Fine Arts Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Fine Arts major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Arts, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Arts, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$56,600

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$75,413

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$85,408

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 1.3%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$1,653,452

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
SOC: 27-1013
Occupation: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
$60,560
10,000
N/A
N/A
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
SOC: 51-9071
Occupation: Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
$49,140
23,420
N/A
N/A
Archivists
SOC: 25-4011
Occupation: Archivists
$61,570
7,050
N/A
N/A
Curators
SOC: 25-4012
Occupation: Curators
$61,770
12,280
N/A
N/A
Museum Technicians and Conservators
SOC: 25-4013
Occupation: Museum Technicians and Conservators
$47,460
13,070
N/A
N/A
Art Directors
SOC: 27-1011
Occupation: Art Directors
$111,040
50,370
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

15.7%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$60,56010,000
2023$59,30010,910
2022$57,56012,080
2021$60,8209,430
2020$52,34011,070

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

17.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$49,14023,420
2023$47,45024,060
2022$47,14026,280
2021$46,64024,350
2020$41,90018,650

Archivists

8.5%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$61,5707,050
2023$59,9107,150
2022$58,6407,230
2021$60,0506,120
2020$56,7606,550

Curators

8.4%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$61,77012,280
2023$61,75012,510
2022$60,38011,620
2021$60,11011,030
2020$56,99011,750

Museum Technicians and Conservators

3.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$47,46013,070
2023$48,67012,670
2022$47,27012,240
2021$47,63010,960
2020$45,71011,930

Art Directors

14.2%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$111,04050,370
2023$106,50051,200
2022$105,18054,470
2021$100,89042,080
2020$97,27040,950

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

15.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$80,19097,890
2023$80,360101,500
2022$77,28097,830
2021$75,94094,720
2020$69,69091,170

Special Effects Artists and Animators

28.4%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$99,80021,280
2023$99,06029,940
2022$98,95035,990
2021$78,79020,430
2020$77,70026,460

Artists and Related Workers, All Other

10.6%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$72,7607,370
2023$74,7507,420
2022$69,7607,510
2021$61,5807,390
2020$65,8007,220

Photographers

3.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$42,52051,230
2023$40,76053,630
2022$40,17047,380
2021$38,95038,420
2020$41,28041,600

Colleges offering Fine Arts

Fairfield University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$48k

Earnings

$77k

Georgetown University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$38k

Earnings

$89k

Harvey Mudd College

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$43k

Earnings

$118k

San Jose State University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$14k

Earnings

$70k

Yale University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$27k

Earnings

$86k