Illustrators

Employers

Approximately 26,300 fine artists, including illustrators, are employed in the United States. About 59 percent are self-employed. Illustrators who are not self-employed work in advertising agencies, design firms, commercial art and reproduction firms, or printing and publishing firms. They are also employed in the motion picture and television industries, wholesale and retail trade establishments, and public relations firms.

Medical illustrators are employed at hospitals, medical centers, schools, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, medical and scientific publishers, law firms, and advertising agencies. Fashion illustrators are employed at magazines, newspapers, and catalog companies.

Starting Out

Graduates of illustration programs should develop a portfolio of their work to show to prospective employers or clients, or create a Web site that touts their artistic abilities. Most schools offer career counseling and job placement assistance to their graduates. Job ads and employment agencies are also potential sources for locating work.

Medical illustrators can also find job placement assistance with the Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI). In addition to the job leads, AMI also provides certification (through its affiliate, the Board of Certification of Medical Illustrator) that is often preferred by employers.