53+ Jobs Within The Digital Arts

Jobs with digital arts have to be one of the largest, most open-potential fields in the modern career landscape. Today we’re going to look at some of the jobs that you, as a digital artist can get.

Keep in mind, one of the best things about looking for jobs with digital art is that there are so many peripheral careers out there. That means being a digital artist opens doors for you even beyond the standard graphic designer or animator that most people think of.

First, we’ll look at the really big, but still incomplete list of jobs with digital art involvement. Then we’ll answer some of the most common questions that people have as they start out in their digital artist journey. Finally, we’ll take a look at how you can apply the 3MM business model to your digital art skills and build a million-dollar business that you can run in just three months per year.

Let’s dive right in.

The Big List of Jobs in the Digital Arts Space

Alright, I know that’s a lot and probably pretty overwhelming. Here’s a shorter, more approachable list. Besides, it’s probably what you really want to know anyway, right?

Highest Paying Jobs For Digital Artists

• Senior Art Director: This role is responsible for leading the creative direction of a project or campaign, and typically earns an average salary of $91,000 – $140,000 per year.

• Technical Director: Technical Directors work in the film and video game industry, managing technical aspects of a project, and typically earn an average salary of $80,000 – $150,000 per year.

• Lead Designer: Lead designers are responsible for managing the design team and implementing creative designs, earning an average salary of $80,000 – $120,000 per year.

• 3D Animator: 3D animators create animations and visual effects for film, television, and video games and typically earn an average salary of $70,000 – $120,000 per year.

• Senior Motion Designer: Senior Motion Designers are responsible for creating visual effects and animations for film, television, and other forms of media, and typically earn an average salary of $80,000 – $110,000 per year.

• Game Director: Game Directors are responsible for leading the development of video games, and typically earn an average salary of $80,000 – $150,000 per year.

• Virtual Reality Developer: Virtual Reality Developers create interactive experiences for virtual reality, and typically earn an average salary of $70,000 – $120,000 per year.

• Visual Effects Supervisor: VFX supervisors oversee the creation of visual effects for film and television, and typically earn an average salary of $80,000 – $130,000 per year.

• Interactive Developer: Interactive Developers create interactive experiences and digital interfaces, earning an average salary of $70,000 – $110,000 per year

• Freelance Digital Artist – According to Ziprecruiter, the US national average for Freelance digital artists is around $60,000 per year. But if you level this up with our small business Berkshire strategy, you could be making way more.

Alright, so no you have your eyes on the prize, but what does a digital artist actually do?

Digital Artist Job Description

A Digital Artist is someone who uses digital technology to create visual artwork and designs.

They are responsible for creating and manipulating digital images, illustrations, and animations using computer software and specialized tools. Digital Artists can work in a variety of industries, including advertising, gaming, animation, film, and television, among others.

Responsibilities of a Digital Artist might include:

• Developing concept art, character designs, and storyboards

• Creating 2D and 3D animations and visual effects

• Creating and designing characters, backgrounds, and other elements

• Using digital tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects to create and edit images and animations

• Collaborating with other members of a project team to ensure that designs meet project requirements

• Keeping up-to-date with the latest digital art software and techniques

• Meeting deadlines and working within project budgets

• Being able to adapt and adjust to various styles of animation depending on the project’s needs

Notice how broad all of that sounds?

That’s the best part.

There are just so many opportunities.

And I haven’t even covered all the jobs that open up just by having experienced being a digital artist.

Think of all the consultancy, project management, and freelance opportunities.

Can You Work From Home With a Digital Arts Job or Career?

Yes!

Thanks to the relatively recent advances in technology, it is entirely possible to work from home as a digital artist.

In fact, if you want to build a million-dollar business that you can run in three months per year, we highly recommend that you do work from home.

We talk about it more in our home-based business guide, but working from home keeps your expenses (and stress levels) low. And that means more money in your pocket.

The most straightforward way to work from home is to freelance.

But more and more companies are coming around to the idea of remote work.

Can You Build a Million-dollar Business With Digital Art?

Absolutely!

There are a couple of different paths you can take here:

• Build a traditional business
• Create and sell your artwork online
• Offering per-contract work (freelancing)
• Creating and selling online courses

Let’s look at each in turn

Building a traditional business.

This usually entails a higher up-front cost. You’ll need an office,  and at least some staff. You’ll build a client base that needs recurring design services.

You might even high other digital artists to manage your caseload.

Create And Sell Your Own Artwork Online

You can sell your digital art on sites like Etsy or DeviantArt, but there are also a few lesser-known options out there.

Redbubble and Society6 focus on print-on-demand products that you would design.

ArtPal puts the emphasis on original art.

Saatchi has a fine art bent.

And don’t forget that sites like Shutterstock and iStock can also be viable options.

To really build lasting income this way, though, you’ll want to make your own storefront and build your own brand. At the very least you’ll want an email marketing service to help you build a mailing list.

You’ll probably also want a social media marketing tool to help manage the branding you’ll be doing through social.

Freelancing

And of course, there’s always freelancing.

Freelancing is definitely the way to go if you want freedom. It’s especially great because you can fold it around your own artwork and manage your own store.

Plus Freelancing is a great way to gain exposure to projects you might not have thought of on your own but can repurpose for sale in your store.

Selling Courses

This one becomes especially valuable once you have built up some experience.

Bonus points if your experience includes managing a freelance business, managing your own store, or both.

You can then use an online course creation tool to put your knowledge into lessons that will help launch the careers of others. Sell these through your store for recurring income.

Can you Run a Digital Art Business in Less Than Three Months Per Year?

The goal of this website is to help you build a business that pays your expenses, is worth a million dollars, and needs less than three months per year of active effort to run.

