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Field of degree: Fine and performing arts

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Fine and performing arts field of degree. Employment: 3,067,160. Median annual wage: $50,000.

Table 1. Fine and performing arts degree, 2023.

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Table 1. Fine and performing arts degree, 2023
Data	Fine and performing arts	All fields
Employment	3,067,160	63,725,710
Median wage	50,000	70,000
Percent employed part time	22	15
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, 2023.

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Chart 1. Types of fine and performing arts, 2023
Fine arts majors	Major share
Commercial Art And Graphic Design	25%
Fine Arts	22
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, 2023.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a fine and performing arts degree, by occupational group, 2023
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	20%
Educational instruction and library occupations	15
Management occupations	14
Office and administrative support occupations	8
Business and financial operations occupations	8
Other	36
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
Occupation	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2023	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2023	Percent growth, projected 2024–34	Typical entry-level education
Graphic designers	4%	8%	2%	Bachelor's degree
Managers, all other	4	21	4	Bachelor's degree
Elementary school teachers, except special education	4	49	-2	Bachelor's degree
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	3	74	17	Doctoral or professional degree
Art directors	3	14	4	Bachelor's degree
Set and exhibit designers	3	16	2	Bachelor's degree
Substitute teachers, short-term	2	23	2	Bachelor's degree
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	2	56	-2	Bachelor's degree
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	2	6	-5	High school diploma or equivalent
Retail salespersons	2	4	0	No formal educational credential
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 September 30, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025