Also called: Spoken Word Artist
Writes and performs poetry for books, magazines, readings, and events.
A poet revises poems, gives a reading at a bookstore, and teaches a workshop. Most earn a living from teaching, grants, and prizes.
Most poets earn from teaching and grants.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. A bachelor's degree, then often a two-year MFA in poetry; publishing in journals and winning prizes matters more than any credential.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Creative Writing.
Growing about average. Competitive.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI poems are everywhere, but poetry readings, books and teaching still center human voices; income stays low.
Classes: Creative writing, English literature, AP Literature, Theater.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-3043.
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.