Arts & Media Salaries: 36 Jobs Ranked by Pay (2026)

Official median pay, hourly rates, and education requirements for every arts & media occupation — from Art Director down to Floral Designer.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Occupations
36
tracked in this field
Average Median
$67,700
across the field
Highest Paying
$114,850
Art Director
Entry Point
$37,360
Floral Designer

All Arts & Media salaries, ranked

Sorted by median annual pay in official BLS estimates. Click any job for its full salary report, including pay by state.

OccupationMedian salaryHourlyTypical educationWorkers
Art Director$114,850$55.22Bachelor's degree53,000
Special Effects Artists and Animators$102,030$49.05Bachelor's degree20,000
Technical Writer$90,390$43.46Bachelor's degree46,000
Producers and Directors$90,360$43.44Bachelor's degree143,000
Commercial and Industrial Designers$83,910$40.34Bachelor's degree33,000
Fashion Designer$80,960$38.92Bachelor's degree21,000
Editor$77,920$37.46Bachelor's degree92,000
Writers and Authors$76,910$36.98Bachelor's degree48,000
Film and Video Editors$75,420$36.26Bachelor's degree26,000
Set and Exhibit Designers$75,240$36.17Bachelor's degree11,000
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film$74,990$36.05Bachelor's degree22,000
Public Relations Specialist$74,750$35.94Bachelor's degree283,000
Music Directors and Composers$73,710$35.44Bachelor's degree13,000
Media and Communication Workers, All Other$73,620$35.39Bachelor's degree20,000
Sound Engineering Technician$73,130$35.16Bachelor's degree13,000
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners$72,420$34.82Bachelor's degree13,000
Artists and Related Workers, All Other$71,240$34.25Bachelor's degree7,000
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other$70,720$34.00Bachelor's degree12,000
Lighting Technician$68,060$32.72Bachelor's degree9,000
Interior Designer$67,190$32.30Bachelor's degree72,000
Athletes and Sports Competitors$66,710$32.07Bachelor's degree15,000
Designer, All Other$64,950$31.23Bachelor's degree9,000
Graphic Designer$62,960$30.27Bachelor's degree198,000
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,200$29.90Bachelor's degree39,000
Interpreters and Translators$60,170$28.93Bachelor's degree52,000
Broadcast Technician$59,570$28.64Bachelor's degree21,000
Audio and Video Technicians$58,100$27.93Bachelor's degree70,000
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators$55,490$26.68Bachelor's degree11,000
Choreographer$55,310$26.59Bachelor's degree3,000
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340$22.76Bachelor's degree21,000
Coaches and Scouts$47,320$22.75Bachelor's degree249,000
Craft Artist$46,080$22.15Bachelor's degree5,000
Photographer$44,660$21.47Bachelor's degree52,000
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$40,710$19.57Bachelor's degree16,000
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,390$18.94Bachelor's degree165,000
Floral Designer$37,360$17.96Bachelor's degree41,000

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Arts & Media salary?
Across the 36 arts & media occupations tracked in BLS data, the average median salary is $67,700 per year. Individual roles range from $37,360 to $114,850.
What is the highest-paying Arts & Media job?
Art Director is the highest-paying arts & media occupation in official BLS estimates, with a median salary of $114,850 per year.
What education do Arts & Media jobs require?
It varies by role — the table above shows the typical entry-level education for each occupation, sourced from O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Many specialist roles need a degree, while support and trainee roles often need a certificate or less.