Craft Artists
Also called: Art Objects Repairer, Artisan, Artist, Calligrapher, Candle Maker, Ceramic Artist, Ceramics Artist, China Painter
Create or reproduce handmade objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.
What craft artists do
Typical tasks
- Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics.
- Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
- Develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
- Apply finishes to objects being crafted.
- Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
- Set specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes.
- Advertise products and work, using media such as internet advertising and brochures.
- Sketch or draw objects to be crafted.
- Pack products for shipping.
- Fabricate patterns or templates to guide craft production.
- Create prototypes or models of objects to be crafted.
- Develop product packaging, display, and pricing strategies.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Craft Artists salary
The median annual wage for craft artists is $46,080 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $25,960 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $71,990. The mean annual wage is $49,740.
The mean hourly wage of $23.00 is 3.2× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Craft Artists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $46,080 → in 3 years $50,200 → in 5 years $53,200 → in 10 years $61,500 (10-year range $52,900–$71,400). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Craft Artists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Craft Artists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Craft Artists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Craft Artists United States | 漆器製造 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $46,080 | ¥4.11M ≈ $26,111 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $61,500 | ¥5.27M |
| Outlook score | 51 | 48 |
| AI replacement risk | 47% Moderate | 50% Moderate |
| Workers | 4,580 | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Craft Artists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 3 — medium preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become craft artists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as craft artists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.