When we think of artistic jobs, many of us may think of starving artists. Creative jobs are typically associated with the image of a struggling freelance painter or musician, but there are many high-paying creative jobs that you might not know about.
Out of the many highest-paying jobs for creative people that exist, the highest salaries we found recorded in our Salary Database were $175,000 a year for UX designers and $155,000 a year for video game designers – both of which don’t require college degrees to break into the field.
In fact, 62.8% of creative positions don’t require college degrees, according to research by Fast Company.
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Technology has had a huge part in the expanding world of creative careers. So much so that the creative industry will see a 40% growth in jobs by 2030, taken from The Future of The Creative Economy report by Deloitte. As this area continues to grow in demand, so will the opportunities and salaries that will come along with it.
Key points:
- Creative careers have more flexibility when it comes to breaking into the field.
- Half of the 9 top-earning creative jobs we covered don’t require a bachelor’s degree.
- The highest-paying creative jobs from our Salary Database are UX designers and video game designers.
- The highest median salaries for creative jobs according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are brand managers, social media marketing managers, and creative directors.
- Browse thousands of more publicly shared salaries on our Salary Database.
9 Highest-Paying Creative Jobs That Bring In Six-Figures
We’ve identified 9 creative jobs that pay over $100,000 using salary data from the past 3+ years of interviews, data we’ve collected in our Salary Database, and job data from the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Here’s a sneak peak of a few creative salaries from our recent interviews:
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You can find all the highest creative salaries we recorded by searching for any of the below positions in our Salary Database. Don’t forget to join and add your salary too!
1. Brand Manager
Median salary: $156,580 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $130,000
While social media marketing managers are responsible for brand visibility and identity on social media, a brand manager is responsible for shaping and maintaining the overall image of a brand. Brand managers are a few levels above that, and work to make sure the brand image aligns with business objectives and resonates with the targeted audience(s).
Any time you see a successful brand out in the wild, such as Apple or Coca Cola, and their associated brand aesthetic and reputation is pleasing, there is a brand manager behind the logo and marketing that helps make it all happen.
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Their duties include developing marketing strategies, overseeing product development, managing advertising campaigns, and analyzing trends and consumer feedback. In order to be able to balance the several moving parts of a brand manager role, you must have some marketing expertise, be able to think strategically, and have strong communication skills to coordinate between teams and stakeholders.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 8% increase in job growth
Education needed: Many companies require a bachelor’s degree in marketing or similar fields, and some work experience.
2. Social Media Marketing Manager
Median salary: $156,580 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $145,000
A social media marketing manager’s main responsibility is developing and executing strategies to grow a brand’s presence across social media platforms. They spend their time creating content, managing social media accounts, looking at performance metrics, and building a community through engagement with followers.
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To become a social media marketing manager, you’ll need to understand social media algorithms, be proficient in several online management tools like Buffer, and have some data analysis skills to measure the success of social media campaigns. If you’re already a little social-media obsessed, you may have some fun exploring a role like this.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 8% increase in job growth
Education needed: There are no concrete requirements and many social media managers can get started using online certification programs or free courses, such as those provided by Hubspot. However, some companies may require a bachelor’s degree in communications or marketing.
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3. Creative Director
Median salary: $106,500 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $135,000
A creative director oversees the visual and conceptual direction of a project or brand. They are not to be confused with art directors, who solely focus on the visual elements of a project. However, both are great high-paying jobs for creative personalities to explore.
We interviewed a creative director who summed it up beautifully – “We use art to help amplify their message.”
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Creative directors are responsible for managing creative teams, guiding design concepts, approving work, and working closely with clients and stakeholders to stay aligned. Those with exceptional leadership and communication skills, and the ability to see a creative vision through to its end – even in the early stages where everything is unclear – will excel in this role.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 5% increase in job growth
Education needed: Due to the level of management and responsibility that creative directors have, many companies require a bachelor's degree in art, advertising, marketing, communications, or related field.
4. Animator
Median salary: $99,060 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $100,000
Popular shows like The Simpsons and Spongebob Squarepants would be impossible without animators. Animators create motion graphics and visual effects by designing and animating characters, objects, and scenes for TV, movies, video games, and other forms of digital media.
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They are responsible for producing smooth, visually engaging animations by drawing storyboards, creating models, and using animation software to bring concepts to life. Key skills are not only creativity, but also proficiency in animation software like Maya, a strong understanding of movement and timing, and the ability to collaborate with directors and other creative teams.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 4% increase in job growth
Education needed: Animators are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in animation or computer graphics, but it depends on the company. You can also get started with free online programs to start putting together a portfolio.
5. Video Game Designer
Median salary: $99,060 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $155,000
Calling all gamers! Being a video game designer is a dream for those who are both creative and love to play video games. As a game designer, you’ll be creating concepts, rules, storylines, and mechanics that shape the overall player experience within a game. You may even design characters and entire levels. Think of anything that needs to be designed in a video game, and you may end up taking that task on.
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To become a video game designer, look to learn different video game development software, such as Unity, and develop a deep understanding of game mechanics and user experience. And of course, play a lot of video games.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 4% increase in job growth
Education needed: There are no formal education requirements to become a video game designer but some companies may require a degree in game design, software engineering, computer graphics, or similar area of expertise. You can also get started with free online programs to start putting together a portfolio.
