Arts & Media salaries
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers range from designers and writers to performers, athletes, and broadcast professionals.
Below are all 36 arts & media occupations the BLS tracks, ranked by median annual pay for May 2025. The best paid, art directors, earns a median of $114,850 a year.
| # | Job | Median annual | Hourly | Typical education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art Directors | $114,850 | $55.22 | Bachelor's degree | 53,070 |
| 2 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | $102,030 | $49.06 | Bachelor's degree | 19,970 |
| 3 | Technical Writers | $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 Designers | $80,960 | $38.92 | Bachelor's degree | 21,450 |
| 7 | Editors | $77,920 | $37.46 | Bachelor's degree | 91,690 |
| 8 | Writers and Authors | $76,910 | $36.98 | Bachelor's degree | 47,940 |
| 9 | Film and Video Editors | $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 Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $74,990 | $36.05 | Bachelor's degree | 21,550 |
| 12 | Public Relations Specialists | $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 Engineering Technicians | $73,130 | $35.16 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 13,080 |
| 15 | Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $72,420 | $34.82 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 12,870 |
| 16 | Lighting Technicians | $68,060 | $32.72 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 8,900 |
| 17 | Interior Designers | $67,190 | $32.31 | Bachelor's degree | 71,500 |
| 18 | Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | Salaried | No formal educational credential | 15,070 |
| 19 | Graphic Designers | $62,960 | $30.27 | Bachelor's degree | 197,830 |
| 20 | News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | $29.91 | Bachelor's degree | 39,250 |
| 21 | Interpreters and Translators | $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 nondegree award | 70,230 |
| 24 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | $26.68 | Bachelor's degree | 11,220 |
| 25 | Choreographers | $55,310 | $26.59 | High school diploma or equivalent | 2,860 |
| 26 | Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 | Bachelor's degree | 21,240 |
| 27 | Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | Salaried | Bachelor's degree | 248,950 |
| 28 | Craft Artists | $46,080 | $22.15 | No formal educational credential | 4,580 |
| 29 | Photographers | $44,660 | $21.47 | High school diploma or equivalent | 51,760 |
| 30 | Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $40,710 | Salaried | High school diploma or equivalent | 15,780 |
| 31 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 | High school diploma or equivalent | 165,220 |
| 32 | Floral Designers | $37,360 | $17.96 | High school diploma or equivalent | 40,590 |
| 33 | Actors | N/A | $29.05 | Some college, no degree | 55,000 |
| 34 | Dancers | N/A | $24.80 | No formal educational credential | 8,130 |
| 35 | Musicians and Singers | N/A | $47.80 | No formal educational credential | 36,180 |
| 36 | Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | N/A | $21.61 | High school diploma or equivalent | 7,920 |
Ranked by median annual wage. National estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Arts & Media salary FAQ
What is the highest paying arts & media job?
Art Directors top the arts & media field at a median of $114,850 a year, based on BLS data for May 2025.
How much do arts & media jobs pay on average?
Pay varies widely across the 36 occupations in this field. The middle of the list, graphic designers, sits at a median of $62,960 a year. The overall U.S. median across all jobs is $50,980.
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Source. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Figures shown as published, last
updated 2026-05-15.