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A Holland Code careers (Artistic)

Explore occupations with an O*NET interest code corresponding to A, see what the work involves, and compare related occupations.

These U.S. O*NET 31.0 codes describe the interests associated with work activities. See each profile for its tasks and entry requirements. O*NET 31.0

Occupations with A first

  • Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

    Create original artworks using varied media and techniques: work with materials such as pens, ink, watercolors, oils, clay, stone, wood, and metal, as well as software and graphics tablets; combine visual elements including line, space, mass, color, and perspective to express ideas, emotions, or atmosphere; discuss artwork nature and content with clients, editors, authors, and art directors; maintain portfolios demonstrating style and ability; promote work through catalogs, email, and personal websites and submit to exhibitions and galleries; keep learning techniques, following art-world developments, and researching topics; frame, mat, and install works, collaborating with engineers or technicians on large or installation works when needed; and potentially accept illustration, portrait, mural, sculpture, and custom commissions and teach art techniques to children or adults.

    AR · 27-1013.00

  • Poets, Lyricists, and Creative Writers

    Poets, lyricists and creative writers develop themes into poems, lyrics or other texts. Revision shapes rhythm, point of view and wording to fit the form.

    AI · 27-3043.05

  • Musicians and Singers

    Musicians and Singers (O*NET 27-2042.00) play one or more instruments or sing in stage, broadcast, film/television, or recorded performances. They practice and rehearse, play from notation or memory, audition and record, adapt and improvise, and collaborate with agents or managers. This page uses only official sources to explain occupational scope, tasks, preparation requirements, Chinese and U.S. statistical scopes, and authorization boundaries.

    AE · 27-2042.00

  • Special Effects Artists and Animators

    Special Effects Artists and Animators (O*NET-SOC 27-1014.00) use film, video, computers, or other electronic media to create animation and visual effects for products such as computer games, films, music videos, and advertisements. Work centers on storyboards and shot breakdown, key poses and motion curves, lighting, color, materials and compositing interfaces, continuity review, and version delivery. This page uses official sources only to explain occupational scope, tasks, work context, and statistical definitions.

    AR · 27-1014.00

  • Actors

    Actors build a character through speech, movement and interaction, then adjust their performance in response to direction. Consider preparation, auditions, rehearsals and performances separately.

    ASE · 27-2011.00

  • Music Directors and Composers

    Music Directors and Composers correspond to the combined occupation O*NET-SOC 27-2041.00. Conductors and music directors organize score interpretations and rehearsal feedback into an overall performance sound; composers develop musical intentions into original works that can be performed, recorded, and revised. China's Occupational Classification Dictionary (2022 edition) lists composers and music conductors separately. This page does not split the combined scope into individual-branch conclusions.

    AE · 27-2041.00

  • Graphic Designer

    Graphic designers organize visual information for audiences. They create layouts and visual systems for print or digital materials, explain design choices and prepare files for delivery.

    AC · 27-1024.00

  • Choreographers

    Create new dance works and rehearse the production: study the music and text, generate and record movement material, lead rehearsals and guide technique and safety, arrange space and formations, direct and stage the presentation, and collaborate with production roles such as music and costume and lighting.

    AS · 27-2032.00

  • Fashion Designers

    Design clothing, accessories and footwear: study fashion publications, attend fashion shows and visit fabric showrooms to gather trend and fabric information; determine the design direction by target market (age, gender, income and occasion) and draw sketches and style specifications (color, structure, fabric and accessory requirements); select fabrics and production processes and calculate costs; fit sample garments on dress forms or models and revise patterns and details; discuss design plans with sales, management or clients; provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives and arrange sample showings; direct patternmaking, cutting and sample sewing staff; test fabrics to support care labels; price styles and organize collections, or promote them through channels such as buyer stores and mail-order catalogs; and provide custom design for individuals, retailers or film and theater productions and research the required period styles.

