Arts, Entertainment, & Design
The Arts, Entertainment, & Design Career Cluster combines creative roles in visual and performing arts, film, journalism, fashion, interior design, and creative technologies.
What this cluster covers
- Definition
- The Arts, Entertainment, & Design Career Cluster combines creative roles in visual and performing arts, film, journalism, fashion, interior design, and creative technologies. This Cluster focuses on creating, producing, and sharing artistic and design work across multiple platforms, aiming to entertain, inform, beautify, and inspire.
Advance CTE
Arts, Entertainment, & Design Career ClusterAdvance CTE- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Careers in this cluster
Entry education, license and BLS pay and outlook for every career page in this cluster. Each career page shows what the job is and links its step-by-step roadmap.
| Career | Typical entry | License | Median pay, May 2025 | Outlook 2025–35 | Career page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer Design & Digital Arts |
Bachelor's degree | Not required | $62,960 Graphic designers |
−2% BLSGraphic Designers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Graphic Designer |
| Musician & Singer Performing Arts |
No formal educational credential | Not required | $47.80 an hour Musicians and singers |
0% BLSMusicians and Singers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Musician & Singer |
| Photographer Design & Digital Arts |
High school diploma or equivalent | Drones only (FAA) | $44,660 Photographers |
−1% BLSPhotographers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Photographer |
| Writer & Author Media Production & Broadcasting |
Bachelor's degree | Not required | $76,910 Writers and authors |
0% BLSWriters and Authors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Writer & Author |
| Interior Designer Fashion & Interiors |
Bachelor's degree | Required Interior design license |
$67,190 Interior designers |
+3% BLSInterior Designers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Interior Designer |
| Film & Video Editor and Camera Operator Media Production & Broadcasting |
Bachelor's degree | Not required | $75,100 Television, video, and film camera operators and editors |
+3% BLSFilm and Video Editors and Camera Operators — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Film & Video Editor and Camera Operator |
| Actor Performing Arts |
Some college, no degree | Not required | $29.05 an hour Actors |
0% BLSActors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Actor |
| Special Effects Artist & Animator Design & Digital Arts |
Bachelor's degree | Not required | $102,030 Special effects artists and animators |
0% BLSSpecial Effects Artists and Animators — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Special Effects Artist & Animator |
| Reporter & Journalist Media Production & Broadcasting |
Bachelor's degree | Not required | $62,200 News analysts, reporters, and journalists |
−6% BLSNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Reporter & Journalist |
| Dancer & Choreographer Performing Arts |
Varies (see the routes) | Not required | $25.40 an hour Dancers and choreographers |
+2% BLSDancers and Choreographers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
|
Open: Dancer & Choreographer |
Pay is the BLS median for the occupation named under it, for May 2025; half of workers earned more, half less. For comparison, BLS projects all U.S. jobs to grow 3.5% over 2025–35. The career's sub-cluster comes from Advance CTE's SOC crosswalk.
Also in this cluster
Advance CTE places some occupations in more than one cluster. These careers have their page under another cluster, and the crosswalk puts them here too.
- Computer Science Software Solutions
- Software Engineering Software Solutions
- Web Developer & Digital Designer Web & Cloud
- Public Relations & Fundraising Manager Leadership & Operations
Sub-clusters and example programs
Major groupings of career areas within a given field that have similar skills as defined by industry area. The programs are Advance CTE's examples of school and college programs of study; what is offered varies by state.
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Design & Digital Arts
Careers encompassing the creation and production of visually engaging digital content such as animation, visual marketing, graphic design, print media, augmented and virtual reality, web design, game design, and user interfaces/user experiences.
Example programs Digital Animation · Graphic Arts
-
Fashion & Interiors
Careers bridging the creative and commercial aspects of fashion design, production, marketing, and sales with the art and science of interior design and decoration.
Example programs Apparel & Textiles · Fashion Design · Interior Design
-
Fine Arts
Careers focused on the technical and artistic skill needed for the creation, promotion, and sale of visual art forms including painting, sculpture, and pottery.
Example programs Fine Arts · Museum Studies
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Lighting & Sound Technology
Careers specializing in sound engineering and lighting design, which are vital for both functional and artistic applications, including immersive experiences in film, music, performing arts, fine arts, and interiors.
Example programs Audio & Visual Technology · Lighting Design · Sound Engineering
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Media Production & Broadcasting
Careers encompassing film, television, radio, journalism, communications, writing, and broadcasting, focusing on content creation, production, and distribution.
Example programs Broadcasting Technology · Filmmaking: Production & Managerial Arts · Journalism · Video Production
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Performing Arts
Careers focused on the technical and management elements of the performing arts and entertainment industry to produce and stage live artistic and athletic performances, including theater, music, dance, and sports.
Example programs Performing Arts · Stage Design & Management
Certifications and licenses
A state or federal license is the law; a registration through an employer comes with the job; a voluntary certification is something employers may ask for. Each card links the owner's own page.
-
Exam for a state license
NCIDQ Certificate
Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ)
Three exam sections (IDFX, IDIX, IDPX) after an interior design degree and 3,520 to 7,040 hours of work; required for registration in every regulated jurisdiction except California.
CIDQ
Regulated Jurisdictions and RequirementsCouncil for Interior Design Qualification- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
CIDQ says the guide is current as of August 2025 and to confirm with each jurisdiction.
View sourceCareer Interior designer
-
State license
Architect license
State architecture boards (NCARB runs the AXP and ARE)
A NAAB-accredited degree, 3,740 AXP hours and the six-division ARE; architects have their career page in the Construction cluster.
NCARB
Earn Your Architecture LicenseNational Council of Architectural Registration Boards- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Career Architect
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Federal license
FAA remote pilot certificate
Federal Aviation Administration
Needed to fly a drone commercially: age 16 and an initial aeronautical knowledge test.
eCFR
14 CFR 107.61: Eligibility for a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS ratingElectronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
-
Voluntary
Software certification
Software vendors
Design and editing software certificates, earned by passing an exam; they can give a competitive advantage.
BLS
Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Closely connected clusters
Advance CTE, from national labor market data: this cluster is most closely connected to these clusters. Advance CTE
View source
Every cluster with its sub-clusters, and which hubs are open.