Fine Arts
Visual & Performing Arts · federal classification: Fine and Studio Arts
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's Degree | $32,032 | $29,569 to $37,186 | 28 | 29% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $41,100 | $36,036 to $45,222 | 433 | 76% |
| Master's Degree | $47,468 | $40,400 to $53,265 | 74 | 84% |
| Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | $48,466 | $46,134 to $50,146 | 7 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +2% (2025 to 2035), about 110,900 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | -0.2% | 63,500 |
| Art Directors | $114,850 | +4.2% | 12,200 |
| Photographers | $44,660 | -0.7% | 10,700 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,620 | +2.2% | 8,000 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $102,030 | -0.3% | 4,200 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $52,540 | -3.2% | 3,700 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a fine arts program, of 1,332 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Glendale Community College
- Mesa Community College
- Estrella Mountain Community College
- California State University-Long Beach
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College
- California State University-Fullerton
- Phoenix College
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.