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Boston Career Explorer

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

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

Also called: Artist, Automotive Artist, Blacksmith, Fine Artist, Ice Carver, Illustrator

Median pay in Greater Boston
Not published
Jobs in Greater Boston
140
Massachusetts 2024–2034
0.0%
10 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree
plus Long-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
Not publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot published

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites.
  • Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure36 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 31
  • Language-model AIOE 27
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 51

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

This job has moderate AI exposure, but observed AI use is already substantial. Federal projections say AI image tools are expected to replace some illustration work, and Massachusetts growth is flat at 0.0%. Hands-on creation in physical media, personal style, and working directly with clients are less touched by AI tools.

Likely to change

  • Creating digital images and illustrations
  • Marketing work through websites and mailings

Still relies on people

  • Making original work in physical media
  • Talking with clients about ideas and mood

What federal projections say

“Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as more images are generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools, substituting for some illustrators.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Painters, Construction and Maintenance

    Skill with brushes, surfaces, and color carries over. This work has very low AI exposure, no formal credential is needed, and Boston median pay is $57,820.

    Pay difference
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    MA growth
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  • Printing Press Operators

    Your eye for color, ink, and alignment carries over to checking print quality. It has low AI exposure and a Boston median pay of $52,180.

    Pay difference
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    MA growth
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  • Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

    Shaping and finishing materials by hand carries over from sculpting. It has low AI exposure, a Boston median pay of $55,530, and long-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
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    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

46 programs near Boston (plus 7 graduate)

Related occupations

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