Becoming an Illustration Artist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School
is a US school (accredited) offering illustration courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
illustration artists,
animation artists,
artists,
graphic artists,
illustrators,
medical illustrators, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 8,900 people employed as
fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$50,630.
Multimedia artists and animators make on average $62,810
per year and there are about 28,800
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Illustration Artist
- museum
- library
- exhibition hall
- police department
- newspaper pressroom
- university
- graphic design firm
- large corporation
- fashion design firm
- architecture firm
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Illustration Artist
- working in fun creative cities like Seattle and San Francisco
- your work can be a creative outlet
- you may get to work with children
- you will usually get to see the impact of your work
- in many cases it is more relaxed work environment
- you usually wont have to be responsible for anyone but yourself
- depending on the job you may not have to deal with customers at all
- get to work on various projects
- you will get to meet with many different people
- your work can have a lasting impact and could even make you famous
Potential Drawbacks
- it can be hard to find a job
- you will likely have to work on your portfolio for free just to be competitive
- put other people's ideas to art
- work in messy settings
- get your work ideas refused occasionally
- it can be hard to negotiate your pay with potential clients
- sometimes work varying hours
- work in environment with little communication with others
- may get accused of duplicating other's ideas
- may have to sell your ideas to the boss
Related Professions to Consider
- Modern fashion designer
- Graphic designer
- Architect
- Sculpture Artist
- Children's book illustrator
- Commercial artist
- Art Gallery Publicist
- Book publisher
- Visual communications specialist
- Visual marketing professional
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Illustration Artist
- What is the best part about what you do?
- What is your favorite style of illustration/animation?
- Please elaborate some of your educational qualifications experiences and skills?
- Can you tell us some software that you use regularly for illustration?
- Why do you want to make a profession in illustration?
- When did you first discover your creative talents?
- Could you tell us about some of your work?
- What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?
- How will you describe your style?
- What is your approach to design?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Set Designer
- Senior 3d Artist
- Concept Artist
- Concept Technician
- Graphic Artist
- Production Artist
- Web Animator
- Flash Illustrator
- Illustration Specialist
- Digital Illustration and portrait artist
Illustration Artist Training books
Illustration Artist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Design and Visual Communications
- Studio Arts
- Art Teacher Education
- Commercial and Advertising Art
- Graphic Design
- Photography
- Digital Art
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Theater Design and Stagecraft
Illustration Artist Salary Information
Category: Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
| Total # Employed in the US |
8,900 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$24.34/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $9.46 |
$14.07 |
$21.23 |
$30.86 |
$41.66 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$50,630 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $19,680 |
$29,270 |
$44,160 |
$64,180 |
$86,650 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.1% |
11.2% |
19.6% |
10.0% |
42.3% |
12.3% |
1.6% |
|
Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| District of Columbia |
$64.08/hr
|
$133,280
|
| Colorado |
$33.12/hr
|
$68,900
|
| Delaware |
$29.71/hr
|
$61,790
|
| Montana |
$29.66/hr
|
$61,690
|
| Kentucky |
$29.33/hr
|
$61,000
|
| Oklahoma |
$27.49/hr
|
$57,180
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.55/hr
|
$55,220
|
| Michigan |
$26.35/hr
|
$54,810
|
| Ohio |
$26.25/hr
|
$54,600
|
| South Carolina |
$25.65/hr
|
$53,360
|
| North Dakota |
$25.51/hr
|
$53,060
|
