Visual and Performing Arts degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in visual and performing arts earn a median $41,156 four years after finishing, across 62 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in visual and performing arts earn $45,232, $16,817 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is other teachers and instructors (9%).
Median across 62 colleges; middle half $37,825–$46,944.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $28,106–$72,099. 1,171 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Visual And Performing Arts"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$9,594/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs visual and performing arts graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in visual and performing arts actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Teachers And Instructors | 9% | — | — | — | — |
| Exercise Trainers And Group Fitness Instructors | 4% | $47,160 | +7.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | SR |
| Dancers And Choreographers | 4% | $52,830 | +2.4% | — | — |
| Elementary And Middle School Teachers | 3% | $64,170 | -0.4% | — | — |
| Other Managers | 3% | — | — | — | — |
| Producers And Directors | 2% | $90,360 | +4.0% | Bachelor's degree | AE |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 2% | $35,230 | +2.0% | No formal educational credential | CSR |
| Artists And Related Workers | 2% | $99,760 | +2.2% | — | — |
These 8 jobs account for 30% of employed graduates: people with this degree spread across many kinds of work.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Visual and Performing Arts earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| California | $47,220 (3) | $54,991 (197) |
| Florida | $47,546 (3) | — |
| Massachusetts | $38,856 (4) | — |
| Mississippi | $35,906 (4) | — |
| New Jersey | $41,156 (4) | — |
| New York | $41,097 (7) | $48,881 (179) |
| Oregon | $35,819 (3) | — |
| Pennsylvania | $45,170 (5) | — |
| Texas | $45,827 (4) | — |
| Virginia | $43,486 (4) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where visual and performing arts graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 11 in Florida, 14 in Virginia, 14 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Mason UniversityVA | $54,703 | $25,620 |
| 2 | University of Central FloridaFL | $52,922 | $24,250 |
| 3 | California State University-San MarcosCA | $48,043 | $18,750 |
| 4 | University of FloridaFL | $47,546 | $17,983 |
| 5 | Otis College of Art and DesignCA | $47,220 | $27,000 |
| 6 | University of California-San DiegoCA | $45,915 | $15,000 |
| 7 | Longwood UniversityVA | $44,066 | $27,250 |
| 8 | Christopher Newport UniversityVA | $42,907 | $26,000 |
| 9 | University of Mary WashingtonVA | $41,509 | $26,000 |
| 10 | Stetson UniversityFL | $35,045 | $27,000 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Visual and Performing Arts degree questions
How much do Visual and Performing Arts graduates make?
Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn a median $41,156 four years after finishing, across 62 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $37,825 to $46,944; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in visual and performing arts, the median is $45,232 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Visual and Performing Arts degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in visual and performing arts earn a median $45,232: $16,817 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $9,594 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Visual and Performing Arts graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in visual and performing arts, the most common jobs are other teachers and instructors (9%), exercise trainers and group fitness instructors (4%), dancers and choreographers (4%).
How much do Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn in Florida?
Across 3 Florida colleges reporting, Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn a median $47,546 four years after graduating.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Visual and Performing Arts degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/visual-and-performing-arts.