Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Virginia employs 49,920 Arts, Design & Entertainment professionals across 30 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Arts, Design & Entertainment industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Arts, Design & Entertainment in Virginia, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Arts, Design & Entertainment industry in Virginia, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art Directors | $101,150 | $107,540 | 670 | $48/hr |
| 2 | Fashion Designers | $94,120 | $87,480 | 100 | $45/hr |
| 3 | Technical Writers | $93,600 | $97,090 | 2,280 | $45/hr |
| 4 | Writers and Authors | $85,000 | $88,260 | 1,530 | $40/hr |
| 5 | Commercial and Industrial Designers | $82,230 | $81,780 | 1,480 | $39/hr |
| 6 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | $81,510 | $89,750 | 380 | $39/hr |
| 7 | Editors | $80,590 | $89,740 | 2,720 | $38/hr |
| 8 | Public Relations Specialists | $80,380 | $92,860 | 9,990 | $38/hr |
| 9 | Film and Video Editors | $78,740 | $80,660 | N/A | $37/hr |
| 10 | Graphic Designers | $72,310 | $76,670 | 4,740 | $34/hr |
| 11 | Producers and Directors | $65,900 | $74,770 | 2,820 | $31/hr |
| 12 | Interpreters and Translators | $63,030 | $74,320 | 1,630 | $30/hr |
| 13 | Interior Designers | $62,560 | $70,840 | 1,550 | $30/hr |
| 14 | News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,140 | $76,820 | 1,110 | $29/hr |
| 15 | Athletes and Sports Competitors | $61,500 | $63,130 | N/A | $29/hr |
| 16 | Lighting Technicians | $60,340 | $55,910 | 190 | $29/hr |
| 17 | Music Directors and Composers | $59,050 | $79,160 | 370 | $28/hr |
| 18 | Set and Exhibit Designers | $58,650 | $67,280 | 120 | $28/hr |
| 19 | Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $58,440 | $66,460 | 420 | $28/hr |
| 20 | Broadcast Technicians | $57,940 | $57,520 | 710 | $27/hr |
| 21 | Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $55,210 | $58,050 | 320 | $26/hr |
| 22 | Audio and Video Technicians | $53,960 | $60,630 | 1,900 | $25/hr |
| 23 | Sound Engineering Technicians | $49,920 | $66,070 | 120 | $24/hr |
| 24 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $47,930 | $53,700 | 230 | $23/hr |
| 25 | Photographers | $46,550 | $52,640 | 1,580 | $22/hr |
| 26 | Coaches and Scouts | $46,290 | $55,360 | 6,810 | $22/hr |
| 27 | Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $44,400 | $55,790 | 460 | $21/hr |
| 28 | Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $40,840 | $52,580 | 260 | $19/hr |
| 29 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $37,750 | $42,300 | 4,450 | $18/hr |
| 30 | Floral Designers | $37,350 | $40,340 | 980 | $17/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across Virginia:
Virginia has 30 Arts, Design & Entertainment occupations with 49,920 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Arts, Design & Entertainment occupation in Virginia is Art Directors with a median salary of $101,150/year.
The average median salary across 30 Arts, Design & Entertainment occupations in Virginia is $63,979/year.
Salaries in Arts, Design & Entertainment in Virginia range from $25,810 (entry-level) to $165,010 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Arts, Design & Entertainment occupations use SOC prefix 27. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 27* in Virginia. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources