Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
SOC major group 27-0000: 41 detailed occupations, 41 with a published national median (May 2025). The group employs 2,046,290 people nationally.
The group as a whole
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.68 | $21.50 | $30.17 | $45.45 | $64.85 | $38.36 | 2,046,290 |
| Annual | $34,700 | $44,720 | $62,750 | $94,530 | $134,900 | $79,790 | ||
Every occupation in the group, by median annual wage
| Occupation | SOC | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | 27-1011 | $55.22 | $114,850 | $129,440 | 53,070 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | 27-1014 | $49.06 | $102,030 | $112,870 | 19,970 |
| Technical Writers | 27-3042 | $43.46 | $90,390 | $96,970 | 45,500 |
| Producers and Directors | 27-2012 | $43.44 | $90,360 | $113,300 | 143,120 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | 27-1021 | $40.34 | $83,910 | $93,260 | 33,490 |
| Fashion Designers | 27-1022 | $38.92 | $80,960 | $91,230 | 21,450 |
| Editors | 27-3041 | $37.46 | $77,920 | $90,060 | 91,690 |
| Writers and Authors | 27-3043 | $36.98 | $76,910 | $86,090 | 47,940 |
| Film and Video Editors | 27-4032 | $36.26 | $75,420 | $86,130 | 25,610 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | 27-1027 | $36.17 | $75,240 | $83,160 | 10,630 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | 27-4031 | $36.05 | $74,990 | $83,210 | 21,550 |
| Public Relations Specialists | 27-3031 | $35.94 | $74,750 | $84,120 | 283,380 |
| Music Directors and Composers | 27-2041 | $35.44 | $73,710 | $90,470 | 12,540 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | 27-3099 | $35.39 | $73,620 | $83,860 | 19,590 |
| Sound Engineering Technicians | 27-4014 | $35.16 | $73,130 | $81,390 | 13,080 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | 27-3092 | $34.82 | $72,420 | $78,760 | 12,870 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | 27-1019 | $34.25 | $71,240 | $80,530 | 6,930 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | 27-4099 | $34.00 | $70,720 | $81,040 | 12,450 |
| Lighting Technicians | 27-4015 | $32.72 | $68,060 | $78,380 | 8,900 |
| Interior Designers | 27-1025 | $32.31 | $67,190 | $74,540 | 71,500 |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | 27-2021 | * | $66,710 | $206,180 | 15,070 |
| Designers, All Other | 27-1029 | $31.23 | $64,950 | $79,090 | 9,480 |
| Graphic Designers | 27-1024 | $30.27 | $62,960 | $70,560 | 197,830 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 27-3023 | $29.91 | $62,200 | $102,460 | 39,250 |
| Interpreters and Translators | 27-3091 | $28.93 | $60,170 | $66,360 | 52,060 |
| Broadcast Technicians | 27-4012 | $28.64 | $59,570 | $67,960 | 21,110 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | 27-4011 | $27.93 | $58,100 | $64,630 | 70,230 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 27-1013 | $26.68 | $55,490 | $73,150 | 11,220 |
| Choreographers | 27-2032 | $26.59 | $55,310 | $73,100 | 2,860 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | 27-3011 | $22.76 | $47,340 | $78,720 | 21,240 |
| Coaches and Scouts | 27-2022 | * | $47,320 | $60,160 | 248,950 |
| Craft Artists | 27-1012 | $22.15 | $46,080 | $49,740 | 4,580 |
| Photographers | 27-4021 | $21.47 | $44,660 | $55,410 | 51,760 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | 27-2023 | * | $40,710 | $53,010 | 15,780 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | 27-1026 | $18.94 | $39,390 | $42,830 | 165,220 |
| Floral Designers | 27-1023 | $17.96 | $37,360 | $39,520 | 40,590 |
| Musicians and Singers | 27-2042 | $47.80 | * | * | 36,180 |
| Actors | 27-2011 | $29.05 | * | * | 55,000 |
| Dancers | 27-2031 | $24.80 | * | * | 8,130 |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | 27-2091 | $21.61 | * | * | 7,920 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | 27-2099 | $18.82 | * | * | 16,550 |
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: National OEWS estimates.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.