Creators
Artists & Innovators
Make it up as you go.
Design the world with a job as a creator. Apply your creativity to any category. You can design virtual worlds, video games, sneakers, costumes, or cars. Write books, screenplays, recipes, or commercials. Or turn your talents into NFT art. Put your imagination to work to make the world a better place.
As a creator, you can bring your visions to life.
Get Creative
“There are so many ways to be creative.” Zendaya offers advice to kids who want to be actors and filmmakers.
Featured Content
Adam Silvera: Inspired by Stories
Adam Silvera writes novels for young adults. Many of his books have become best-sellers.
Becoming a Sneaker Designer
Sneaker designer Cheresse Thornhill-Goldson works to inspire other women of color to pursue a career in the athletic footwear industry.
What Was Your Path? with Trevor Stuurman
Photographer Trevor Stuurman shares his journey as a visual artist.
Jobs at a Glance
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Author
Author
Creators
Authors and writers develop content for media, such as ads, blogs, books, and magazines, and scripts for movies, plays, and TV shows.
- Median (Middle) Salary:$73,690
- You Should Study:English
- Job Growth Rate by 2033:5%
- This Job Is:
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DJ
DJ
Creators
Disc jockeys (DJs) act as masters of ceremonies (emcees) or play recorded music at weddings, parties, concerts, and other events.
- Median (Middle) Salary:$48,060
- You Should Study:Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs
- Job Growth Rate by 2033:0%
- This Job Is:
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Film and Video Editor
Film and Video Editor
Creators
Film and video editors manipulate moving images. They arrange footage shot by camera operators and collaborate with producers and directors.
- Median (Middle) Salary:$65,070
- You Should Study:Art, Design, Computer Science
- Job Growth Rate by 2033:3%
- This Job Is:
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Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer
Creators
Graphic designers create art using a computer or by hand. Their goal is to communicate ideas and get people's attention. They design ads, books, magazines, reports, and other things.
- Median (Middle) Salary:$58,910
- You Should Study:Art, Graphic Design, Computer Science
- Job Growth Rate by 2033:2%
- This Job Is:
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Producer and Director
Producer and Director
Creators
Producers and directors make business and creative decisions about film, television, stage, and other productions. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain, inform, or instruct an audience.
- Median (Middle) Salary:$82,510
- You Should Study:Film, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs
- Job Growth Rate by 2033:8%
- This Job Is:
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Singer and Musician
Singer and Musician
Creators
Musicians and singers play instruments or sing for live audiences and in recording studios.
- Median (Middle) Salary:$78,280
- You Should Study:Music
- Job Growth Rate by 2033:2%
- This Job Is:
Related Content
Get Creative
“There are so many ways to be creative.” Zendaya offers advice to kids who want to be actors and filmmakers.
Musically Minded
“I love the energy. It’s kind of indescribable.” Meghann Zervoulis Bate is music director, conductor, and keyboard player for Six, on Broadway.
Sweet Pivot
Adam Kaiser left a job in environmental consulting to work with chocolate: “Cocoa butter is such an interesting material. It’s polymorphic, which is something that we talk about a lot in geology.”
Brave Illustration
Illustrator Cátia Chien’s book Fireworks won the Caldecott Medal, an award given annually to the most distinguished picture book for kids.
Get Animated
“Follow your heart. Tell the stories that are true to you.” Meet Aaron Horvath, who codirected The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Parade Pro
“You don't have to know how to do everything, but you should understand how everything works.” Meet a parade producer.
Movie Magic
Oscar-winning hair, makeup, and prosthetics artist Frances Hannon created colorful looks for both Wicked films.
The Power of Play
Meet Laila Lockhart Kraner and learn about her work acting as a beloved “cat-tastic” character in a major motion picture.
Real Talk with Mary Pope Osborne
“No two days in my life have ever been the same.” Meet author Mary Pope Osborne, who writes books for kids.
Epic Hospitality
Culinary professionals who work at theme parks create food and drinks that help immerse guests in the overall experience.
