You don't need to suffer for your creative passion in bitter poverty. Artistic work does not necessarily have to be breadless. On the contrary: our modern professional world offers some exciting, creative job and career opportunities for people with creative zest for action who offer a good salary.
There are many highly paid job profiles that reward their creativity with more than 60,000 euros per year. Stellenonline.de as the job exchange with over 1 million positions offers you a good first overview of vacancies and promising job profiles for creative people.
Based on the results of an analysis of CNBC Make IT based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, I would like to introduce you to 22 highly doped career opportunities that still have great growth potential for the coming years.
The professions presented focus in particular on the creation, design or redesign of media content, products, technologies and information and go hand in hand with annual salaries of up to 130,000 euros per year .
Even if the data in the US market has been collected, the results in a globalized world can also be used for this side of the large pond. We have supplemented the data and facts of the CNBC analysis with statistics from the large job exchange indeed for the German market, each determining the average salary range.
So if you want to be well rewarded for your design and creative talents, take one of the subsequent 22 professions into consideration.
01.

Photo by Alena Plotnikova @alena_horoshaya, via unsplash
Average annual salary: 32,000 - 62,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 12 %
Applying make-up can be an art form for itself, so the job as a make-up artist be a great career option for a creative person.
Make-up artists transform faces so that people look optimal or fit into a certain role-including actors, politicians and personalities in public life. They use color to highlight and improve features, skin tones and appearance.
Make -up artists can make up customers for events such as weddings, final balls or other events or redesign the actors' face and body in such a way that they resemble each figure in any time, environment or situation.
Those who specialize in making make-up for the stage or the theater achieve higher salaries.
Numerous talented make-up artists have found highly paid jobs by working with a celebrity like Kim Kardashian-West's personal makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, or by popularing their work on social media.
In order to become a make -up artist, only low formal training is required, although many complete a cosmetic program.
Every make -up artist who is also a beautician must be licensed. Theater courses, which usually contain courses on stage make-up, can also be another way to work.
02. Photographer

Photo of Kal Visuals @kalvisuals, via Unsplash
Average annual salary: 36,000 - 52,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 9 %
Creative with photographic skills can use your talents in a variety of industries. As one of the many creative jobs that do not require a conclusion, most autodidactic photographers take on professional work with a sophisticated portfolio and general photography experience.
Some examples of lucrative careers in photography are:
- Product photographer
- Wedding photographer
- Photographer for newborns
- Real estate photographer
- Photojournalist
The general annual salary for a photographer is an average of around EUR 43,000 per year, but can vary depending on the professional experience. Even those who are just starting with their photographer can find entry positions as a photo assistant.
These options can help inexperienced photographers to find a strong way for their career growth and possibly make them found a photo business themselves - or to become artist like Emmanuel Radnitzky
By the way: Jobs with photography do not only take place behind the camera. Because if you have the skills to also edit photos ( Photo Editing ), it can be extremely worthwhile.
There is a lot of work in this area, be it through freelance orders (which can be completely done online thanks to digital photography) or with an advertising agency. While you may not take the photos yourself, you are also artistically and also technically busy.
03. Video filmmaker
Average annual salary: 56,000 - 88,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 16 %
Although a career in video may need a little more or more expensive equipment than photography, it is a great freelance or employment opportunity for creative people with a preference for visual art.
Videographic skills are in high demand in numerous industries, including for commercials, music video production and product marketing. As of 2023, the average content of video filmmakers is around EUR 69,000 per year.
04. Producer / director

