Highest Paying Creative Jobs
Who says you can't enjoy your work and be well-paid at the same time?
Creative careers sometimes get a bad rap for being poorly compensated. But, in truth, the starving artist stereotype often falls short of reality. In today's booming creative economy, there are a number of exciting career opportunities available that are both well-paid and intellectually stimulating.
If you're looking for a career that inspires originality and an out-of-the box approach, read on. This list of high paying jobs are sure to get your creative juices flowing.
Here are CareerExplorer's Top Careers for Creative People
This article will be covering the following careers:
| Career | Avg Salary | Satisfaction | Your Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Director | $70k | 3.8/5 | |
| Software Engineer | $139k | 3.2/5 | |
| Film Producer | $79k | 3.6/5 | |
| Filmmaker | $21k | 4.1/5 | |
| Film Director | $80k | 4.4/5 | |
| Game Designer | $103k | 4.3/5 | |
| Music Teacher | $26k | 3.3/5 | |
| Fashion Designer | $67k | 3.6/5 | |
| Television Writer | $40k | 4.0/5 |
Are these careers suited to you? Our comprehensive career test measures your personality traits and interests and matches you to over 800 careers.
1. Art Director
Art directors are big picture thinkers, responsible for creating the overall look and feel of products such as magazines, newspapers, books, and TV series. Found in a wide range of industries—from publishing to public relations—these highly innovative thinkers have a strong sense of visual style. They also possess the communication skills needed to help others transform their vision into a working reality.
Art Director
An art director is responsible for overseeing and managing the visual aspects of a project, such as advertisements, films, video games, publications, or website designs.
2. Software Engineer
While this isn’t usually the first thing people think of when they hear the words “creative career”, software engineering can be an extremely rewarding profession for those who enjoy solving problems in novel ways. A branch of computer science, this career involves developing and building the software that runs the digital world—from dating apps to medical databases and everything in between.
Software Engineer
A software engineer applies engineering principles to the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software systems.
3. Film Producer
Whether it's at a film set or in a radio studio, the producer is at the heart of the creative process. These individuals work behind the scenes to make incredible artistic and cultural productions possible, providing the resources and logistics required to ensure their team's success. It's a varied and rewarding job, perfect for anyone who enjoys helping large projects come together.
Film Producer
A film producer is a pivotal figure in the filmmaking process, playing a central role in bringing a cinematic project to life.
4. Filmmaker
The term "filmmaker" can refer to many things. That's because these hard working, highly original professionals tend to wear a lot of hats. They may be responsible for directing the film, editing the shots, writing the script, or selecting furniture for the set. But no matter what their specific duties, filmmakers are deeply invested in the end product; nothing is more rewarding to them than seeing their creative ideas come to life on the big screen.
Filmmaker
A filmmaker is responsible for the conception, planning, and execution of films, ranging from short films and documentaries to full-length feature movies.
5. Film Director
Film directors, like filmmakers, play a core role in making a production come to life. Directors are responsible for ensuring that every aspect of the film process runs smoothly: from writing the script to finalizing the visual effects. As a result, they tend to possess a kind of ownership over the end product that others on set do not. Director is a big picture role that's ideally suited to innovative thinkers.
Film Director
A film director is a key creative figure in the filmmaking process, responsible for guiding and overseeing the artistic and technical elements of a movie.
6. Game Designer
Gaming is a booming industry, employing many of the world's most creative thinkers. The designers that work in this field are tasked with extremely complex challenges, from creating maps to animating characters using millions of lines of code. Bringing the world of the video game to life is a difficult, but also incredibly rewarding, task, well-suited to those who enjoy solving problems in new and interesting ways.
Game Designer
A game designer plays a central role in the video game development process.
7. Music Teacher
From piano etudes to electric guitar solos, music teachers show their students how to play, perform, and appreciate music. They may focus on a specific instrument, like the drums, direct a school band, or offer voice lessons. Whatever their specific role, music teachers get to contribute to another person's creative development in a profoundly intimate way.
Music Teacher
A music teacher specializes in teaching music to students of all ages and skill levels.
8. Fashion Designer
Fashion designers are wildly artistic individuals who contribute to producing millions of pieces of clothing and accessories each year. Whether they are working on children's outerwear or women's lingerie, their day-to-day lives are full of creative activity. From researching emerging trends to selecting the fabrics for the final product, fashion designers get to bring their imaginative ideas to life in an incredible way.
Fashion Designer
A fashion designer conceptualizes and creates clothing, footwear, and accessories, often with a focus on aesthetic appeal, functionality, and marketability.
9. Television Writer
Television writers develop, write, and revise scripts for a wide range of productions. Whether they are working on a cheesy romantic comedy or an award-winning drama, they are responsible for creating all of the characters, plot lines, settings, and dialogue that will become the basis of the show. Although the writing process can be a fascinating experience in and of itself, the best part of the job is seeing one's hard work finally come to life on the silver screen.
Television Writer
A television writer is a skilled writer who writes scripts for television shows.