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Job outlook for commercial artists in the United States
Are commercial artist jobs in demand?
Commercial artist job and salary trends over time
Commercial artist jobs over time
Commercial artist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 216 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 254 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 283 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 266 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 257 | 0.00% |
Average commercial artist salary over time
Commercial artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $60,449 | $29.06 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $58,382 | $28.07 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $57,031 | $27.42 | --0.3% |
| 2022 | $57,192 | $27.50 | --2.5% |
| 2021 | $58,659 | $28.20 | +9.3% |
Commercial artist jobs by state
Most common states for commercial artists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 330 | 5% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 310 | 5% |
| 3 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 240 | 5% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 168 | 5% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 158 | 5% |
| 6 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 136 | 5% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 47 | 5% |
| 8 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 38 | 5% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,421 | 4% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 515 | 4% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 467 | 4% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 363 | 4% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 262 | 4% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 206 | 4% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 122 | 4% |
| 16 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 109 | 4% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 62 | 4% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 51 | 4% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 33 | 4% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 31 | 4% |
Most common cities for commercial artists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $74,133 |
Commercial Artist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of commercial artist experts
Michigan State University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Xavier University
Muhlenberg College
University of North Texas
California State University - Stanislaus
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Michalis Andronikou PhD: Be open-minded and creative. You may need to combine a few different skills to find your own professional path.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Michalis Andronikou PhD: It’s difficult to predict what skills will become more important in the field in the next 3-5 years, but creative people and people with a will to improve their skills will find a way to prevail and lead.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Wanda Sullivan MFA: In addition to full time practicing artists, our studio art graduates work in a variety of jobs. We have alumni in art administration positions, a tenured professor at Auburn, elementary and high school art teachers, an education director at the Center for Craft and even a curator at the Field Museum in Chicago. The common thread that they all have in common is a strong foundation in creative problem solving. Art is fundamental to the human condition. We are born wired to create. In a sense, art gives flavor to life through color, form, line, texture and shapes. Art is communication, a non-verbal language that connects us across backgrounds, cultures and generations, it is what makes us human.
What Commercial Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Wanda Sullivan MFA: Making art or working in an art related field is one of the most rewarding ways to earn a living. It is a privilege to contribute to the tradition of culture in one's community, region and country. People shape the creative fiber of communities, they do not happen on their own. The most common frustration creatives face is lack of funding in the arts and lack of understanding. These obstacles can be overcome and should not deter young people from studying art. Art was here before we were all born and will be here after we all leave, it gives life flavor and it will never go out of style.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Wanda Sullivan MFA: Absolutely! Individuals who are trained in visual fields are creative problem solvers. Every profession values creativity and all forms of art are always and will always be in demand.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Assistant Professor Trish Gianakis: A fine artist's day-to-day activities are basically focused on creating art. There are other tasks as well, such as marketing, networking, collaborating with other artists, research and teaching workshops or classes. At a beginner level when someone is entering the field of fine art, typical activities focus on building their skill and a specific style to stand out. While developing their portfolio, going to art shows and getting into the art community to meet other artists and gallery owners to establish themselves in the artistic community. Many artists work multiple jobs in order to sustain their income while they figure out the specific style to make themselves stand out.
What Commercial Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Assistant Professor Trish Gianakis: I like to say we are in the beginning of the digital Renaissance. Digital art is finally accepted as an art form. This career can be a dynamic and rewarding career if you have a passion for creativity, expression, and want to make a cultural impact by meaningful contribution to society.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Assistant Professor Trish Gianakis: The politics of being a fine artist can be tricky to navigate. There are some basic unsaid rules an artist must follow in order to become successful to reap the rewards. Learning these unsaid rules can be frustrating for artists which is one of the things artists dislike. While others once they understand the rules thrive.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Teresa Dunn: In general artists make because they are driven by internal impulse to create. I would not describe that as like or dislike, but as being compelled to make something from nothing or transform something into something else completely new. There are many layers to why a person chooses to be an artist including the personal satisfaction of making something beautiful, compelling, incredible, shocking, or even disturbing. There is also the pleasure of providing joy to others, being provocative or evocative—the reaction of an audience is exciting. Downsides to the profession are learning to cope with failure—not everything an artist makes is worth keeping or is well received; rejection—an artist does not always get the exhibitions, sales, awards, and opportunities they would like or are worthy of receiving; the bureaucracy—dealing with things like taxes, paperwork, and organization of schedules are the necessary but less glamorous aspects of being an artist.