    ARE · 27-1022.00

  • Film and Video Editors

    Edit moving images on film, video, or other media, possibly working with producers or directors to organize footage for final production and possibly editing or synchronizing soundtracks: organize and assemble raw footage into a complete work according to scripts or director and producer requirements; review all materials to become familiar with their content before assembling them; select and combine the most effective shots in each scene into a coherent narrative; trim segments to specified lengths and reassemble them for the best effect; switch camera angles at specific points within scenes for smooth, seamless edits; insert and sequence music, dialogue, and sound effects and correct errors; mark starting and ending frames of shots or sounds and use editing, titling, switching, and digital effects equipment to complete the production; check key numbers and timecodes; collaborate with audio, visual, music, optical, or special effects departments on sound, picture, and graphics processing; review assembled productions on monitors to determine whether corrections are needed; study scripts, attend screenings, and discuss editing direction with producers or directors.

    AC · 27-4032.00

  • Writers and authors

    Writers and authors gather material, draft and revise for a brief or project, submit to an editor or client, and track open facts and feedback.

    AE · 27-3043.00

  • Set and Exhibit Designers

    Set and exhibit designers translate content goals and spatial constraints into designs, then review materials, dimensions, and practical limits with production teams.

    A · 27-1027.00

  • Dancers

    Learn and rehearse movement, perform on stage, at events or on camera, and adjust timing, spacing and coordination from feedback. Ask how rehearsals, performances and travel are paid.

    ARS · 27-2031.00

  • Art Directors

    Art directors turn a project brief into visual direction, give design and production teams clear standards, review drafts and guide delivery. Brand, publishing, film and digital projects differ in approval roles, budgets and asset rights.

    AE · 27-1011.00

  • Video game designers

    Video game designers define mechanics, objectives and levels, communicate them through documents or prototypes and revise them using playtest observations.

    AI · 15-1255.01

  • Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

    Broadcast announcers and radio DJs combine scripts, interviews, music and cues into a program and maintain required logs. Programming authority varies by station.

    AES · 27-3011.00

  • Craft artists

    Craft artists correspond in the US to O*NET-SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). The core is turning ideas into deliverable functional or decorative handmade works for sale or exhibition using materials, tools and equipment: selecting materials by strength, color, texture, weight, dimensions and ductility, conceiving and drawing the object to be made, making samples or templates, first producing a prototype, cutting, forming, assembling, casting or machining materials by hand, power tools or machines, setting material, dimension and surface treatment specifications, applying surface treatment to the finished product and checking quality, developing packaging, display and pricing practice, packing and shipping, promoting works and products through internet advertising and brochures, communicating with clients to understand needs and feedback, planning and attending craft fairs, researching craft trends, sales channels and customer buying habits, and also producing design drawings with specialist software. The US basis is a single occupation breakdown, and comparable posts on the Chinese side are spread across handicrafts, cultural-creative work and craft art production, are not one-to-one with this US occupation breakdown, and their employment and pay bases cannot be interchanged.

    AR · 27-1012.00

  • Costume attendants

    Prepare, fit, label and maintain costumes by cast member and scene. Help with changes, then count, repair or flag damaged pieces and return them to storage.

    ACR · 39-3092.00

  • Producers and directors

    Producers and directors coordinate content goals, creative decisions, teams, and production resources. Responsibilities vary across projects.

