Crafting has always been a way of life.
From the very first cave painters to the maker studio artists of today, there are craft careers always in abundance.
Take these dozen or so professions, including cabinetmaker, floral designer, photographer, and welder.
1. Cabinet Maker
Why Become a Cabinet Maker?
A cabinetmaker or bench carpenter is someone who assembles wooden articles.
This includes cabinets and furniture, as well as fixtures and equipment.
Also referred to as a woodworker, the job of a cabinetmaker also involves working hands-on with wood, including laminate and veneer used to cover wood cabinets and furniture.
| Cabinet Maker Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $40,070 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $19.27 |
| Education | 0-1 Year |
| Outlook | 8% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Cabinet Maker
2. Floral Designer
Why Become a Floral Designer?
A floral designer is a popular art and crafts career.
The median wage is $37,620 a year.
Students can go to tech school to obtain a post-secondary education and a certificate in floral design in less than a year.
The occupation of a floral designer entails arranging “live, dried, and silk flowers and greenery to make decorative displays,” according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Floral Designer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $32,100 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $15.43 |
| Education | 6-12 Months |
| Outlook | -6% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Floral Designer
3. Hair Stylist
Why Become a Hair Stylist?
Beauty salons and parlors, as well as barbershops, always need hair stylists.
This is a high-demand trade that pays $31,530 on average annually.
Hairstylists have a projected need of eight percent more stylists in the future, which means there is room for growth and new stylists are wanted.
Consider working in an urban area to have more options and greater educational outlets for beauty colleges and trade school programs.
| Hair Stylist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $35,990 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $17.30 |
| Education | 0-6 Months |
| Outlook | 8% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Hair Stylist
4. Photographer
Why Become a Photographer?
A photographer is a hugely popular craft career right now, thanks to the use of photo and video content on social media.
Professional photographers can go to tech schools and colleges to study this craft.
Additionally, they may take photos of amateur models, landscapes for businesses, or high school graduates during their senior year.
Wedding photos are always in season, too.
| Photographer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $48,210 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $23.18 |
| Education | 2-4 Years |
| Outlook | 17% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Photographer
5. Welder
Why Become a Welder?
A welder is a profession for someone who welds, cuts, solders, and brazes metal products.
This is a career involving joining or repairing metal products with heat, either by hand or with a robot.
This is not a blacksmith, who is a metalworker, but instead someone who deals with welds joining metals together.
Automotives require welders quite often.
| Welder Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $48,290 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $23.21 |
| Education | 0-6 Months |
| Outlook | 3% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Welder
6. Blacksmith
Why Become Blacksmith?
A blacksmith of modern-day is also referred to as a metal or plastic machine worker, an ironworker, or a boilermaker.
This is determined by the type of career the blacksmith follows.
Someone working with metal and plastic machines supports the manufacturing sector.
An ironworker may, on the other hand, be independently employed as a cast-iron artist, which is more of a freelance position.
| Blacksmith Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $39,480 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $18.98 |
| Education | 0-6 Months |
| Outlook | 3% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become Blacksmith
7. Architect
Why Become an Architect?
Also called a drafter or draft person, an architect provides drawings and detailed line sketches with measurements for construction projects.
This typically involves buildings, as landscape architecture is a different field.
This is a well-paying craft career that has an average salary of $89,560.
Education takes at least four years of formal college with a bachelor’s degree program and may need to include a master’s degree for career advancement or employment.
| Architect Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $91,900 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $44.19 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 8% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Architect
8. Landscape Architect
Why Become a Landscape Architect?
A landscaper or landscape architect designs and draws landscapes.
This includes fine print details for plants, walkways, buildings, and lighting.
The job of a landscape architect does not pay as much as an architect, but is close, at $73,970 a year.
| Landscape Architect Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $74,980 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $36.05 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 4% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Landscape Architect
9. Web Designer
Why Become a Web Designer?
A web designer is someone who creates websites and web pages, including landing pages for clients.
This job also involves coming up with innovative UX design features that are more exciting for web users.
There is a lot of computer work in this industry, and most work is done independently.
Web designers often work freelance, as well, which means this becomes a secondary or part-time career.
| Web Designer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $74,980 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $36.05 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 13% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Web Designer
10. Animator
Why Become an Animator (Digital/3D)?
An animator in digital and/or 3D is the person who makes video content for cartoons, videos, commercials, and other animated video footage.
This is a job that is also involved with creating special effects artists for video games, television, and other media.
Animators work closely with film and video editors, as well as camera operators, to be able to provide the best quality images and sound for animations.
| Animator Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $86,220 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $41.45 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 4% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Animator (Digital/3D)
11. Video Game Designer
Why Become a Video Game Designer?
Surpassing even the prestigious position of the architect in terms of salary is video game designer, with a salary of $111,620 on average.
That’s quite impressive for a job that is literally making games all day, and playing them to “test them out” when out of the office.
Video game designers are needed to come up with storylines, plots, and character sketches, as well as for animation, sound, and visual effects of video games.
| Video Game Designer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $86,220 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $41.45 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 4% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Video Game Designer
12. Glassblower
Why Become a Glassblower?
Glassblowing has become more popular in recent years with glassblowing competitions on television in the US.
This is a field where artistic talent and danger come face to face as glass is melted and expanded using air blown from the glassblower’s mouth.
It’s a rewarding type of art that also requires expensive equipment that is often in a manufacturer-type setting.
| Glassblower Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $49,020 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $23.57 |
| Education | 0-6 Months |
| Outlook | 15% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Glassblower