| Indiana |
$24.64/hr
|
$51,250
|
| Virginia |
$24.04/hr
|
$50,000
|
| Connecticut |
$23.59/hr
|
$49,070
|
| Wyoming |
$22.99/hr
|
$47,820
|
| New York |
$22.41/hr
|
$46,600
|
| Wisconsin |
$22.07/hr
|
$45,910
|
| South Dakota |
$21.93/hr
|
$45,620
|
| Missouri |
$21.75/hr
|
$45,250
|
| Arkansas |
$21.58/hr
|
$44,880
|
| Utah |
$21.54/hr
|
$44,800
|
| Kansas |
$21.48/hr
|
$44,680
|
| Nebraska |
$20.95/hr
|
$43,580
|
| Tennessee |
$20.55/hr
|
$42,750
|
| Louisiana |
$20.18/hr
|
$41,980
|
| Massachusetts |
$19.61/hr
|
$40,800
|
| Guam |
$19.53/hr
|
$40,620
|
| Oregon |
$19.52/hr
|
$40,600
|
| Mississippi |
$19.35/hr
|
$40,250
|
| Hawaii |
$18.47/hr
|
$38,410
|
| New Jersey |
$17.58/hr
|
$36,560
|
| Iowa |
$17.39/hr
|
$36,170
|
| Maryland |
$15.93/hr
|
$33,140
|
| Idaho |
$15.74/hr
|
$32,740
|
| Nevada |
$14.91/hr
|
$31,010
|
| Washington |
$12.64/hr
|
$26,290
|
Category: Multimedia artists and animators
| Total # Employed in the US |
28,800 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$30.2/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.56 |
$20.76 |
$28.01 |
$37.21 |
$47.66 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$62,810 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $32,360 |
$43,170 |
$58,250 |
$77,410 |
$99,130 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.1% |
11.2% |
19.6% |
10.0% |
42.3% |
12.3% |
1.6% |
|
Multimedia artists and animators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$36.55/hr
|
$76,010
|
| Mississippi |
$32.14/hr
|
$66,850
|
| Oklahoma |
$29.88/hr
|
$62,150
|
| California |
$29.49/hr
|
$61,340
|
| Kansas |
$28.9/hr
|
$60,120
|
| New York |
$28.75/hr
|
$59,800
|
| North Dakota |
$28.55/hr
|
$59,380
|
| Missouri |
$28.19/hr
|
$58,640
|
| Florida |
$28.05/hr
|
$58,350
|
| Tennessee |
$27.93/hr
|
$58,100
|
| Indiana |
$27.87/hr
|
$57,960
|
| Delaware |
$27.03/hr
|
$56,230
|
| South Carolina |
$26.75/hr
|
$55,640
|
| Wyoming |
$26.64/hr
|
$55,400
|
| Hawaii |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,820
|
| Connecticut |
$25.9/hr
|
$53,870
|
| Arkansas |
$25.77/hr
|
$53,610
|
| Montana |
$25.67/hr
|
$53,400
|
| Oregon |
$25.47/hr
|
$52,970
|
| Massachusetts |
$25.46/hr
|
$52,950
|
| Maryland |
$25.18/hr
|
$52,370
|
| Wisconsin |
$24.89/hr
|
$51,780
|
| Ohio |
$24.55/hr
|
$51,070
|
| Nebraska |
$24.53/hr
|
$51,010
|
| Utah |
$24.32/hr
|
$50,580
|
| Louisiana |
$24.21/hr
|
$50,360
|
| Idaho |
$24.09/hr
|
$50,100
|
| Iowa |
$23.67/hr
|
$49,230
|
| Michigan |
$23.09/hr
|
$48,030
|
| New Hampshire |
$22.89/hr
|
$47,610
|
| Guam |
$22.14/hr
|
$46,040
|
| District of Columbia |
$21.58/hr
|
$44,900
|
| South Dakota |
$21.41/hr
|
$44,520
|
| Kentucky |
$21.01/hr
|
$43,710
|
| Alabama |
$20.28/hr
|
$42,180
|
| Nevada |
$20.23/hr
|
$42,070
|
| Washington |
$20.16/hr
|
$41,940
|
| New Mexico |
$19.26/hr
|
$40,060
|
| West Virginia |
$17.37/hr
|
$36,130
|
| Maine |
$16.43/hr
|
$34,170
|
Category: Artists and related workers, all other
| Total # Employed in the US |
8,100 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$27.63/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.83 |
$16.33 |
$25.54 |
$37.49 |
$45.69 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$57,470 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,600 |
$33,960 |
$53,110 |
$77,980 |
$95,030 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.1% |
11.2% |
19.6% |
10.0% |
42.3% |
12.3% |
1.6% |
|
Artists and related workers, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$38.8/hr
|
$80,710
|
| Idaho |
$38.07/hr
|
$79,190
|
| Mississippi |
$37.7/hr
|
$78,410
|
| Hawaii |
$33.72/hr
|
$70,140
|
| Missouri |
$33.62/hr
|
$69,940
|
| North Dakota |
$28.61/hr
|
$59,510
|
| Utah |
$27.79/hr
|
$57,810
|
| Alabama |
$27.33/hr
|
$56,850
|
| Wyoming |
$26.84/hr
|
$55,830
|
| Colorado |
$25.89/hr
|
$53,860
|
| Delaware |
$25.86/hr
|
$53,780
|
| Oregon |
$25.4/hr
|
$52,830
|
| Oklahoma |
$25.21/hr
|
$52,440
|
| Kansas |
$22.61/hr
|
$47,030
|
| Kentucky |
$22.18/hr
|
$46,140
|
| Tennessee |
$20.96/hr
|
$43,600
|
| New York |
$20.69/hr
|
$43,040
|
| Ohio |
$20.59/hr
|
$42,820
|
| Alaska |
$20.31/hr
|
$42,250
|
| Louisiana |
$20.12/hr
|
$41,840
|
| New Jersey |
$19.77/hr
|
$41,130
|
| Connecticut |
$19.09/hr
|
$39,700
|
| South Carolina |
$18.93/hr
|
$39,370
|
| Nebraska |
$17.65/hr
|
$36,710
|
| Montana |
$17.57/hr
|
$36,560
|
| Iowa |
$16.56/hr
|
$34,450
|
| Maryland |
$10.47/hr
|
$21,770
|
