15 Creative Jobs That Pay Well 🚀

Check out our list of 15 creative jobs that pay well, from creative directors to UX designers. Plus, discover the perks of pursuing work in this field.

There’s nothing quite like doing work you love and making good money. For many creative Independents, that’s the dream: to quit the dull office life and begin working from home following their passion.

In this guide, we’ll discuss what a high-paying job is and the benefits you can get from working in the creative field. We’ll also share a comprehensive list of creative jobs that pay well.



Why choose the creative work field? 🖌️

Contrary to popular belief, many remote creative jobs pay well and cater to a wide range of interests, talents, and backgrounds. Whether you prefer to work with technology (software engineer) or consider yourself an artist or creator (like creative producer jobs or content creator), there’s a lot of space for you to thrive in the world of independent creativity. 

But what exactly are high-paying jobs? You could define a high-paying job as generating a higher income than the median household. They’re also those that don’t have an income cap and are determined by experience, skill, and output.

Benefits you can get from a creative job 👍

Along with the benefit of paying well, creative jobs also come with many benefits. Here are a few pros you might experience when working a creative job:

They reward your brain 🧠

Being creative has a wealth of cognitive and emotional benefits, for example:

• Reduced depression and anxiety symptoms
• Improved motor skills
• Enhanced immune system
• Increased cognitive performance
• Minimized stress levels
• Better problem-solving skills

Creative collaboration is fun 🕺

Collaborating with colleagues is a vital part of any job. However, this can be a chore when working a traditional 9–5 job. When working in the creative field, especially as an Independent, these collaborations are generally more fun as you socialize and work with like-minded people in an innovative space.

You enjoy your work 🥳

One of the most prominent complaints of people in traditional jobs is that they don't like what they do, which harms their performance and general outlook on life. However, if you have a passion for creativity and do what you love, like finding a way to monetize your love for music, every day is just another chance to follow your passion. 

You always have work 🤓

Speaking of doing what you love, if you’re creative and have the skills to do great work, you'll never be left wanting a job for very long. Creativity is always needed as it's the driving force behind innovation. Further, there's an increased need for content creation since moving to the digital age.

Your work day isn’t boring 🤩

Creativity is only half of any job, and if you’re a part of the creative field, you usually have to step into various roles to complete projects. For example, as a writer, you’d research the topic you want to write about, do the writing (which you love), edit the article, and perhaps perform search engine optimization (SEO) to make it more discoverable. Each step requires specific skills and adds new challenges to your day.

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15 creative jobs that pay well 💸

Now that you know a few benefits of working in a creative field, you might wonder which creative jobs pay well. Here is a list of 15 jobs, from creative marketing jobs to creative project manager jobs, worthy of your consideration:

1. Graphic designer 🧑‍💻

As a graphic designer, you'll use your technical skills and artistic creativity to translate ideas into a design that communicates a message (branding materials, logos, gaming visuals, etc). It’s one of the best entry-level creative jobs. You could earn an average of $56,000 annually. But if you’re more experienced with a great portfolio, you could make about $150,000 yearly. 

2. Creative director 📻

As a creative director, you’ll ensure team cohesion, write creative briefs, and set the artistic direction for projects or companies. You'd also oversee the work of other creatives. You’ll make between $75,000 and more than $200,000, depending on experience and responsibilities.  

3. Marketing director 📢

As a marketing director, you’ll work with creatives to build a marketing campaign to improve brand visibility after performing market and consumer trends. This typically involves overseeing the promotional activities, branding, and advertising efforts. You’ll earn anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000, depending on experience.

4. Copywriter ✍️

Working as a copywriter, you’ll write persuasive and compelling text for various mediums like brochures, advertisements, and websites. The goal is to persuade the reader to desire a service, product, or topic. Being a copywriter is one of the most diverse creative writing jobs remote workers enjoy. Most copywriters are typically freelancers and earn about $40,000 initially. 

5. Digital marketing manager 🖥️

As a digital marketing manager, you’ll create strategies to promote services and products for companies on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. This requires a good understanding of consumer and market behaviors. You’ll earn around $100,000 and more than $150,000 annually.

6. User experience (UX) researcher 💻

As a UX researcher, you’ll analyze how people interact with technology, research users’ experiences with a company's technology, and use data to identify issues and suggest improvements. You can earn about $80,000 yearly.  

7. UX designer 🌟

As a UX designer, you’ll design user interfaces (UIs) for apps and software that are simple for people to use. While strong technical skills are necessary, creativity and an understanding of how people interact with technology are vital. You can earn around $85,000 annually if you have an elaborate UX portfolio. 

8. Technical writer 📝

As a technical writer, you'll find creative ways to simplify how to use a product for customers. Basically, you'll elucidate complex instructions and topics by putting yourself in the shoes of the average user. You'll earn about $70,000 yearly. 

9. Social media specialist 📱

In this role, you’ll create and post content for a company's social media account. In addition to creating engaging content that aligns with the brand's image, you’ll also interact with customers as the brand's voice. You’ll earn about $45,000 annually. 

10. Email marketing specialist 📧

As an email marketing specialist, you'll be responsible for creating and executing engaging email marketing campaigns (like newsletters) to promote a company’s services or products. You’ll earn an average annual income of $60,000. 

11. Video game designer 🎮

In this role, you’ll use creativity and technical skills to create the overall experience of video games, including storylines and gameplay, to create immersive worlds and entertaining gameplay loops. You’ll earn around $59,000 yearly. 

12. Brand manager 🤠

As a brand manager, you’ll develop strategies using market trends and customer feedback to deliver campaigns that represent and further the brand's image. You'll need a blend of strategic thinking and creative insight. You’ll make about $80,000 annually. 

13. Mobile designer 📲

In this role, you’ll create UIs for mobile apps and craft a pleasant user experience. This requires creativity, solid technical skills, and understanding of how users interact with apps. You’ll earn about $75,000 yearly.

14. Software engineer 🧑‍💼

As a software engineer, you’ll plan, develop, and maintain software products like Google Chrome or Microsoft Word. This requires detailed knowledge of software engineering to work with programmers and creativity to develop the software. You’ll make an average annual salary of $84,000.

15. Product designer 📦

Product designing involves putting yourself in the user's shoes and designing and creating products they need. You'll be working with executives, marketers, and engineers to keep users’ needs in mind to develop innovative products. You’ll earn around $75,000 yearly.

Find creative work with Contra 🎨

As an Independent, your talents deserve the broadest stage and the fairest terms. And Contra is the best place to be if you’re ready to land exciting creative work. Sign up today and create a profile to be matched with clients looking for your skills –– all commission-free. And for in-depth insights into your profile's analytics to tailor it to perfection, upgrade to Contra Pro.

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