Real Talk with Derry Noyes
Derry Noyes is an art director for the United States Postal Service. Learn how she designs postage stamps from start to finish.
His Own Style
“I had no idea that I was creating a method or an approach to styling hair. I was just creating a means to an end, which was, I wanted to be able to braid my hair.”
Music Man
“I’ve always loved music. It’s so central to how people identify themselves, create community, and mark special occasions.”
Minecraft Moment
Meet a young actor who’s about to appear in his first starring role in a Hollywood film.
Reporter’s Log
TFK Kid Reporter Evelyn Peng speaks with trailblazing journalist Connie Chung about her career and the challenges she's had to overcome.
Talking Toons
“You’re still acting, even though it’s silly cartoon voices. You still have to make the audience care for these characters.”
Real Talk with Mike Gunton
"I think audiences want to be surprised. They want to see new things."
Making It Up
Danessa Myricks took an unconventional route to the beauty industry. Now she runs her own makeup brand.
Real Talk with Jackie Bae
“You can derive inspiration from anywhere. So always be curious. Read a lot of books. Draw every day, even if it’s just a little.”
Real Talk with Carrie Giordano
As a kid, Carrie Giordano was never without her camera. Now she’s a professional sports photographer.
Real Talk with Kwame Onwuachi
“Food is a connective tissue for cultures around the world. You can cross an ocean on a plate.”
World of Books
TFK Kid Reporter Abhijay Potluri visited the Barefoot Books office, in Concord, Massachusetts, to learn about children’s book publishing.
Mychal Threets: Library Joy
Mychal Threets is a librarian who has more than 2 million followers on social media.
Jonathon Heyward on Classical Music
Jonathon Heyward fell in love with classical music at age 10. Now he's a conductor for three major orchestras.
Prince Gyasi: Finding Your Style
Prince Gyasi is a visual artist. His work combines painting and photography.
Drawing Up Creativity
“I was lucky because I had an adult in my life who saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. Now I have an amazing, awesome job doing what I love.”
Getting Into Character
“When I was 10 years old, I watched women who were ventriloquists and puppeteers. When I saw them tell stories with their puppets and bring them to life, my imagination ran wild!”
Into the Kitchen
“I get to hang out with my grandmother. I get to make videos of food, which means I get to eat the food. It’s such an amazing thing.”
Twists and Turns
“My job has been about relationships. I got to learn a lot by getting everyone’s input.”
Counter Culture
TFK Kid Reporter Harper Carroll asks pastry chef Joanne Chang about starting and running a successful string of bakeries.
Seriously Funny
“People told me I had to choose one or the other, and I said, ‘No, I love them both.’ If you like multiple things, there are ways to combine them all. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.”
Real Talk with Constance Hoffman
“I love that there’s always a sense of discovery, even if I'm doing a production for the third time. It's always new, and it allows me to keep learning.”
Real Talk with Maria Houle
“We need to change the view that construction management is a blue-collar job. It is a professional business. And we need more women in it.”
Real Talk with Justina Miles
“I grew up watching family members perform at various places, and ended up joining them, as well as participating in dance programs myself. I pursued every opportunity where I could be onstage to radiate my energy.”
Real Talk with Dr. Maya
“It’s very much a passion. But it’s also a desire for knowledge. The quest for knowledge about food is so incredibly intriguing that I could research the ins and outs of ice cream all day.”
Gary Yin: Creating Cuisine
Gary Yin is the executive chef at his family's restaurant, King's Joy, in Beijing, China.
Healthy Appetite
“It’s a great feeling to know my work is helping people live healthier lives,” Ellie Krieger says. “I am making a difference in the world.”
Adam Silvera: Inspired by Stories
Adam Silvera writes novels for young adults. Many of his books have become best-sellers.
Fusing the Future
Welder Drew Masciotti is putting his skills to good use. He’s helping create huge monopiles that will allow wind turbines to harness clean energy.
Creative Writing with Celeste Ng
Best-selling author Celeste Ng goes through her writing process and what tips and tricks have worked for her.