6. UX Designer
Median salary: $92,750 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $175,000
A UX (short for user experience) designer is responsible for creating a positive user experience for a particular product, whether digital or physical. Their work focuses on understanding the needs and behaviors of users and ensuring that the product meets those needs in an intuitive and enjoyable way.
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For a digital product, a UX designer might optimize the navigation flow of a mobile app to make it more user-friendly, while for a physical product, they could design the layout of a self-checkout kiosk to ensure it’s easy to use. Their day-to-day duties may include user research, creating wireframes and prototypes using Figma or Adobe XD, and performing tests to refine designs.
This role is especially great for those who have a passion for design and love when everything is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to interact with.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 8% increase in job growth
Education needed: There are many free online programs to get started with but some companies may require a bachelor’s degree or certificate in graphic design, computer science, or related field (which can be obtained online). We actually interviewed a UX designer started with a free program at a community college, and makes $185,000 a year with only 5 years of experience!
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7. Creative Producer
Median salary: $82,510 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $173,000
A creative producer is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of creative projects. Their duties include coordinating between designers, writers, and directors, managing project timelines, and handling budgets and resources. This role is similar to that of a project manager in some aspects, but with additional responsibilities like making sure everything aligns with the client’s vision.
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For instance, when managing the production of a TV commercial, they would coordinate between departments to ensure the concept matches the client’s vision, oversee the filming schedule, manage the budget, and troubleshoot any issues that arise on set. Their role is the glue that holds the project together and makes sure that the final product delivers both creatively and logistically within the set constraints.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 8% increase in job growth
Education needed: Most creative producers have a bachelor’s degree in film studies or communications, but it depends on the company and job requirements of the role.
8. Copywriter
Median salary: $73,690 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $112,000
Many people have no idea what a copywriter is because many of us have no idea what “copy” in the content world even means. How is it any different from a normal writer?
Well, copywriters specifically write for advertisements, websites, social media, and other marketing materials. Their main goal is to promote products or services through persuasive and engaging content that drives the target audience to take a specific action – whether that’s making a purchase, signing up for a service, or just engaging with the brand.
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An example of copywriting in the real world is the text you’re reading right now. We’re transparent here and we’ll admit it – we want you to engage with us! We encourage salary transparency through engaging with each other and talking about pay – and this blog gives us another way to do that.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 5% increase in job growth
Education needed: There are no strict educational requirements for copywriters, but free online writing courses are a great place to get started. Keep in mind that some employers may require a bachelor’s degree in writing or marketing, and you may also need one depending on where you want to take your career.
9. Content Creator
Median salary: $66,320 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $170,000
If you love scrolling through Instagram and watching reels to learn a recipe, complete a DIY project, or learn about salary transparency (shameless plug), thank a content creator because they’re the reason for all of those free resources – like our own resident content creator and CEO, Hannah Williams!
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Content creators create content for various formats, including videos, articles, social media posts, and podcasts to reach their intended audience. They are responsible for generating ideas, creating and editing content, and publishing it on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and blogs.
Like what’s covered in the above video, content creators make money from brand deals, user generated content, ads, affiliates, paid products, and several other income streams – if they work for themselves and not at a company.
This role can sometimes be a catch-all where content creators are performing several different job roles in one. They may act as a social media manager one day, a writer the next day, and a video editor and producer the day after that. This job is a mixed bag but with a lot of creative freedom to explore to your liking.
Job outlook (2022-2032): 10% increase in job growth
Education needed: Many content creators get started on their own and run their own businesses, so they may not have degrees. If you want to work for a company as a content creator, it is best to do some of your own content creation on your social media platform of choice and create a portfolio with results when applying for jobs.
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How to Start a Creative Career
Breaking into the creative field can happen in many different ways. You don’t necessarily need to pursue a 4-year college degree, but you may need one depending on where you want your career to go. Other options include free courses and educational videos online, certification programs, associate’s degrees, free programs at community colleges, or gaining expertise through an internship.
Working a part-time or seasonal side hustle in your creative field of choice will also help you learn quickly and get some experience. This might look like freelancing during nights and weekends, working a creative seasonal or holiday job, or creative your own small-business on the side of your day job. If you take this route, do whatever works best for your schedule
Since many creative jobs require a portfolio, spend as much time as you can in the beginning to put what you’re learning into practice. For instance, if you want to do something with branding, social media, content, or marketing, create your own online presence (using one platform like Instagram) to try and produce results. This will help you show potential employers that you take this seriously – so seriously that you already do it on your own in your free time.
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It’s overwhelming to think about all the things you need to be doing to get a well-paid job in the creative industry. What’s important is that you start – whether that’s watching a tutorial video on YouTube, following other creative professionals online that you admire, or playing around on Photoshop.
Once you start, keep going, and never stop flexing those creative muscles of yours! 💪
Don’t forget to browse our other resources as you break into this field, including interview questions and answers to prepare for, salary negotiation scripts and myths, how to ask for a raise, and more!
That wraps it up for this week. Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella, a writer, engineer, and creator of I Like to Dabble and Remote Work Bestie - my blog and podcast for leveling up your money, career, and side hustles. I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the Salary Transparent Street blog (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Linkedin, and Twitter. Chat soon!
If this guide helps you land a higher-paying job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com
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