photo of Gordon Cowie @gcowie, via unsplash
Average annual salary: 60,000 - 125,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 12 %
A creative career in film production is the right way for people with a deep love for video and visual art as well as the desire to take a career with a focus on management.
These creative people are responsible for the administration of various phases of film production , from early development to post-production, from small indie films to blankbusters expected.
Filmmakers produce films, television shows and commercials as well as live theater and other productions of performing art. You choose scripts or topics for a show, cast actors and other crew members, monitor the design and finance of production and then ensure that the project remains on schedule and in the budget.
Most producers and directors have a bachelor's degree, usually in film or cinema, writing or acting, and several years of professional experience in a related profession such as actors, film and video editor or cameraman.
Jobs as a film producer often require a little more experience and knowledge to get a position. The long -term career path there is extremely worthwhile. The current average content of a film producer is EUR 70,000 per year. Depending on the skills and experience, some posts even offer more than EUR 135,000 per year.
05. Film and video editors
Average annual salary: 42,000 - 70,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 18 %
Video editors are responsible for the processing of the film material recorded, which is used in films, television shows, corporate commercials and online videos.
With the help of video editing software , editors of the film industry arrange video material to tell a story or convey information. You can work with camera venues, producers and directors to work the overall vision for production, the film and cutting techniques required to improve a scene or the suitable equipment, such as: B. to use the type of lens or the lighting.
Many film and video editors have a bachelor's degree in an area related to film or radio, but a clear understanding of digital cameras and video editing software is most important to get a job.
Numerous companies are looking for video editing services based on projects , which makes this a great freelance opportunity for those with strong video editing skills.
The average annual content for a video editor is around EUR 48,000 per year. However, a video editor usually calculates its professional services based on his experience and specific skills, which can significantly influence the final income levels.
06. Graphic design
Average annual salary: 45,000 - 80,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 12 %
Instead of capturing art with a camera, a creative career in graphic design enables an artistic person to create visual art himself. A career as a graphic designer offers great freelance and employment opportunities, from the development of gaming graphics to the creation of custom company logos and entire corporate identity.
The current salary average for a graphic designer is around EUR 50,000 per year. Since many graphic designers start their career with autodidactic online lessons, designers who further improve their skills have the chance to secure higher-paid positions and projects. If you want to work professionally, you also have to work on your own hardware to stay up to date.
Graphic designers who constantly expand their specialist knowledge through further training and ongoing experience for years can take on advanced roles. For example, the salary for senior designers is an average of EUR 82,000 per year and senior product designers earn average even more than EUR 100,000 per year.
07. Web and UX design / web developer
Average annual salary: 50,000 - 85,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 15 %
Like graphic design, a creative job in web design fantastic freelance and employment opportunities for those with an eye for design, composition and visual media.
This creative career combines personal website design tools , including WordPress and Adobe Dreamweaver, with technical language skills in web development , such as CSS, Java and Python, to create websites that are functionally and visually appealing.
For those with an established portfolio, web design offers great opportunities for self-employment due to the project-to-project nature. However, the average annual salary is also around EUR 68,000 per year, so it is crucial for web designers to stay up to date on current web design trends and skills. Many preferred web design tools and processes are regularly updated and changed.
web development operations and ensure that a company or a customer receives the desired appearance as well as the required performance and online visibility.
Your task can range from the support of a customer to determine the information that the website contains, to writing code or testing of applications.
Although a technical degree is not necessarily necessary for this job, many in this area have at least one bachelor's degree in web design. Those who complement their design skills with programming languages also penetrate the industry slightly, since employers tend to prefer developers with these skills.
User Experience (UX) designer combine the skills of a web designer with the ability to make cloud-based programs and websites user-friendly. UX designers refine their skills to create and change the functions and layout of a website or program to support customer satisfaction and accessibility.
UX design positions have an average annual salary of around EUR 98,000. In contrast to other creative jobs that do not require a degree, these jobs generally require university education.
People who are just starting with their UX design career, and those without university experience often begin to teach themselves UX design issues and skills. Accordingly, the earning options are significantly lower.
08. Multimedia and animation artist / motion designer
Average annual salary: 61,000 - 88,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 9 %
These digital artists create two- and three-dimensional models, moving pictures, computer-generated images and visual effects for television, film, video games and other entertainment media.
As a rule, they work with customers such as directors, game designers or other animation studios to help to maintain development periods in creating the necessary graphics and to revise the animations or the effects based on the feedback from customers.
Employers prefer applicants with at least one bachelor's degree in computer graphics, visual art, animation or a related area as well as an impressive portfolio of work and strong technical skills.
As one of the top jobs for artists, Motion Designer their graphic design skills to create web, television and film contents with animations and visual effects that set their art in motion.
Motion designers often work with various marketing and production companies to create animated commercials, trailers and components of mobile apps.
Many movement designers work freelance and offer their skills from project to project. Depending on the professional experience and portfolio presence, you can earn an average of EUR 61,000 per year.
09. Writer / author

