7 Careers In The Creative World That Actually Pay Well

Are you a creative woman hoping to make your mark in the world? When most people picture creative careers, they picture struggling artists who can’t make ends meet or actors who keep getting shot down audition after audition. 

However, it’s important to know that there are plenty of careers out there that involve putting your artistic talents to use while still paying the bills on time. Check out this guide to learn about the top seven jobs for creative people that actually pay well. 

1. Makeup Artist 

If you love putting your artistic energy onto a sheet of canvas, why not make someone else’s face your canvas? As a makeup artist, you’ll be helping your clients achieve their best look for weddings, photoshoots, proms, and other important events. 

Working as a makeup artist is about a lot more than just applying makeup to someone’s face. It’s about creating a specific look that helps your clients feel their best and that’s artistically aligned with the event they’ll be attending. 

While you can attend a cosmetology program to hone your skills as a makeup artist, many artists today just learn through Youtube tutorials and experimentation.

In this career field, you can expect to make close to $60,000 once you’ve established yourself. However, if you break into certain industries – like modeling or film – you can expect to make way more. 

2. T-Shirt Designer 

Not everyone may have the money or desire to hang paintings in their homes, but everyone does have the need for t-shirts. T-shirts will never go out of style, which is why a career as a t-shirt designer can be so lucrative.  As a t-shirt designer, you can work for a specific company, or you can start your own brand in the printed shirts industry. 

To start your own brand, all you need is some mockups of your designs and access to a t-shirt printing shop. Then, once you print your shirts, you can start selling them online, in markets, or to other local stores. 

If you’re a painter or an artist of some other medium, starting a t-shirt business can be a great way to bring in supplemental income and to get the word out about your creations.  After all, someone wearing one of your t-shirts basically means you have a free walking billboard. And, if you want, you can even expand on this career and step into overall fashion design. 

3. Art Director 

Putting your creative skills to the test as an art director can be incredibly lucrative and fulfilling. As an art director, you’ll work to determine and oversee the overall visual look of a publication, advertisement, product package, movie production, video game, etc. 

With each project you work on, you’ll set the artistic style, and you’ll oversee the work of other creatives on the job such as photographers, set designers, graphic designers, and makeup artists. 

Working as an art director requires a great amount of confidence, leadership skills, and business savvy. So if you think you have what it takes, this may be the career for you. As an art director, you can expect to make around $105,000 per year. 

4. Architect 

When people think of careers for artsy people, the career of an architect isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, if you’re artistic and have good math skills, this may be just the career for you. 

As an architect, you’ll work to design buildings that are both functional and attractive. In order to do this, you’ll not only need to understand the principles of art, but also the properties of different building materials, mechanical and structural issues that may arise, and other sustainable design principles. 

While many people think architects only design office buildings, there are all sorts of structures you can design as an architect. For example, if you specialize in landscape architecture, you could find yourself designing parks, playgrounds, gardens, recreational facilities, government buildings, or private homes. As an architect, you can expect to make close to $90,000 per year. 

5. Industrial Designer 

Industrial designers are a rare breed, as they must combine art, business, and engineering to create products that people use in their everyday lives. As an industrial designer, your work will involve developing the concept and design for a product – which can be anything from a sports car to a child’s toy. 

As you’re developing the concept for the product, it’ll be your responsibility to consider the aesthetics, functions, production costs, and usability of each product you create. This responsibility can make your career both incredibly rewarding and challenging as you put different facets of your brain to use. 

To work as an industrial designer, you’ll need to get a degree in either industrial design, architecture, or engineering. In this field, you can expect to make around $70,000 per year.

6. Interior Designer 

If designing products doesn’t sound like it’d be for you, how about designing the interiors of places that people live and work in?

As an interior designer, you’ll be tasked with choosing everything that goes into a room – from the lighting to the furniture to the flooring. When choosing the elements of a room, you’ll need to consider the function of the room, the layout of the room, accessibility requirements, and even the building codes. 

While many interior designers focus on homes, you may also find yourself designing office buildings, hospitals, museums, restaurants, hotels, airports, or even schools. As an interior designer, you can expect to make close to $60,000. However, your salary can vary greatly depending on the type of design you choose to specialize in. 

7. Graphic Designer 

As long as people are advertising their products and services, there will be a demand for graphic designers. 

As a graphic designer, it will be your responsibility to create visual media that conveys a certain message. Oftentimes, this visual media takes the form of websites, billboards, logos, brochures, flyers, or product packaging. 

Many graphic designers work for public relations firms, advertising agencies, or web development companies. However, freelancing is also quite common. As a graphic designer, you can expect to make around $55,000. However, there are plenty of opportunities to grow in this field and make more money.