Career Explorer Arts, media and sport
Changing shape
Craft artists
Create or reproduce handmade objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 60% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +2.0% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on creative vision and physical dexterity.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $46,080
- Job growth to 2035
- +2.0%
- Openings a year
- 1,000
- People doing it (2025)
- 11,500
- Usual route in
- No formal credential, then long on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Promote products, services, or programs
- Create decorative objects or parts of objects
- Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Assemble products or work aids
- Develop business or marketing plans
What the work looks like
- 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.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Merchandise displayers and window trimmersHuman edge, steady, Index 72, +2.7%
- Model makers, woodHuman edge, steady, Index 62, -3.3%
- Costume attendantsHuman edge, growing, Index 90, +5.9%
- DancersHuman edge, steady, Index 76, +2.2%
Also known as: Artist, Fiber Artist, Glass Artist, Textile Artist, Ceramic Artist, Decorative Arts Production Artist, Fine Craft Artist, Goldsmith.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.