photo by Darius Bashar @Dariusbashar, via Unsplash
Average annual salary: 40,000 - 72,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 8 %
Authors deserve their livelihood with telling readers stories or information and facts in the form of prose or writing eloquent verses. This can take place via a variety of media and channels-not only through books (which can also be sold as e-books via platforms for hobby authors ), but also, for example, via advertisements, guidelines, manuals, magazines, films, plays, television scripts and blogs.
While no dedicated conclusion is necessary to write a novel, a play or other material, many employers prefer applicants with a bachelor's degree in German studies, English, journalism or communication in many areas.
Some find their way to the industry through internships or through self-publication (self-publishing, desktop publishing) of content via blogs or other forms of social media.
10. Editor
Average annual salary: 48,000 - 75,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: -2 %
Strong communication and writing skills are required for this profession, which includes planning, revising and producing content for publication in books, newspapers, magazines, magazines or websites. They typically check content for spelling, grammar, factual and structural problems and write content in order to make them more understandable.
Furthermore, editors check the authors' pitches, assign them to stories, departments and orders, and help authors to develop new ideas that meet the style and needs of the publishing medium.
A bachelor's degree in communication, journalism or English, combined with previous writing and correction reading experience, is a minimum requirement to become an editor.
Employers usually prefer candidates who have worked on various media such as television, websites or social media and have relevant experience or expertise in the area they have covered.
11. Lubter as a copywriter or ghostwriter
Average annual salary: 34,000 - 60,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 11 %
With regard to the career paths of creative writing, copywriting tends to take up a large room. Located from the potential for income among writers, authors or editors, the possible uses are extremely diverse.
From writing blog articles for large companies to the creation of website texts and product descriptions for small companies, copywriting skills are in demand almost anywhere where there is the written word.
Copywriting offers great, flexible possibilities as a freelancer and for side jobs. Many successful copywriters draw their instructions almost exclusively from (online) courses and tutorials for creative writing. A certain training is not necessary.
The current average content for a successful copywriter is around EUR 42,000 per year at full -time. This amount can increase with industry experience, customer caliber and skills.
Ghostwriters are the go-to-solution for thought leaders and various industry professionals who want to write a book or want to start a blog, but simply do not have the writing skills. Although ghostwriters do not receive a source for their work, they still receive a payment for each piece of text they have written.
Many successful ghostwriters have a background in copywriting and other areas of creative writing. Others improve their skills through independent further training.
Since Ghostwriters are often self -employed as a freelancer or secondary workers, the annual remuneration varies depending on the number of projects and their budgets. Alternatively, an activity via a ghostwriter agency possible.
12. Technical copywriter / editor
Average annual salary: 56,000 - 78,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 12 %
If you have experience in an area such as medicine, engineering or computer science as well as pronounced communication skills, the activity as a technical editor will bring you a nice salary increase compared to other writing professions.
These authors create (mostly technical) operating instructions, instructions and magazine articles in order to convey complex information to average reader.
To do this, they often study product patterns, speak to the designers and developers and listen to the feedback from the users.
Employers prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree in journalism, English or communication. Many jobs for technical editors also require that employees have either a degree or relevant knowledge of the scientific field to which the content relates.
13. Industrial designer

Photo by Kumpan Electric @kumpan_electric, via Unsplash
Average annual salary: 52,000 - 76,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 4 %
These technically experienced designers combine art, economy and technology to produce products that people use every day. They develop the concepts and designs for all types of industrial products, from car to children's toys.
It is your responsibility, the functions, aesthetics, production costs and user -friendliness of each of the new products that you develop into account in the design process.
A bachelor's degree, typically in industrial design, architecture or engineering, is usually a basic requirement for entry-level jobs in the field of industrial design. In addition, it is important to have a meaningful portfolio with examples of your previous design projects.
14. Fashion designer

