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Field of degree: Fine and performing arts

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Fine and performing arts field of degree. Employment: 2,945,800. Median annual wage: $50,000.

Table 1. Fine and performing arts degree, 2022.

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Table 1. Fine and performing arts degree, 2022
Data	Fine and performing arts	All fields
Employment	2,945,800	62,187,580
Median wage	50,000	66,000
Percent employed part time	22	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	52	62
Percent with an advanced degree	26	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of fine and performing arts majors, 2022.

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Chart 1. Types of fine and performing arts, 2022
Fine arts majors	Major share
Commercial Art And Graphic Design	25%
Fine Arts	23
Music	18
Drama And Theater Arts	11
Film Video And Photographic Arts	9
Other	15
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a fine and performing arts degree, by occupational group, 2022.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a fine and performing arts degree, by occupational group, 2022
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	20%
Management occupations	14
Educational instruction and library occupations	14
Office and administrative support occupations	8
Sales and related occupations	8
Other	35
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a fine and performing arts degree.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a fine arts degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2023–33	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2022	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2022
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	19%	Doctoral or professional degree	3%	72%
Managers, all other	6	Bachelor's degree	4	21
Art directors	5	Bachelor's degree	3	13
Designers, all other	3	Bachelor's degree	3	15
Substitute teachers, short-term	3	Bachelor's degree	2	23
Graphic designers	2	Bachelor's degree	4	10
Retail salespersons	0	No formal educational credential	2	4
Elementary school teachers, except special education	-1	Bachelor's degree	4	49
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	-1	Bachelor's degree	2	56
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	-6	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 and performing arts,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/fine-arts/fine-arts-field-of-degree.htm (visited July 17, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024