Amy Sherald: Painting History
Amy Sherald is an artist. She is the first Black woman to paint an official First Lady portrait.
Young Jean Lee: Playing Her Part
Young Jean Lee is a playwright. She is the first Asian-American woman to write a play produced on Broadway.
Check It Out: Art Books, Movies, and Podcasts
If you’re interested in a creative career, this list of things to read, watch, and listen to should give you some ideas.
Selena Gomez: Influencing the World
Selena Gomez is a singer, songwriter, and actor. She was the first person to reach 100 million followers on Instagram.
5 Questions for a Game Developer
Your 🔥 Job asked video-game developer and entrepreneur Mitu Khandaker five questions about her cool career.
Becoming a Sneaker Designer
Sneaker designer Cheresse Thornhill-Goldson works to inspire other women of color to pursue a career in the athletic footwear industry.
Michelle Phan: Building a Business
Michelle Phan is a beauty YouTuber. She was the first woman to build a $500 million company from a web series.
Micah Johnson: From Athlete to Artist
Former professional baseball player Micah Johnson says he "traded in his baseball bat for a paintbrush."
My Chat with Kwame Mbalia
Middle-grade author Kwame Mbalia speaks to TIME Kid of the Year and TFK Kid Reporter Orion Jean.
Algorithm Artists
Robots and cutting-edge tech are helping artists come up with new ideas and produce surprising artworks.
Jon Batiste: Growing Up with Music
Musician, actor, producer, and composer Jon Batiste shares how music was present during his childhood.
Storytime
Award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Grace Lin creates books inspired by her life and family.
Insects Up Close
Artists don’t just create beautiful work. Some lend their voices to important causes, like conservation.
View from Above
Freelance drone operator Nikolai Zychowicz takes photos and makes videos that are used on social media, in commercials, and in movies.
When Did You Know? with Akwaeke Emezi
Author Akwaeke Emezi talks about how they knew that they wanted to be a writer.
What Inspired You? with Mindy Kaling
Actor and writer Mindy Kaling discusses why she started her own production company.
Sian-Pierre Regis, Storyteller
Sian-Pierre Regis’s job is sharing other people’s stories with the world. In this video, he has the chance to share his own.
What Was Your Path? with Trevor Stuurman
Photographer Trevor Stuurman shares his journey as a visual artist.
Sketching in Court
Courtroom sketch artists balance accuracy and speed. They witness historic moments and dramatic testimonials.
Impossible Music
Many musicians are excited about the endless possibilities of combining music and artificial intelligence, or AI.
Real Talk with Jason Reynolds
“When I was a kid, there was no such thing as an author visit. I never knew that I could grow up to be an author.”
A Way with Words
“Write a poem that is worthy of a new chapter in the country. Write something that is brave enough to be hopeful.”
Work Week: Podcast Producer
Christie Taylor, a producer for the radio show and podcast Science Friday, shares how she takes a story from idea to air.
Get in the Game
Andy Agostini and Clint Oldenburg, of EA Sports, manage teams of video-game programmers, designers, and artists.
Off the Charts
Thanks to streaming and social media, musicians are finding fans without support from the music industry.
José Andrés, Space Chef
“I love science fiction, and I always had dreams of what it would be like cooking for a faraway planet.”
Fashion Forward
Many say the fashion industry has been slow to make accessible clothing. Some people are working to change that.
A Closer Look
Some stories are told without words. Photojournalists are reporters who use a camera to capture a story in photographs.
Sharing Stories
Writers contribute to all sorts of engaging projects, from the video games we play to the songs we listen to.
Lightning Strikes
Playwright Joe Tracz adapted Rick Riordan’s best-selling children’s book The Lightning Thief for Broadway.
In the Spotlight
Award-winning costume designer Catherine Zuber gives careful attention to every outfit in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
NFT Artists on the Rise
Artists of all kinds—authors, musicians, filmmakers—are embracing the NFT, or non-fungible token, craze.
