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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Part of Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications, in the Visual Arts pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 27-1013.00

What the work is

Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.

On a typical day

  • Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
  • Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
  • Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
  • Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
  • Monitor events, trends, and other circumstances, research specific subject areas, attend art exhibitions, and read art publications to develop ideas and keep current on art world activities.
  • Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.

What it pays

$49,650
Median pay per year, Texas (no San Antonio figure published)
New workers start near $17,880
Experienced workers reach $77,380
  1. $18k10th
  2. $37k25th
  3. $50kMedian
  4. $65k75th
  5. $77k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $17,880, 25th $36,920, Median $49,650, 75th $64,820, 90th $77,380

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+7.0%

employment change in the Alamo region, 228 to 244 jobs · U.S. -1%

22

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 2,200

228

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 26,500

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree · Training: Long-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Active Learning3.4
  2. Critical Thinking3.3
  3. Active Listening3.3
  4. Reading Comprehension3.1
  5. Judgment and Decision Making3.0
  6. Speaking2.9
  7. Complex Problem Solving2.9
  8. Writing2.8

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less27%
  2. Some college37%
  3. Bachelor's degree35%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northeast Lakeview
  • Northwest Vista
  • Palo Alto
  • St. Philip's
  • San Antonio
  1. Art

    Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  2. Art

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  3. Art

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  4. Art

    Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

  5. Visual Arts

    Transfer pre-major · Creative & Communication Arts

Apply to Alamo Colleges

Does this fit you?

Six questions rank every career here by how closely its interest profile follows yours.

Check my interests
  1. $79kTexas median
  2. Graphic Designers

    Zone 44 Alamo programs

    $60kSan Antonio median
  3. $41kSan Antonio median
  4. Art Directors

    Zone 43 Alamo programs

    $82kSan Antonio median
  5. Set and Exhibit Designers

    Zone 51 Alamo program

    $57kTexas median
  6. Photographers

    Zone 33 Alamo programs

    $38kSan Antonio median
  7. $40kTexas median
  8. $82kSan Antonio median