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Occupational Outlook Handbook > Field of Degree > Fine arts >

Field of degree: Fine arts

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Fine arts field of degree. Employment: 2,603,630. Median annual wage: $40,000.

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Table 1. Fine arts degree, 2018
Data	Fine arts	All fields
Employment	2,603,630	55,381,020
Median wage	$40,000	$59,000
Percent employed part time	23	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	49	59
Percent with an advanced degree	26	37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Chart 1. Types of fine arts majors, 2018
Fine arts majors	Major share
Commercial art and graphic design	25%
Fine arts	24
Music	17
Drama and theater arts	11
Film video and photographic arts	8
Other	15
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a fine arts degree, by occupational group, 2018
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	20%
Educational instruction and library occupations	15
Management occupations	12
Office and administrative support occupations	9
Sales and related occupations	9
Other	34
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a fine arts degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2019–29	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2018	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2018
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	21%	Doctoral or professional degree	4%	74%
Elementary school teachers, except special education	4	Bachelor's degree	5	50
Substitute teachers, short-term	3	Bachelor's degree	3	22
Set and exhibit designers	1	Bachelor's degree	3	16
Retail salespersons	-1	No formal educational credential	2	4
Customer service representatives	-2	High school diploma or equivalent	2	4
Personal service managers, all other; entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling; and managers, all other	-2	Bachelor's degree	4	21
Art directors	-2	Bachelor's degree	3	14
Graphic designers	-4	Bachelor's degree	5	8
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	-5	High school diploma or equivalent	2	5
Note: Occupational profiles may comprise multiple SOC occupations, which may have differing education categories. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (projected growth, entry-level education) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (degree holders, advanced degrees).

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Field of degree: Fine arts,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/fine-arts/fine-arts-field-of-degree.htm (visited February 23, 2021).

Last Modified Date: Monday, November 30, 2020