As a kid, you might have imagined yourself thriving in jobs for creative people—perhaps as a painter or a rockstar. But as you grow up, it might seem like your only choices are careers that put you in front of a spreadsheet all day instead of a canvas or a cheering crowd.
When you’re a naturally creative person, job searching can feel extra challenging. It’s easy to feel like any job that isn’t obviously artistic will force you to either give up an important part of yourself or settle for a low salary—but luckily, that just isn’t the case.
The internet and the numerous technological revolutions we've witnessed in the past few decades have opened a new plethora of roles—some of which we couldn't have dreamed of existing 20 to 30 years ago.
Now, not only are there plenty of jobs out there that let you bring your creative side to work, but many of them are also high-paying. Curious? Below, you’ll find a list of 16 good paying jobs for creative people.
What does “creative job” mean?
Creative work typically involves using a lot of imagination and innovation to develop something—from images and sounds to physical items—and often requires collaboration.
“The truth is that every job can be creative,” says career coach Nina Sasson. “Being creative is about harnessing your attention. You can use your attention to create and build anything no matter what job you have.”
There are obvious choices, including copywriting and graphic design, but no two paths to a creative career are alike. Everything from data analysis to marketing to software development can be creative—it all depends on your perspective.
Management and training roles offer a lot of creative opportunities for individuals who are outgoing, have strong communication skills, and are able to think through problems in unique ways.
“Effective leaders apply their creativity to bring out the unique potential in those they lead,” says Anne Jacoby, founder and CEO of Spring Street, a consulting firm that specializes in helping to develop creative workplace cultures.
What counts as a “high-paying” job?
For the purposes of this list, we’re defining high-paying jobs as those whose average salary is above the median household income in the U.S., which was $74,580 in 2022, the latest year with available data.
You’ll also want to think about your level of experience going into the job search. Some of the roles below are mid-level or senior-level positions, so if you’re just starting out, you may want to look at entry-level jobs in those areas. While a junior role may have a lower salary to start, you’ll be on the path to a high-earning position.
So what are these high-paying jobs for creative people?
Read on to learn what each role does and how to break into the industry, plus average salary ranges and relevant open jobs on The Muse that you can apply to right now.