Careers in Illustration

With a well-prepared portfolio and commitment to the profession, RMCAD graduates are well-qualified for entry-level positions in advertising agencies, commercial studios, in-house corporate art departments, multimedia organizations, and other creative art businesses.

Like many other art and design fields, illustration tends to be very competitive. Some illustrators work “in house” for an employer full-time. However, most illustrators work freelance either representing themselves or working with an agent.

Freelance markets have become global, thanks to the Internet. Successful illustrators are multi-talented, combining painting, drawing, computer skills and illustration. Because of this, many find profitable work in related fields such as animation, fine arts, graphic design and teaching.

Possible Illustration Careers:

  • Magazine Illustrator
  • Newspaper Illustrator
  • Editorial Illustrator
  • Merchandise or Product Illustrator
  • Freelance Illustrator
  • Architectural or Interiors Illustrator
  • Technical Illustrator
  • Instructional Illustrator
  • Scientific or Medical Illustrator
  • Book or Children’s Book Illustrator
  • Storyboard Illustrator
  • Textbook Illustrator
  • Music Industry Illustrator

Occupational Outlook and Wage Statistics

The most effective way to gauge your potential earnings in your field is to conduct an employment search and average the wage for 6 jobs that you would be qualified for. Salary.com is a free salary calculator that provides average pay rate for professions in different geographic regions. You may also research your field using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a government resource that provides salary information as well as occupational outlook statistics.

Employment Resources

Freelance Employment

  • Behance - A platform for creative professionals across all industries. Members create multimedia portfolios that showcase their work within the Network, as well as throughout partner sites and organizations. Millions of visitors — including top creative companies, recruiters, editors, and more - come to the Network to see the incredible work and find talent to hire.

Professional Organizations

  • AOI (Association of Illustrators) An organization devoted to advancing and protecting the rights of the illustrator, and to maintaining high professional standards.

Publications

  • Society of Illustrators: Illustrators Annual - An annual book released by the Society of Illustrators that showcases the best illustrations in several categories.

Conferences

  • ICON: The Illustrators Conference - A conference discussing the use of illustration in all media, and covering important topics such as copyright, children’s books, and contracts.