Photo by Junior Reis @juniorreisfoto, via Unsplash
Average annual salary: 42,000 - 95,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 3 %
Fashion and fashion designers create original designs for new clothing, shoes or other accessories. You outline your ideas and designs, select the fabrics and patterns used in the manufacture of the article or product, as well as the production techniques to bring it to life.
Later they process the pieces into a collection that specifically appeals to consumers and retailers. In addition to the digital aspect of creative design, fashion design offers a robust creative potential for everyone who is interested in the design of clothing and accessories of all kinds.
This highly valued and competitive niche offers enormous employment opportunities for various fashion brands. You can also consider freelance design options to create your own clothing brand. Most fashion designers have a bachelor's degree in an area such as fashion design or fashion merchandising.
The development of a strong portfolio or a collection of design ideas that demonstrate your style and technical skills can help you get a job without this educational background.
15. Interior designer
Average annual salary: 47,000 - 65,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 5 %
Interior designers work on the plans of houses, shops and industrial areas. When working with computer programs or sketches, interior designers take into account the taste of the customer and the functionality of a room, the budget and aesthetics.
Interior designers can work closely with other construction specialists such as architects, builders and engineers. You can specialize in a certain area of a building such as kitchens or bathrooms as well as project types such as commercial or sustainable interior designs .
The interior design is a sought -after profession for artists who offers excellent employment opportunities for design companies. Interior designers are responsible for creating visually appealing living and business premises with their sharp eye for aesthetics with a curated selection of wall colors, furniture and other design elements.
For interior designers, the coordination of the interior is an important and important part of the interior design. An important ability is to use architectural structures and lighting design to create an individual and comfortable space.
With the development of time, people's demands are also steadily increasing. If interior designers have more customers and people want to choose them, they also need certain marketing methods to present themselves. For example, how to design your own studio, how to use individual neon signs and other lighting bodies to decorate your own studio and advertise your own brand.

The average annual salary for interior designers is around EUR 52,000, with previous experiences and educational qualifications influence this amount.
Many design companies often demand pedagogical design experience. Emerging interior designers can get a foretaste of the expectations of the industry through online education.
16. Jewelry designer
Average annual salary: 34,000 - 65,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 11 %
Those who are looking for creative jobs that do not necessarily require a professional conclusion should consider jewelry design.
While large jewelry companies may offer jobs for professional goldsmiths or for beginners as design assistants, more and more people decide to design jewelry about their own small companies and shea butts and to sell directly online via their own shop or social media.
In fact, the booming popularity of e-commerce has enabled countless small activities in the area of jewelry design to sell your work directly via online marketplaces such as Etsy and Co.
Jewelry designers have an average annual salary of EUR 42,000. However, those who open up the entrepreneurial space of jewelry design can see much higher potential for revenue.
17th tattoo artist / tattoo artist

Photo by Kristian Angelo @Kgadia87, via Unsplash
Average annual salary: 30,000 - 65,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 10 %
The activity as a tattoo artist includes sketching and coloring permanently remaining images and motifs on human skin. In view of the fact that these works cannot be removed so easily and containing needles and blood, many countries have special license requirements for tattoo artists. However, there is no classic training path.
Many tattoo artists have started small with self-experiments and online instructions in their own four walls.
So going to vocational school is not a must. You don't need a special training to become a tattoo artist. Tattoo artists all have very different backgrounds. However, they must be trained in hygiene, sterilization, blood transmitted pathogens and avoiding skin damage during work.
There are also special, private tattoo schools that require tuition fees. However, these schools are not really well looked at in tattoo communities.
It is now common to start with other media before switching to a human canvas. Many tattoo artists used to be art students. You can also start training as a tattoo artist in a studio. They are expected to buy their own equipment and sterilization set, and they are not paid for the training.
As soon as enough professional experience has been gained, a license must be obtained from the municipal administration. Most experts in the industry state that a tattoo artist is only fully qualified after about 5 years of full-time professional experience.
Many tattoo artists are independent and the salaries vary greatly. A prospective tattoo artist begins at around EUR 18,000 per year. An experienced tattoo artist can earn between EUR 22,000 and EUR 35,000 per year. A tattoo artist who owns his own business and employs others can earn over 65,000 a year. Incidentally, independence is also possible despite prior private bankruptcy .
18. Illustrator

