Sword Fighters Guild

The cartoon artist has to either do commissioned work for clients, sell off individual works of art, or find employment in a studio as a full timer.  Specializing in one particular style of artwork often helps an artist of any kind to make a name for him or herself as an expert in that area, while those who don’t specialize make themselves more flexible.  The more flexible an artist is, the easier it is to be hired for contract work with highly specific requirements by the client.

How to train

A degree from a university — or even an arts school — is not usually a requirement for cartoon  artists, owing to the nature of their work.  When formal education is called for, most cartoon artists choose a certificate or undergraduate degree program in any of the fields of graphic art, studio art, fine arts and multimedia art. Drawing, photography, color theory, digital media and 2 dimensional design are among the skills studied in a formal program of education, and these are the kinds of skill sets that those without formal education have to come by through experience, and far more gradually.  In this respect, a college education would certainly be beneficial for an aspiring cartoon artist.

Outlook for jobs

It’s likely that open positions for artists will continue to see an industry wide uptick to the tune of about 12% next year.  Those who are experts in multimedia or digital arts are predicted to see the fastest job growth rate. Cartoon artists who have not had training in multimedia and digital production software will need to get those skills, since much of the art commercially produced is digital.  Employers will often provide training in the use of these programs, but require at least some familiarity as a term of employment.

Average Salary

The annual median salary for a “fine artist,” about $44,850, applies to only some cartoon artists.  The true average annual salary may be significantly higher or lower, depending on the place of employment and the job requirements.  In order to earn a higher salary it is often necessary to move to an area of the United States where publishing is a major center of employment, such as New York City or Los Angeles — but there are independent publishers of comic books, animated films, and other artistry that requires cartoonists scattered all around the country.  Explore your options and you will find the perfect fit for you.