Highest-paying jobs in arts, design and media
The 32 arts, design and media occupations BLS publishes, ranked by national median pay, with the education each typically needs to enter.
The highest-paying arts, design and media occupation is Creative Director, with a BLS national median of $114,850 a year (May 2025). 2 of the 32 arts, design and media occupations BLS publishes have a median of $100,000 or more; the best-paid one that typically needs less than a bachelor's degree is Sound Engineer ($73,130).
All 32 occupations
Data BLS OEWS May 2025 national median annual wages.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Creative Director | $114,850 | $55.22 | Bachelor's degree | 53,070 |
| 2 | Animator | $102,030 | $49.06 | Bachelor's degree | 19,970 |
| 3 | Technical Writer | $90,390 | $43.46 | Bachelor's degree | 45,500 |
| 4 | Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 | Bachelor's degree | 143,120 |
| 5 | Commercial and Industrial Designers | $83,910 | $40.34 | Bachelor's degree | 33,490 |
| 6 | Fashion Designer | $80,960 | $38.92 | Bachelor's degree | 21,450 |
| 7 | Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 | Bachelor's degree | 91,690 |
| 8 | Writer | $76,910 | $36.98 | Bachelor's degree | 47,940 |
| 9 | Video Editor | $75,420 | $36.26 | Bachelor's degree | 25,610 |
| 10 | Set and Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | $36.17 | Bachelor's degree | 10,630 |
| 11 | Camera Operator | $74,990 | $36.05 | Bachelor's degree | 21,550 |
| 12 | Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 | Bachelor's degree | 283,380 |
| 13 | Music Directors and Composers | $73,710 | $35.44 | Bachelor's degree | 12,540 |
| 14 | Sound Engineer | $73,130 | $35.16 | Postsecondary certificate | 13,080 |
| 15 | Court Reporter | $72,420 | $34.82 | Postsecondary certificate | 12,870 |
| 16 | Lighting Technicians | $68,060 | $32.72 | Postsecondary certificate | 8,900 |
| 17 | Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 | Bachelor's degree | 71,500 |
| 18 | Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | annual only | No formal credential | 15,070 |
| 19 | Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 | Bachelor's degree | 197,830 |
| 20 | Journalist | $62,200 | $29.91 | Bachelor's degree | 39,250 |
| 21 | Translator | $60,170 | $28.93 | Bachelor's degree | 52,060 |
| 22 | Broadcast Technicians | $59,570 | $28.64 | Associate's degree | 21,110 |
| 23 | Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 | Postsecondary certificate | 70,230 |
| 24 | Fine Artist | $55,490 | $26.68 | Bachelor's degree | 11,220 |
| 25 | Choreographer | $55,310 | $26.59 | High school diploma | 2,860 |
| 26 | Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 | Bachelor's degree | 21,240 |
| 27 | Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | annual only | Bachelor's degree | 248,950 |
| 28 | Craft Artists | $46,080 | $22.15 | No formal credential | 4,580 |
| 29 | Photographer | $44,660 | $21.47 | High school diploma | 51,760 |
| 30 | Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $40,710 | annual only | High school diploma | 15,780 |
| 31 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 | High school diploma | 165,220 |
| 32 | Floral Designer | $37,360 | $17.96 | High school diploma | 40,590 |
Best-paid arts, design and media jobs that typically need less than a bachelor’s degree
Data Typical entry-level education from BLS Employment Projections: no formal credential, high school, some college, a postsecondary certificate or an associate degree.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sound Engineer | $73,130 | Postsecondary certificate | 13,080 |
| 2 | Court Reporter | $72,420 | Postsecondary certificate | 12,870 |
| 3 | Lighting Technicians | $68,060 | Postsecondary certificate | 8,900 |
| 4 | Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | No formal credential | 15,070 |
| 5 | Broadcast Technicians | $59,570 | Associate's degree | 21,110 |
| 6 | Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | Postsecondary certificate | 70,230 |
| 7 | Choreographer | $55,310 | High school diploma | 2,860 |
| 8 | Craft Artists | $46,080 | No formal credential | 4,580 |
| 9 | Photographer | $44,660 | High school diploma | 51,760 |
| 10 | Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $40,710 | High school diploma | 15,780 |
Pay versus size
Data The largest arts, design and media occupation by employment is Public Relations Specialist (283,380 employed, median $74,750). The median of the 32 occupation medians is not a BLS figure and is not shown; each row is the occupation's own BLS median.
How this page is built
Occupations in BLS arts, design, entertainment, sports and media occupations (SOC 27-0000), ranked by BLS national median annual wage (OEWS May 2025); BLS residual “all other” categories are left out. 4 occupations in these groups have only an hourly median from BLS (for example Actor) and are not ranked by annual pay. Education is the BLS typical entry-level education, not a legal requirement.
- Pay at a specific employer or in your state.
- Starting pay: medians include experienced workers.
- Which job fits your goals: pay is one factor among many.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025–35 (released Aug 27, 2026; public domain): typical entry-level education, work experience, on-the-job training, projected change and annual openings.