    AE · 27-2012.00

  • Disc Jockeys, Except Radio

    Disc Jockeys, Except Radio (United States side, O*NET-SOC 27-2091.00) is a position providing paid music and mood services for clients and live crowds: operating disc jockey controllers and microphones and other audio and video equipment, communicating activity information with clients or venue managers (music preferences, schedule, expected attendance), customizing the playlist by activity segment, assembling audio and video equipment and doing a sound check, selecting tracks and playing and mixing according to crowd preferences and mood, taking guest song requests, operating lighting and smoke and visual equipment and building mood and hosting party games, writing announcement scripts and booking contracts, issuing itemized invoices and promoting services through internet advertising and brochures; and after the event dismantling and inventorying equipment, collecting fees and reviewing and handing off. United States scope: for this occupation the BLS 2025 wage data hourly median is 21.61 US dollars, with hourly percentiles of 13.50／16.91／21.61／37.50／60.17 US dollars; that source publishes only the hourly scope for this occupation and does not publish an annual median wage or annual percentiles, and this page does not convert them on its own. The O*NET summary page gives employment of about 15,400 in 2024, growth of 3% to 4% in 2024—2034 (average) and about 1,500 projected job openings; the preparation level is Job Zone 1-2 (SVP below 6.0), the education feedback is 52% high school or equivalent and 36% less than high school and 4% some college no degree, with on-the-job training from a few days to a year; the interest code is AEC; the work context includes decision freedom very much 72%, use email every day 63%, dealing with external customers or the public extremely important 60%, working hours irregular 60%, public speaking weekly or more 48%, continuous standing 36%, continuous use of hands 44%, noise exposure weekly or more 32%, and level of competition extremely fierce 40%. Chinese mainland scope: this occupation has no uniform access-type individual certificate; holding a commercial performance requires an entity that has obtained a commercial performance operating license according to law to apply for approval under the Regulations on the Administration of Commercial Performances (promulgated by State Council Decree No. 439 of 2005, revised for the fourth time by State Council Decree No. 732 on 2020-11-29) and its implementing rules, and performance venue operating units and individual performers and individual performance brokers must file as prescribed; publicly playing or disseminating musical works must meet copyright and collective management requirements. Public statistics have not established an occupation-level wage scope corresponding to this occupation, and this page truthfully retains the gap.

    AEC · 27-2091.00

  • Editors

    Plan, review, and revise content to be published, verify facts, language, structure, style, and version, and coordinate authors and publication responsible persons.

    ACE · 27-3041.00

  • Interior Designer

    Interior designers plan how indoor spaces will be used. They develop layouts, select materials and coordinate drawings with clients and project teams. Work on regulated building systems or signed documents may require separate authority.

    AR · 27-1025.00

  • Industrial Designer

    Industrial designers develop concepts for physical products. They consider how people use the product, how it looks and what can be manufactured. They use sketches, models and prototypes to explore options with engineers and producers.

    ARI · 27-1021.00

  • Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

    Merchandise displayers and window trimmers (O*NET 27-1026.00) plan and build retail window, in-store, and trade show displays, balancing visual appeal and on-site safety; building and electrical work are verified against site rules.

    ARE · 27-1026.00

Other occupations with shared interests

  • Photographers

    Photographers plan and produce still images for clients, publications or records. They clarify the brief, light and frame the shot, select and edit photos, retain originals and deliver approved files. Try the A1–A5 product-photo brief to see how those decisions fit together.

    RA · 27-4021.00

  • Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

    Draw and construct precise master patterns and marker layouts from design drawings and specifications, and mark and cut fabric and garments when needed; this includes grading and shrinking across a size range, breaking a design sample into pieceable garment parts, calculating material usage and determining material-efficient layouts, and verifying and correcting patterns through making and fitting sample garments; the work assumes dimensional precision and controllable material use.

    RAC · 51-6092.00

  • Art Therapists

    Art therapists use visual art-making in a professional care relationship, communicate with clients and document what happened, consent and follow-up. Mainland psychiatric and rehabilitation services offer related examples. In the U.S., compare graduate preparation, ATCB credentials and state licensure separately.

    SA · 29-1129.01

  • Interpreters and Translators

    Interpreters convey meaning during spoken or signed exchanges. Translators work with written material and can revise drafts. Both verify terms, numbers and versions and flag ambiguities for review.

    CAS · 27-3091.00

  • Music Therapists

    Music therapists assess needs, set goals, conduct music-based sessions, document progress, and coordinate with the care team. Training, credentials, and facility authorization must be checked separately.

