Jobs Similar to Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Also called: Fine Artists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Craft Artists, Special Effects Artists and Animators and Film and Video Editors.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: $55,490 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Craft ArtistsSame group | 74% | $46,080−17% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsSame group | 71% | $102,030+84% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Film and Video Editors | 71% | $75,420+36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 70% | $62,750+13% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Graphic DesignersSame group | 69% | $62,960+13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Set and Exhibit DesignersSame group | 69% | $75,240+36% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Fashion DesignersSame group | 68% | $80,960+46% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Photographers | 68% | $44,660−20% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Interior DesignersSame group | 67% | $67,190+21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Commercial and Industrial DesignersSame group | 67% | $83,910+51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 66% | $97,150+75% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersSame group | 66% | $39,390−29% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Art DirectorsSame group | 66% | $114,850+107% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | 64% | $74,990+35% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Floral DesignersSame group | 64% | $37,360−33% | High school |
| 16 | Costume Attendants | 63% | $50,400−9% | High school |
| 17 | Desktop Publishers | 62% | $55,2900% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Landscape Architects | 60% | $79,870+44% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | 59% | $47,340−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 59% | $52,540−5% | Training or associate |
- 1Craft Artists
74% similar · $46,080 (−17%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Special Effects Artists and Animators
71% similar · $102,030 (+84%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Film and Video Editors
71% similar · $75,420 (+36%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
70% similar · $62,750 (+13%) · Training or associate
- 5Graphic Designers
69% similar · $62,960 (+13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Set and Exhibit Designers
69% similar · $75,240 (+36%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Fashion Designers
68% similar · $80,960 (+46%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 8Photographers
68% similar · $44,660 (−20%) · Training or associate
- 9Interior Designers
67% similar · $67,190 (+21%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Commercial and Industrial Designers
67% similar · $83,910 (+51%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
66% similar · $97,150 (+75%) · Training or associate
- 12Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
66% similar · $39,390 (−29%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 13Art Directors
66% similar · $114,850 (+107%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
64% similar · $74,990 (+35%) · Training or associate
- 15Floral Designers
64% similar · $37,360 (−33%) · High school · Same group
- 16Costume Attendants
63% similar · $50,400 (−9%) · High school
- 17Desktop Publishers
62% similar · $55,290 (0%) · Training or associate
- 18Landscape Architects
60% similar · $79,870 (+44%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
59% similar · $47,340 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
59% similar · $52,540 (−5%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
What jobs are most similar to fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Craft Artists (74% similar), Special Effects Artists and Animators (71% similar), Film and Video Editors (71% similar), Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (70% similar) and Graphic Designers (69% similar).
Which jobs like fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Art Directors ($114,850, +107%; usually a bachelor's degree), Special Effects Artists and Animators ($102,030, +84%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Makeup Artists ($97,150, +75%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators ($55,490). Without more preparation than fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators usually need: Makeup Artists, Fashion Designers and Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.