Also called: Creative Coder, Computational Artist, New Media Artist
Writes computer code that creates art: animated visuals, interactive installations, data sculptures, and digital prints.
A generative artist might spend the morning tweaking an algorithm that grows branching patterns, then render thousands of variations to pick the best. Afternoons can go to building a light installation for a brand event or a museum lobby that reacts to people walking by.
Highly variable. Studio and agency creative coders earn salaries; independent artists live on commissions, sales, and installations.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Often a degree in art, design, or computer science; many are self-taught programmers using tools like Processing, p5.js, or TouchDesigner.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Digital Arts, Computer Science, Interactive Media.
Growing faster than average. Grows with digital installations, live visuals, and immersive art spaces.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI image tools compete for simple visuals; custom interactive installations and code-driven systems still need artist-coders.
Classes: AP Computer Science A, Digital art or graphic design, Physics or math.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1013.
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.