Photo by Sorin Gheorghita @SXTCXTC, via Unsplash
Average annual salary: 21,000 - 130,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 13 %
Another option for those among us who have a passion for drawing is to become a professional illustrator. Since there are both freelance and employment opportunities, illustrators play a major role in all areas that require artistic drawing.
An illustrator creates artistic work that visually accompany books, magazines and other publications. The core tasks include illustrating children's books, creating marketing materials or drawing for scientific or medical books and magazines.
Illustrator careers can range from magazines and children's books to fashion design and advertising. Depending on the level of qualification and the general level of experience, illustrators can earn an average annual salary between EUR 21,000 and EUR 130,000.
19. Landscape architects / landscape designers
Average annual salary: 58,000 - 75,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 7 %
Landscape architects and landscape designers design parks, gardens, playgrounds, green roofs and other outdoor areas for campus, leisure facilities, companies, governments, authorities and private houses.
To do this, they meet with customers, create location plans and cost estimates, select the materials for landscape design and analyze environmental reports on soil quality, for example in terms of drainage and energy consumption.
In order to become a landscape architect, you need at least one bachelor's degree in landscape architecture and a state license, which usually requires the completion of an internship.
20. University teacher for art, drama and music
Average annual salary: 60,000 - 80,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 12 %
These professors usually teach various courses in their specialty for students who are enrolled at universities and universities. You can also operate research, publish primary research, apply for grants to finance your research or look after graduated teaching assistants who teach classes.
Depending on the subject and the type of educational institution, the training of a professor can vary. Typically, a ph. in a subject that is related to the subject that you will teach.
A master's degree can be sufficient for some post-secondary teaching posts in public schools. However, some humanities faculties of a university may be more interested in professional experience and the contributions that an applicant has done in this area.
21. Art Director
Average annual salary: 75,000 - 120,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 5 %
Art directors are responsible for the visual style of a product as a whole. You determine how a message or concept can best be presented visually and determine as a result of which photographs, art or other design elements should be used in the production of articles that range from product packaging to media such as magazines, newspapers, film and television productions.
Most art directors have at least one bachelor's degree in an artistic or design subject and started years ago in another art-related profession to work up to the position of the director.
Securing a role as an art director is intended for those who are striving for a larger management position. Art Director Bodies are considered high -ranking positions and offer an average annual salary of EUR 100,000.
22. Architect
Average annual salary: 65,000 - 100,000 euros
Properted employment growth by 2030: 2 %
Architects plan and design houses, factories, office buildings and other buildings. You can work on public or private projects and design both indoor and outdoor spaces. As a rule, they meet with customers to understand the requirements for a structure and then create scaffolding of possible designs as well as the calculation of the expected costs and construction times.
If you receive the order, oversee the construction site to ensure that the construction progress corresponds to the architectural plans. Becoming an architect is a three -stage process. First you have to complete at least one bachelor's degree in architecture, gain relevant experience through a paid internship that usually lasts three years and then pass the architect registration exam.
Start your research for vacancies and earning opportunities now
There is a huge range of professions for creative minds. But no matter how different you can be, all of these jobs have one thing in common: whether it is the high competitive pressure or simply the artistic requirements - you have to prove with a convincing, creative application that in addition to your professional knowledge, you also have that certain something. In its abnormality, this should always be adapted to the respective industry.
Do you recognize yourself in the qualification and skill profile of one of the professional fields presented here? Then you can start your research in vacancies directly. Stellenonline.de you will find a variety of daily jobs and training offers from all industries - including numerous options in creative professions and in renowned companies and agencies.

Designer in particular of all stripes are required ...

And now I wish you a lot of success with your (further) professional career as a creative soul!

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.