Craft Artists
Create or reproduce handmade objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.
Also called: Artist · Ceramic Artist · Decorative Arts Production Artist · Fiber Artist · Fine Craft Artist · Glass Artist
Median pay (national)
$38,480
$22,620–$65,850 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
4,370
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.1%
~1,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for craft artists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $65,850 versus $22,620 at the bottom 10% — 2.9x. The median of $38,480 leaves roughly 71% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.1% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 32 states with released data, Maryland pays the most for this role (median $67,060, +74% vs the national median), while Utah sits lowest at $20,030 — a 235% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics.
- Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
- Develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
- Apply finishes to objects being crafted.
- Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
- Sketch or draw objects to be crafted.
- Pack products for shipping.
- Fabricate patterns or templates to guide craft production.
- Create prototypes or models of objects to be crafted.
- Develop product packaging, display, and pricing strategies.
Tools & technology
- DRAWSTITCH Artistic Sewing Suite
- Electric Quilt Quilt Design Wizard
- Embroidery design software
- Floriani MDQ My Decorative Quilter
- John Hesselberth and Ron Roy GlazeMaster
- Pattern design software
- Sales management software
- SmugMug Flickr
- Web browser software
- Email software
Knowledge areas
- Design
- Fine Arts
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Communications and Media
- Mechanical