What Commercial Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Teresa Dunn: Entering the profession in practical terms is complicated as being an artist can be challenging on many levels, leaving many artists to balance their creative practice with other work such as education, arts administration, or jobs unrelated to the arts. I would rephrase the question: why is it critical to be an artist today? Artists have the capacity to see and to distill the world around us in sensitive and rich ways that invite viewers to understand themselves or others, view the past/present/future in unexpected ways, and identify topics of vital importance that audiences may not have considered without the perceptiveness of an artist through their artwork. Communities, cultures, civilizations are rich because of the dedication of artists and other creatives to make artwork that helps one find meaning, validates the self, makes the unknown known, reveals purpose, provides hope, challenges the status quo, and asks us to grow as individuals and as collectives.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Teresa Dunn: For many artists a typical daily scenario and often the main priority is to be in the studio making their artwork. However, for those whose work is primarily performative or social practice, the studio might not be the most important place for creative discovery. In addition, artists have such varied practices and unique demands that there is not a simple way to answer this question. It can be a combination of many activities such as being in the studio making artwork, preparing materials to create their work, reading, doing research, traveling to see artwork in galleries and museums, attending exhibitions or residencies, working with assistants, networking, applying for shows, engaging with community, teaching, etc.
Steve Hughart II
Laboratory Coordinator I/ Adjunct ProfessorFlorida Gulf Coast University
Fine And Studio Arts
What Commercial Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Steve Hughart II: If you want to maximize your salary potential, I always say you need to have a lot of tools in your toolbox. Take your foundation courses seriously and learn as much as you can from the faculty and staff here at FGCU. Ask questions, devote time outside of class to work, time management and understanding how long it will take to complete tasks is very important. Another important aspect is social networking. Meet as many people as you can in the field you are interested in. A lot of times finding the best position isn’t based on what you know, but who you know.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Steve Hughart II: The most important skills that I would suggest would be to learn and understand the Adobe Creative Cloud Applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator for example. These platforms will benefit you immensely in the art field in a ton of different ways. All artists will use these applications in one form or another. That being said, I would also encourage everyone to do as much work as possible with your hands. Learn to use power tools, pick up a piece of paper and pencil instead of the iPad, use a real camera instead of your phone. With AI growing so fast digital media work will all be AI generated, so focusing on improving your editing skills and creating with your hands will be where the jobs are.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Professor Kelly Phelps M.F.A.: Fine Artist work! We have professions like any other. Many fine artist have art as his or her primary gig. Some have use art as their secondary job. Fine Artist try to work in his or her craft on a daily basis. Artist work in the studio, work on self -promotion, fix equipment, seek opportunities, exhibit, network/collaborate with other artist.
What Commercial Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Kelly Phelps M.F.A.: Fine Arts is a great profession because creativity is needed everywhere. Artist/Designers are the makers of everything! There is an opportunity where art can be found in nearly any career.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Professor Kelly Phelps M.F.A.: The biggest dislike about being about being a Fine Artist is the societal stigma …What are you going to do with that career? Having to constantly explain and validate what fine artist do is exhausting. Artist make or design everything. From the clothes on our backs to the toilet you set on we (artist /designers) have designed or created everything. Art has so many practical applications outside of visually creative things displayed in a gallery or museum.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Professor Kate Jordahl: It is an excellent time to begin in the visual and performing arts because we have such a need for creativity and our approaches to the problems of the world, the challenges of our society, and the ever-changing fabric of business. Whether you work directly in making things and performing or you are a supervisor who organizes other people's creative tasks, this is a very rewarding area with a balance of using all of your skills to create and make projects successful
What Commercial Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Kate Jordahl: Visual and performing arts professionals will do a variety of jobs and tasks. Part of the point of working in this area is both the creativity and the flexibility that a career a creative career can offer you. Many visual and performing arts professionals will work for themselves, so really, they are small business owners needing to negotiate, organize, and then create their artwork or perform their skill. Generally, creative professionals will find that they will spend approximately 30% of their time in their chosen area of creativity and about 70% of their time in the business of organization, negotiation, and client relations. These specialties need people who are self-starters, who really enjoy working collaboratively, and who can work independently to make deadlines and realize projects. For most visual and performing arts professionals, the last decade has been a time of great change, and being flexible is probably one of the most important things you can bring to the table.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Professor Kate Jordahl: People like that they can be flexible in the performing arts and that there is a myriad of ways to work and thrive in this area. People dislike that the pay is sometimes less than for other professions and that the hours can be very long. Being a visual and performing arts professional means working when the work needs to be done, and it can mean long days, but the rewards are worth it.