Craft Artists

Create or reproduce handmade objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.

$56,260
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
0% projected 2024โ€“2034

What They Do

Craft artists create unique, handmade objects using traditional and contemporary techniques across various mediums. They might spend their days throwing pottery on a wheel, weaving textiles on a loom, blowing glass in a hot shop, or working with metal, wood, leather, or fiber to produce functional or decorative pieces. Much of their time involves hands-on creation in studios or workshops, where they design original works, select materials, and refine their techniques through experimentation. Beyond the actual crafting, these artists photograph their work, maintain inventory, price items, and manage sales through galleries, craft fairs, online platforms, or their own storefronts. They often interact directly with customers, taking custom orders and explaining their creative process. The work requires strong artistic vision combined with technical skill in their chosen medium. Successful craft artists demonstrate patience for detailed work, physical stamina for repetitive tasks, business savvy for self-promotion, and adaptability to market trends while maintaining their artistic integrity. Many work independently, setting their own schedules but facing the uncertainty of irregular income, while others may teach workshops or work in collaborative studio spaces.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Harvard University, MA
$115,516
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Minneapolis College of Art and Design, MN
$69,907
Fine and Studio Arts(masters)University of North Carolina Wilmington, NC
$66,921
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Maryland Institute College of Art, MD
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Regent University, VA
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Norfolk State University, VA
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Missouri State University-Springfield, MO
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Academy of Art University, CA
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Iowa State University, IA
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)CUNY City College, NY
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)CUNY Brooklyn College, NY
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)New Mexico State University-Main Campus, NM
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)George Mason University, VA
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Mississippi State University, MS
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, NJ
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Arizona State University Campus Immersion, AZ
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Ramapo College of New Jersey, NJ
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Cumberland University, TN
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Bob Jones University, SC
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Indiana University-Indianapolis, IN
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Carnegie Mellon University, PA
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)College of Charleston, SC
$62,652
Visual and Performing Arts(masters)Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
$62,652

Related Careers

Other occupations in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media