combine art skills with engineering and user experience. **Interior Designer** Plans and designs indoor spaces — homes, offices, restaurants, and public buildings. Interior designers choose colors, materials, furniture, lighting, and layouts to create functional, beautiful environments. **Architect** Designs buildings and structures that are safe, functional, and visually compelling. Architecture combines art, engineering, and problem-solving at a large scale. **Fashion Designer** Creates clothing, shoes, and accessories. Fashion designers sketch concepts, select fabrics, and oversee production. They work for clothing brands, design houses, or independently. ### Digital & Media Arts **Animator** Brings characters and stories to life through movement — in movies, TV shows, video games, and advertisements. Animators may work in 2-D (traditional drawing) or 3-D (computer-generated). **Video Game Artist** Creates the visual world of video games — characters, environments, textures, user interfaces, and special effects. This is one of the fastest-growing art careers. **UX/UI Designer** Designs the interfaces of websites, apps, and software. UX (User Experience) designers focus on how a product works and feels. UI (User Interface) designers focus on how it looks. Both require strong visual skills. **Photographer** Captures images for commercial, editorial, artistic, or documentary purposes. Photographers may specialize in portraits, events, products, nature, photojournalism, or fine art. **Film / Video Production** Directors, cinematographers, set designers, and visual effects artists all use art skills to create movies, TV shows, and online content. ### Education & Community **Art Teacher** Teaches art at the elementary, middle school, high school, or college level. Art teachers inspire the next generation of artists and help students develop creative thinking. **Museum Curator** Selects, organizes, and cares for collections of art in museums and galleries. Curators research artworks, plan exhibitions, and write educational materials. **Art Therapist** Uses art as a therapeutic tool to help people deal with stress, trauma, and mental health challenges. Art therapists work in hospitals, clinics, schools, and community centers. > **Did You Know?** > > According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for graphic designers is over $50,000 per year, and UX designers earn even more — often over $80,000. Art careers are not just fulfilling — they can also be financially rewarding. ### Researching Your Chosen Career Once you have identified three careers that interest you, pick one for a deeper investigation. Here is what to find out: **Career Research Guide** — What to learn about your chosen art career - [ ] Education: What degree or training is typically required? (High school diploma, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree?) - [ ] Training: Are there specific skills, software, or certifications you need? (For example, architects need licensure in most states.) - [ ] Experience: How do people typically break into this field? (Internships, apprenticeships, portfolio development, freelance work?) - [ ] Day-to-day work: What does a typical workday look like? - [ ] Work environment: Do they work in a studio, office, outdoors, or remotely? - [ ] Salary range: What can someone expect to earn at entry level and with experience? - [ ] Job outlook: Is demand for this career growing, stable, or declining? ### Where to Research [Bureau of Labor Statistics — Arts and Design Occupations](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/): The official U.S. government resource for career information. Find detailed profiles of art careers including salary data, job outlook, and education requirements. [My Next Move — Career Explorer](https://www.mynextmove.org/): An interactive tool that helps you explore careers based on your interests. Search for art-related careers and see what skills and education they require. > **Tip** > > If possible, try to talk to someone who actually works in the career you are researching. Ask your counselor, parents, or teachers if they know anyone in the field. A five-minute conversation with a working professional will teach you more than an hour of reading. Prepare two or three specific questions before reaching out. ### Discussing with Your Counselor When you meet with your counselor, be ready to share: - The **three careers** you researched and a brief summary of each - The **one career** you chose for your deep dive - The **education and training** path for that career - **Why this career interests you** — connect it to your own skills, passions, and experiences from working on this merit badge > **Be Prepared! Not Sure Which Career to Pick?** > > Think about what you enjoyed most during this merit badge. Did you love the hands-on painting in Requirement 4? Look at fine artist or illustrator careers. Did you enjoy the design challenge in Requirement 5? Consider graphic design or product design. Did the museum visit in Requirement 6 excite you? Museum curator or art teacher might be your path. --- - Previous: [Visiting Art in Person](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/art/guide/req6/index.md) - Next: [Extended Learning](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/art/guide/extended-learning/index.md)