Illustration

Job Summary:
Illustrators typically create pictures for books, magazines, and other publications, and for commercial products such as textiles, wrapping paper, stationery, greeting cards, and calendars. Increasingly, illustrators work in digital format, preparing work directly on a computer.

Qualification:
No formal training is needed to become an illustrator. However, many artists earn a bachelor's (BFA) or master's (MFA) degree in arts. Illustrators learn drawing and sketching skills through training in art programs and through extensive practice. Most employers prefer candidates with a bachelor?s degree; however, some illustrators are contracted on the basis of portfolios of their past work.

Salary Range:
The salary ranges from $16,900 to $73,600 nationally with the median salary being $35,300. Depending on the level of expertise, the hourly wage ranges from $8.13 to $35.57 per hour.

Prospects:
The need for artists to illustrate and animate materials for magazines, journals, and other printed or electronic media will spur demand for illustrators and animators of all types. Growth in motion picture and video industries will provide new job opportunities for illustrators, cartoonists, and animators. Competition for most jobs, however, will be strong, because job opportunities are relatively few and the number of people interested in these positions usually exceeds the number of available openings. Employers should be able to choose from among the most qualified candidates.