    SAI · 29-1129.02

  • Sound engineering technicians

    Sound engineering technicians set up equipment, record or edit audio, and prepare handoffs for productions or live events.

    RAC · 27-4014.00

  • Web and digital interface designers

    Web and digital interface designers map user tasks into flows, prototype screens, check feedback and interaction states, and hand specifications to development.

    IAC · 15-1255.00

  • Floral Designers

    Floral designers carry out work involving this occupation's objects, processes, quality, and delivery; specific tasks, training, qualifications, protocols, and authority must be checked against original local and employer documentation.

    RAC · 27-1023.00

  • Technical writers

    Technical writers turn engineering or product material into instructions readers can follow and verify. They maintain terminology and revision history and confirm key steps with subject experts before release.

    CAI · 27-3042.00

  • Public Relations Specialists

    Public relations specialists shape and maintain the public image of an organization or individual, verify data, write press releases and media Q&A, respond to media information requests, update website and social platform content, and maintain community and media relationships. Important statements, sensitive data disclosure, and organizational commitments are approved by authorized personnel.

    EAS · 27-3031.00

  • Desktop Publishers

    Turn copy, images and styles into proofable layouts. Check pagination, overflow, images and output settings, revise after review and keep versions. Editing and press operation depend on the assignment.

    CAR · 43-9031.00

  • Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers

    Tailors and custom sewers design, make, alter, repair, and adjust the fit of garments, taking measurements, making and altering patterns, cutting and sewing, reworking at fittings, and pressing. The core delivery is garments that meet agreed measurements, appearance, and use requirements; drawing or getting seam allowances right cannot replace real materials, fit, and finished-product inspection.

    RA · 51-6052.00

  • Landscape Architect

    Landscape architects design outdoor places such as parks, campuses and public spaces. They consider how people move, what can grow and how the site functions. Design, construction and maintenance responsibilities are distinct.

    RIA · 17-1012.00

  • Architectural and civil drafter

    Architectural and civil drafters turn sketches and survey data into drawings, check dimensions and elevations, and flag conflicts to the responsible designer.

    RCA · 17-3011.00

  • Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

    Architects turn site conditions, client needs and technical constraints into building designs, coordinate consultants and communicate through drawings and site work.

    RCA · 17-1011.00

  • Architect

    Building architects coordinate plans, construction details and consultant interfaces. Drawings and records communicate design decisions; authority to sign depends on registration and project responsibility.

    RCA · 17-1011.00

  • Proofreaders and copy markers

    Proofreaders and copy markers compare the original manuscript with the typeset proof, mark errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, numbers, layout, and omissions, verify whether changes have been implemented, and then pass items needing a decision to the author or editor. The occupation centers on finding and marking errors, while rewriting and final approval of facts rest with content editing.

    CA · 43-9081.00

  • Self-Enrichment Teachers

    Self-enrichment teachers lead hobby or leisure classes, using demonstrations, practice, and feedback to help learners complete a concrete project or activity.

    SA · 25-3021.00

  • Etchers and Engravers

    Etch or engrave patterns, lettering, and markings on materials such as metal, wood, rubber, glass, and plastic: read drawings and samples, prepare workpieces and etching chemicals, set equipment parameters, use hand and machine tools to complete etching and engraving, and check etch depth, evenness, and appearance quality.

    RAC · 51-9194.00

  • Architecture Teachers (Postsecondary)

    Postsecondary architecture teachers prepare courses, lead studio critiques and assess design work. Research and advising may also be part of the role.

    SIA · 25-1031.00

  • Anthropologists and Archeologists

    Anthropologists and archaeologists study human societies and material remains. Compare the work of interviewing and observing, using archives, and documenting sites or objects.

    IA · 19-3091.00

  • Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

    Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers make, finish or repair jewelry. They check metal parts, settings, dimensions and finishes against a design. Stone cutting, grading and jewelry fabrication have different outputs.

