Also called: Visual Development Artist
Paints the first images of characters, creatures, worlds, and vehicles for films and games.
A concept artist might paint 30 versions of an alien city in a week, then refine the one the director likes. They mix drawing, 3D blocking, and photo-bashing. Their art defines how a whole project looks.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in illustration, entertainment design, or fine arts.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Illustration, Entertainment Design, Fine Arts.
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years). Competitive and changing fast with AI.
High risk for 10 years. AI image generation directly competes with early concept work and cuts junior roles; artists who direct and refine output adapt.
Classes: AP Studio Art, Digital painting, Anatomy or biology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1014.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.