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Teaching artist vs art teacher

The differences between teaching artists and art teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a teaching artist has an average salary of $66,565, which is higher than the $50,188 average annual salary of an art teacher.

The top three skills for a teaching artist include art curriculum, arts education and art lessons. The most important skills for an art teacher are classroom management, professional development, and art curriculum.

Teaching artist vs art teacher overview

Teaching ArtistArt Teacher
Yearly salary$66,565$50,188
Hourly rate$32.00$24.13
Growth rate12%4%
Number of jobs4,49369,820
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4642
Years of experience2-

What does a teaching artist do?

A Teaching Artist is responsible for teaching knowledge and skills in art, including drawing, painting, lettering, and art history. They also develop, submit, and implement lesson plans.

What does an art teacher do?

An art teacher is responsible for teaching students of art history, disciplines, and techniques to bring out the learners' maximum potential and creativity. Art teachers develop engaging plans for art strategies, ensuring the adequacy of art tools and materials for the learners' use, and design art development courses. An art teacher must have excellent knowledge of the art industry and communication and organization skills to address the different learning methods of the students and identify their areas of improvement.

Teaching artist vs art teacher salary

Teaching artists and art teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Teaching ArtistArt Teacher
Average salary$66,565$50,188
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $111,000Between $40,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkConnecticut
Best paying companyThe New York PopsBrooklyn Friends School
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between teaching artist and art teacher education

There are a few differences between a teaching artist and an art teacher in terms of educational background:

Teaching ArtistArt Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorTheatreFine Arts
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Teaching artist vs art teacher demographics

Here are the differences between teaching artists' and art teachers' demographics:

Teaching ArtistArt Teacher
Average age4642
Gender ratioMale, 31.1% Female, 68.9%Male, 25.5% Female, 74.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%9%

Differences between teaching artist and art teacher duties and responsibilities

Teaching artist example responsibilities.

  • Perform weekly at NYC schools, lead talkbacks, and conduct workshops for students of all ages.
  • Lead an outreach art program in a public school in the Bronx for 4th and 5th grade students.
  • Utilize computers and software to develop teaching materials, manage classroom records and email, and produce PowerPoint presentations.
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills, well-execute and expedient application of makeup to achieve the look guests desires.
  • Participate in OFAR's social sculpture and create an installation-base film dedicate to social justice and engagement
  • Teach classes in improv, sketch, acting, and playwriting
  • Show more

Art teacher example responsibilities.

  • Manage classes Pre-K through 6th grade on a daily basis for schedules, field trips, and arts and crafts.
  • Lead kids through snack, game time, homework time, an art lesson, and manage a gallery wall.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Travel to local elementary schools and teach fine art lessons that incorporate history, math, and science.
  • plan and teach art to grades k-6
  • Teach visual arts to students grade k-8.
  • Show more

Teaching artist vs art teacher skills

Common teaching artist skills
  • Art Curriculum, 13%
  • Arts Education, 5%
  • Art Lessons, 5%
  • Public Schools, 5%
  • Creative Drama, 4%
  • Poetry, 4%
Common art teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 21%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Art Curriculum, 5%
  • Student Learning, 4%
  • Art History, 4%
  • K-12, 4%

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