    RAC · 51-9071.00

  • Media Programming Directors

    Media programming directors coordinate program schedules and production staff. They check airtimes, versions and content awaiting review. U.S. wage and employment figures cover the broader producers and directors group.

    ECA · 27-2012.03

  • Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

    Manufacturing stone cutters and carvers shape stone to drawings or patterns and check dimensions, depth, and finish.

    RAC · 51-9195.03

  • Special education teachers (preschool)

    Preschool special education teachers adapt play and early learning, observe communication and participation, and share records with families and school teams.

    SA · 25-2051.00

  • English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

    Under U.S. O*NET-SOC 25-1123.00, design English language and literature courses and assessments in higher education according to program objectives, teach courses and organize seminars and writing workshops, guide student learning and writing, assess grades according to standards, and carry out research and academic service.

    SIA · 25-1123.00

  • Sociologists

    Sociologists study behavior in groups, organizations, and institutions and use evidence and research design to test explanations.

    ISA · 19-3041.00

  • Special education teachers (middle school)

    Middle school special education teachers support participation across subjects and track academic, self-management, and social goals with classroom teachers.

    SAI · 25-2057.00

  • Childcare workers

    Childcare workers supervise activities and document meals, rest and concerns for colleagues or families. Health tasks follow center procedures.

    SA · 39-9011.00

  • Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers

    Adult literacy and high-school-equivalency teachers help learners practice reading, writing, basic math or exam skills. Program rules govern formal scores and credentials.

    SA · 25-3011.00

  • Wood modelmakers

    Wood modelmakers (O*NET 51-7031.00, Model Makers, Wood) make full-size or scale precision wooden product models, patterns, templates, and fixtures according to blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, including wood jig builders and loft workers. Excludes metal and plastic modelmakers, wood patternmakers, carpenters, wooden furniture making, and mass-production woodworking machine operation.

    RCA · 51-7031.00

  • Political Scientists

    Political scientists study institutions, policies and public opinion. They answer research questions with documents, surveys or comparative evidence. Choose a role by its output: academic research, a policy memo or survey data. Check education, research permissions and publication responsibilities separately.

    IA · 19-3094.00

  • Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners

    Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners (O*NET 49-9063.00) repair percussion, stringed, reed, and wind instruments and may specialize in an area such as piano tuning. They inspect and assess instrument condition, disassemble and replace parts, adjust string tension and tuning, repair wood or metal damage, and accurately document repairs and handover. This page uses only official sources to explain occupational scope, tasks, preparation requirements, Chinese and U.S. statistical scopes, and authorization boundaries.

    RCA · 49-9063.00

  • Advertising and promotions managers

    Advertising and promotions managers bring audience research, messaging, creative work, budgets and placements into a campaign. They define who reviews the material, who approves it and what success looks like.

    ECA · 11-2011.00

  • Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

    Metal and plastic patternmakers plan the sequence from drawings, measure, machine, assemble, and repair casting patterns, core boxes, or templates, and check dimensions with measuring tools; machine tool and welding work must follow training and on-site safety procedures.

    RCA · 51-4062.00

  • Advertising sales agents

    Advertising sales agents find clients, turn goals, audiences and budgets into priced advertising placements, then follow proofs, schedules and payments. Media owners, agencies and platforms differ in sales targets, discount authority and commission terms.

    ECA · 41-3011.00

  • Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

    Shoe and leather workers and repairers make, decorate, or repair leather or leather-like products such as shoes, luggage, and harnesses, handling materials to patterns, stitching or cementing components, assembling and finishing, and inspecting for defects. The finished product's dimensions, connections, appearance, and repair records are the actual deliverables; the materials, tools, and authority for footwear manufacturing, custom work, and repair must be checked separately.

    RCA · 51-6041.00

  • Furniture Finishers

    Furniture finishers bring new, worn or damaged furniture to a specified color and finish. Tasks may include inspecting the substrate and existing finish, repairing defects, sanding, staining and checking against an approved sample.

    RAC · 51-7021.00

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