Career comparison
Art, Drama and Music Professor vs. Graphic Designer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Art, drama and music professors earn more at the median ($78,620 vs. $62,960), while graphic designers usually get to work faster (4 years or portfolio-based training of training). Art, drama and music professors teach studio art, music or theater at the college level. Graphic designers create logos, layouts and visuals that communicate ideas and build brands.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Art, Drama and Music Professor | Graphic Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $78,620 | $62,960 ($30.27/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $47,570 – $163,350 | $39,520 – $104,910 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.2% (slower than average) | -1.7% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 8,000 | 16,000 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6–9 years after high school | 4 years or portfolio-based training |
| Key credential | MFA | Adobe Certified Professional |
| Work setting | Faculty work in studios, rehearsal halls, theaters and galleries.. | Designers work in studios, offices or remotely, at computers for most of the day.. |
What each job does
Art, Drama and Music Professor
- Teach studio, performance or theory courses
- Give critiques and lessons
- Direct ensembles or productions
- Create and exhibit work
- Mentor students
Graphic Designer
- Meet with clients to understand goals
- Develop design concepts
- Design logos, layouts and graphics
- Select typography, color and images
- Prepare files for print and digital
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, working independently, and indoor work. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as creativity and creativity.
Which should you choose?
Choose art, drama and music professor if…
- I’m a working artist or musician
- I love teaching
- I give helpful critiques
Choose graphic designer if…
- I love visual design
- I notice fonts and layouts
- I take feedback well
Still torn? Take the Art, Drama and Music Professor fit quiz and the Graphic Designer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, art, drama and music professor or graphic designer?
Art, Drama and Music Professors earn more at the median: $78,620 versus $62,960 for graphic designers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Graphic Designers typically train faster (4 years or portfolio-based training) than art, drama and music professors (6–9 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects art, drama and music professors to grow +2.2% from 2025–35, compared with -1.7% for graphic designers.