3 creative jobs that pay over $100K

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3 Creative Jobs That Pay Over $100,000

When we’re young, creativity isn’t just encouraged—it’s celebrated. From finger paintings taped on the fridge to the whole family attending school plays (camcorders in hand 📹), our creative endeavors were proudly embraced. 

But something shifts as we grow older. Instead of encouragement, creatives start hearing…

• “Is that your real job?” 

• “What’s your backup plan?” 

• “Do people actually pay for that?” 

…as if creativity weren’t a “real” professional path. But here’s the truth: Creative work is as legitimate as any other profession—and it can pay exceptionally well. We’re talking six figures. 👀

Even better? Creative positions are experiencing solid job growth—and 62.8% of these roles don’t require a college degree, according to research by Fast Company. 

So we pulled some stats from our Salary Database and other resources to highlight three top-earning creative jobs. Let’s roll the tape.

Brand Manager 

Apple, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s—all these brands trigger a strong feeling or image, but this wouldn’t have been possible without a brand manager. 

Brand managers are a company’s “storytellers.” They craft a brand’s image to connect with customers and build loyalty, from planning marketing strategies to digging into feedback. This role is ideal if you’re a marketing aficionado who loves to think critically. 

Social Media Manager

Do you live on social media? Love to scroll? Have a TikTok sound stuck in your head at any given moment? Then becoming a social media manager might be the move. 

Social media managers develop and execute strategies to grow a brand’s presence across social media platforms. They create content, engage with followers, and analyze performance so that a brand stays relevant and easily discoverable online.

Creative Director 

Behind every project or brand are a thousand decisions—and creative directors make these calls to bring a company’s creative vision to life. They’re responsible for managing creative teams, guiding design concepts, establishing budgets and timelines, and more. 

Or as this freelance creative director beautifully puts it, “We use art to help amplify [a company’s] message.” 

There are plenty more creative jobs out there. Our guide includes five that pay over $70,000—and how you can snag one without a college degree.

Explore the full list here! 

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We’re Coming to Washington, DC! 🏛️

After six weeks, James and I are wrapping up the Salary Transparent Street 2024 Tour in our home city: Washington, DC! 

Join us on October 30 from 6-7 PM to learn how we turned our channel into a million-dollar business. Registration is free but space is limited, so don’t forget to snag your spot today!

We’re spilling some serious tea in our latest episode of Two Cents. 🍵

The TL;DR: A reputable tech boot camp tried to rope us into a shady deal that would’ve come at their customers’ expense. 

But there’s so much more to the story. James and I share everything—from the amount of money we lost by refusing the deal to how other street interviewers are scamming their followers.

Get the full scoop below (or tune in via Spotify!):

P.S. Two Cents just hit 10,000 plays on Spotify! Huge thanks if you’ve been one of them. 💚

• Boeing machinists reject a new contract proposal. ✈️ 64% of union members voted against the contract, which included a 35% wage increase over four years but fell short of a key demand: restoring pension benefits. 

• Chipotle’s new recruiter is here and it's…AI? 🥑 Meet Ava Cado, the AI recruiter claiming to slash hiring time by 75%. Ava will screen potential hires, schedule interviews, and send out offer letters. 

• Meta fires dozens of employees over a $25 meal voucher. 😦 Meta found employees were using their $25 dinner credits to buy household items like toothpaste and tea. Among those let go? An employee earning $400,000 a year.

• The CEO of Microsoft gets a $30 million raise. ⚠️ Satya Nadella’s 63% pay bump brings his total earnings to $73 million this year—right after Microsoft laid off over 2,500 employees.

Thanks for being here! Before we part ways, here’s a wild story: A man in Japan makes $80,000 a year for doing “nothing.” 

He runs a rental service where people pay him to spend time with them—whether it’s running errands or watching TV—while he keeps them (silent) company. 

What are your thoughts?

 See you next week!