That’s a bold claim, we know, but it is totally possible with digital art.

How?

We’ve already hinted at the answer.

See we teach a three-phase approach:

First, get your business structure right. Check out our home-based business guide for the whole run down, but we want a business that can be run by just one person, from their home.

Freelancing? It works.

Selling your own art? It works, too.

Selling online courses? Oh, yea that really works.

Second, you have to get your systems in place. Our productivity guide will give you the details, but you want to organize all the day-to-day tedium of runnings a business into simple systems that be completed checklist-style as quickly as possible.

Finally, you want to get your money straight. We advocate investing at least some of your earnings in a broad market ETF (don’t worry, our investing guide will get you there).

Why?

It helps diversify risk. As a digital artist, you need your hands. But what an accident makes digital art impossible?

By moving money into assets that produce income, you’ll have outside income that is not dependent on you or the digital art market.

Besides, if you do this enough, the earnings from the investments will be greater than your cost of living, and at that point, work becomes optional anyway!

Does this sound crazy? Maybe. But we built an online storefront and we worked on our productivity systems and now that store can be run in less than a few hours per year.

That’s not even counting the money from our investments.

What Are Some Good Digital Art Jobs For Beginners?

Not ready to dive into the work-for-yourself world? We get it.

It can be tough getting started. Here are some good places to start:

• Graphic designer: This job involves creating visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. Graphic designers work on a variety of projects such as advertisements, brochures, and web design, as a beginner, you may start by working on small projects such as social media ads or flyers.

• Digital Illustrator: A Digital illustrator is responsible for creating illustrations and designs using digital tools, this job is great for beginners with a good understanding of digital illustration software such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Painter, and Procreate.

• Game designer: This job is for beginners who have an interest in game design, Game designers work with a team of designers, programmers, and artists to create the look and feel of a game, as well as the gameplay mechanics.

• UI/UX Designer: A UI/UX Designer is responsible for creating the user interface of websites, mobile apps, and other digital products. The job requires an understanding of digital design, user experience, and basic programming, as a beginner you may start with creating wireframes and mockups.

• Motion Graphics Designer: This job involves creating animated videos, short films, and visual effects using software such as Adobe After Effects, the job is great for beginners with a good understanding of animation, visual effects, and compositing.

• Content Creator: A Content Creator is responsible for creating and curating digital content for social media, blogs, and other online platforms. A Beginner in this field will start by creating simple graphics, photos, and videos for small businesses or personal brands.

• Photo Editor: A photo editor is responsible for the final look of a photo, the job includes color correction, retouching, and compositing images. As a beginner, you may start with simple photo editings tasks such as basic color correction, and simple compositing.

The key is to stay open-minded. If there is ever a time in your life to have a growth mindset, it is at the start of a new career.

Take jobs that you can learn from. Always keep an eye on expanding your skillset.

Why a Degree in Digital Art Can Open Doors to a Wide Range of Careers

As you might be able to tell from our really long and still not complete list of jobs within the digital art arena, a degree or experience in the digital arts is a great stepping stone to long and successful careers.

But why is that?

The short version: The skills you build as a digital artist apply to many of today’s top fields.

• Creativity: Digital art majors learn to think creatively and outside of the box to come up with new and innovative designs and concepts. This skill is highly valued in many industries, including advertising, gaming, and entertainment.

• Technical Proficiency: A degree in digital art provides students with the technical skills needed to use digital art software, hardware, and other equipment. This can be an essential tool in many different fields and helps students to stand out in the competitive job market.

• Interdisciplinary utility: A degree in digital art can open doors to a wide range of careers because it is an interdisciplinary field. Digital art majors can work in areas such as advertising, animation, video games, web design, and many other areas that require a combination of technical and creative skills.

• Networking: During a degree program in digital art, students have the opportunity to network with industry professionals and peers, which can open doors to job opportunities and collaborations.

• Flexibility: The digital art industry is constantly evolving, and digital art graduates are well-equipped to adapt to new technologies and trends. This flexibility allows digital art graduates to be successful in many different types of roles and industries.

As a digital artist, you learn to embrace an uncertain but bright future. You’ll never know what comes next, and that’s awesome.

Here’s an example that I think has one of the best and most promising outlooks.

The Growing Demand for Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Artists

The world of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is growing rapidly and with it, so is the demand for skilled artists.

VR and AR technology is being used in a variety of industries such as gaming, education, and even healthcare, which is creating exciting new opportunities for digital artists.

I mean, who could have predicted that?

One of the biggest growth areas for VR and AR is the gaming industry.

As VR and AR technology becomes more advanced, game developers are looking for artists who can create immersive and interactive worlds for players to explore.

These artists need to have a strong understanding of digital art techniques and software, as well as an ability to create 3D models and animations that can be used in VR and AR games.

The education industry is also utilizing VR and AR to create new and engaging ways for students to learn.

Artists who can create interactive and immersive learning experiences are in high demand as they can enhance educational experience and help students to understand and remember the material better.

All in all, the VR and AR industry is growing rapidly and creating new opportunities for digital artists.

The skills and knowledge that artists gain in this field are in high demand and can open doors to exciting new career opportunities.

From Freelance To Millionaire: Building Your Own Digital Arts Business

Whether you choose to go the traditional path or build your own business, the digital arts is sure to be an awesome field for a long time.

As you explore your options, though, keep us in mind. Remember our goal: a million-dollar business that you can run in less than three months per year.

Why?

Freedom. We want time for friends and family. We want to travel.

But we also want a comfortable, financially secure life.

If it was us, we’d go the freelance road while building our own site and storefront. We would invest heavily until our investment income let us just… coast.

Now that’s the life.

Food for thought!