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Jeffrey Fracé: An artist at the beginning of their career, unless they are lucky enough to have a trust fund, has the unique challenge of effectively managing at least two businesses at once. Most of you will begin as a freelancer, and earn most of your money not from your art. To minimize the time it takes to earn a living with your art, keep your cost of living low, and try not to wear yourself out at your day job. Create day-to-day stability, but put your energy — your best self — into your art. Keep meeting people, keep practicing, and keep creating and producing original work. The more you diversify your skills — scripted and improvised, stage and camera, artistic and commercial, learning and teaching — the better chance you’ll have achieving a balance of satisfying work and satisfying income.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Jeffrey Fracé: I recommend that before you graduate, you think about where you want to live and make a plan to move there. Consider factors such where are the artists doing the kind of work you are interested in doing, whom do you already know there, and are there opportunities to earn a living as you break into the field. Meet as many people as you can in your chosen place — whomever you want to work with, get to know their work better and reach out to them. Meanwhile, keep active by continuing to train yourself, because in theater or film/TV, it’s very common for there to be gaps between projects as you are starting out. Keep your cost of living low, and try not to wear yourself out at your day job. Do something every day that reminds you that you are an artist, whether it’s rehearsing your monologues, working on a scene with a friend, taking classes, writing, composing or playing music, whatever helps you feel creative.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Emily Potts: The day-to-day work is difficult to define because it depends heavily on the path an individual chooses, driven by their own goals, talents, and dreams. Fine artists are equipped with portfolios that demonstrate technical skill and can translate that into a wide range of employment opportunities. These include commercial art, non-profit work, art management, teaching, animation, skilled crafts like jewelry making and steel fabrication, and even developing proposals and grant writing for public and site-specific commissions. Fine arts are truly expansive in nature.
What Commercial Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily Potts: The opportunity to exercise creativity is incredibly fulfilling. Art enriches communities and reflects thoughts and feelings that will always hold value for society. Storytelling is inherently woven into art, and the ability to communicate with others in a nuanced and empathetic way is more important now more than ever.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Emily Potts: Fine art requires strong discipline, constant creative thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. While the breadth of the field might initially overwhelm some, the stereotype that there are no jobs in the arts is simply untrue. Artists need to find their niche and develop the skills and portfolio to back it up. A fine arts degree is not an ending point, but a springboard. By professionally presenting their creative work, artists can propel themselves into jobs they are passionate about and truly believe in.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Artist?
Carol Pelletier: I think most people love the creative space of being in the studio working on the next project, exhibiting their work and having it viewed by other artists and the greater public. The greatest frustration for most artists is work-life balance, like any other field.
What Commercial Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Carol Pelletier: The Studio Arts is a great place for those individuals who want to enter creative fields while fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship, while Art Therapy utilizes the arts for healing.
What will help Commercial Artists increase their earning potential?
Carol Pelletier: Many of our students go on to become practicing artists, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Here are a few names for you. Danielle Fretwell, recently had her first solo show in London at the Alice Amati Gallery. Kat Giordano, another studio art major recently graduated with the MFA in Painting from Goldsmiths University of London and is preparing for shows at the Stapleford Granary in Cambridgeshire and at Lampo in London. Kevin Ivester, another studio art major, owns and operates one of the top Contemporary Art Galleries in Austin Texas called Ivester Contemporary. Holly Nichols is an artist, illustrator and author with over 3 million followers on Instagram. Our other majors in the Fine Arts include Art Therapy and those students become practicing Art Therapists after pursuing the Master's degree in Art Therapy or Expressive Arts Therapies. Brittany Quinn owns her own LLC called Green Lotus Art Therapy in Berlin Connecticut where she and other practitioners she hires provide art therapy and counseling services to individuals.
James Thurman
Coordinator, Studio Art: Metalsmithing and Jewelry Program, Associate ProfessorUniversity of North Texas
Department of Studio Art
What skills stand out on Commercial Artist resumes?
James Thurman: In general, I think it's important to convey a strong sense of professionalism blended with a commitment to the visual arts (exhibitions, related employment experience). A developed personal aesthetic is essential and can be easily conveyed with well-designed materials (cover letter, CV, etc.). Specific to Metalsmithing & Jewelry, my experience in digital fabrication (3d printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, etc.) are in high demand and has been the primary avenue that our alumni have been recently employed.
What soft skills should all Commercial Artists possess?
James Thurman: Ability to work well with a team while being able to maintain independence. Creative problem-solving is valued and important to show evidence of. Being able to develop, express, and implement solutions that have gained the consensus of all stakeholders.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Commercial Artists?
James Thurman: Obviously, this is dependent on the position. For all related opportunities in the visual arts, a high degree of digital literacy is expected. As I mentioned, digital fabrication is increasingly a key skill for many professional opportunities in the visual arts: commission proposals, shop management, jewelry design, etc.