25 careers for creatives

Do you love the idea of using your creativity in the workplace? Whether you prefer to express yourself through words, design, film or beauty services, there are plenty of different careers that will take you in a creative direction.

In this article, we take a look at some different creative careers, provide a list of creative jobs, and outline some of the qualifications and skills you’ll need to succeed. If creativity is in your blood, this article will help you find a career that pays you to do what you’re passionate about.

What are creative careers?

Creative careers cover a wide range of professions, each requiring their own unique skills. However, there’s one thing they all have in common: they all involve innovative thinking and imagination. Creative careers all need you to be able to think ‘outside the box’, come up with inventive solutions to problems, and bring new ideas to life.

Career paths you can take as a creative

When considering the best creative job for you, start by identifying what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing. It’s also important to consider what types of creative jobs are most in demand for full-time work and which ones are more suited as a side hustle. Here are some of the most popular creative career paths out there.

1. Freelance creative

A freelance creative is someone who is self-employed, meaning they are their own boss and work with clients that they choose. They can work on a wide variety of projects, from short one-off jobs or long-term, ongoing contracts. The most common creative freelance fields include: writing, graphic design, web design, and video editing. However, freelancing can be a viable career path for anyone with marketable skills.

Here are some of the pros and cons of working as a freelancer:

Pros:

• Flexibility over work hours and location
• Freedom to choose the projects you work on
• Variety of work and clients
• Control over your income by taking more projects or raising rates
• Opportunities to collaborate with businesses anywhere

Cons:

• Finding consistent work
• Unpredictable income
• Requires strong self-management skills
• Isolation, especially if you don’t have a strong network
• No professional support for growth and development

Important skills for a freelance creative

• Communication skills: whether it’s pitching or discussing a brief, being able to clearly communicate your thoughts is essential for freelancers.
• Time-management skills: managing deadlines is crucial, especially if you’re working on multiple projects. Good time-management skills help ensure you meet all your commitments.
• Adaptability: being open and flexible to changing deadlines or projects is vital. Adaptability helps you handle unexpected challenges effectively.
• Networking: building a strong network is key to freelancing. Knowing how to identify opportunities and market yourself to potential clients is important for sustained success.

2. In-house creative

An in-house creative works as a permanent staff member for an employer. They may be employed on a part-time or full-time basis and use their skills to create whatever their role dictates, as outlined by their employer. This can include working on projects for their employer’s business or for different clients if working at an agency.

Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

• Stability with regular working hours and income
• Professional development and support
• Work in a collaborative environment within a team
• Opportunities for career progression
• Structured work environment

Cons:

• Limited creative control
• Must adhere to company policies
• Limited flexibility around working hours and location
• Usually working in a structured role with limited variety of duties and projects
• No control over deadlines or timeframes
• No choice of who you get to work with

Important skills for employed creatives

• Problem solving: in-house creatives may need to overcome challenges like conflicting deadlines or limited resources.
• Conflict-resolution skills: the ability to work within a team and resolve conflicts as they arise is essential for the overall success of projects and to maintain a positive work culture.
• Attention to detail: paying attention to the finer details is an important skill for in-house creatives. This ensures high-quality outputs that meet client expectations.
• Communication skills: being able to communicate effectively with team members, managers, and clients is important for collaboration and project

3. Creative side hustle

A creative side hustle is a job you do in addition to your primary job or studies to earn extra income. It includes making and selling your own products, writing, hair styling, photography and illustration. While it can be challenging to balance your commitments with a creative side hustle, if you have the time, it’s a great creative outlet that also supplements your income.

Pros:

• Maintain a creative practice alongside a regular work
• Turn your creative skills into a source of additional income
• Explore a creative career path before fully committing
• Develop and expand on your creative skills
• Expand your professional network

Cons:

• Added stress through increasing your workload
• May require marketing efforts to attract customers
• May impact your primary work if not managed well
• Reduced work-life balance

Best careers for creatives

There’s a range of high-paying creative jobs that allow you to use your skills and experience. Here are some of the best creative jobs across a range of industries, to give you inspiration for your own creative career path.

Beauty careers

1. Massage therapist

Massage therapists offer treatments like Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, reflexology, and aromatherapy to help customers relax and reduce pain or stress. This profession plays a key role in improving customer’s physical and mental well-being, making it both rewarding and fulfilling.

To become a massage therapist, you’ll need formal qualifications like a TESDA-accredited Massage Therapy course or similar programs. Professional massage therapists are required to pass a licensure examination from the DOH.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php25,000

2. Makeup artist

Makeup artistry covers a broad range of careers that involves applying cosmetics, and sometimes prosthetics, to change the way people look. Using their creative eye skills, makeup artists might find a niche in bridal or formal makeup, stage makeup, or special effects makeup for movies and more.

Aspiring makeup artists can get training through short courses and workshops. A qualification is not always required but will help you break into the industry with solid foundational skills.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php20,000

Photography and videography careers

3. Photographer

Photography is a popular career path for creatives, offering a wide range of opportunities for freelancers. Niche areas include wedding and family photography, film and TV stills photography, travel and wildlife photography, corporate and events photography and more.

There aren’t any mandatory qualifications needed to be a professional photographer, but a degree in photography, fine arts, or multimedia courses will build your skill set and expand your network.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php25,000

4. Videographer

Videographers capture video footage, whether for weddings and events, marketing purposes, TV and movies, or even real estate listings. They can work on a TV production as a camera operator or work on movies to eventually become a director of photography. They use their creative skills to frame shots, position cameras and lighting, and make sure there’s enough footage for the editor and director to use later on.

You don’t need a formal qualification to become a videographer, but studies in media arts and production will help build your skill set and credibility.

Average monthly salary: Php25,000

5. Photo editor

Photo editors review, select and edit photos to meet the needs of the project or job. While they usually don’t take the photos, they use their creative eye to enhance photos and provide the best imagery, which may be used in magazines, for ad campaigns for social media and more.

A portfolio and testimonials will be useful in gaining photo editing jobs, but taking a course in media, photography or visual arts can help you get the technical skills you need.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php22,000

6. Film producer

Film producers are project managers for movies. They’re responsible for overseeing the entire production, from the budgeting and planning stages to the marketing and distribution of the film after it’s complete. While the director of the film usually makes all the creative decisions on set, a producer keeps the production on track.

Studying a degree in media arts and production is a good first step to a career in film production, providing technical knowledge and valuable networking opportunities.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php80,000

7. Video editor

Video editors use creativity to transform raw video footage into finished products, whether that’s movies, TV shows, wedding videos, social media clips or TV ads. They need technical skills and creative abilities to use editing tools to smoothly edit together footage to a storyboard, then add any sound, visual effects and graphics.

A diploma or a degree in multimedia production, film, or mass communication can be a great way to start your career in this field, helping you develop the skills you need.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php28,000

H3: Design careers

8. Art director

Art directors are senior creatives who oversee the design and creation of different projects: TV, film, stage productions, ads, video games and more. As the director, they are in charge of coming up with a concept (or approving one), choosing the artists, guiding the creative work, then signing off on the final designs.

Most designers and art directors have a degree or diploma, where they learn design fundamentals as well as technical skills. Someone at art director level usually has several years of experience as a graphic designer or illustrator.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php48,000

9. Graphic design

Graphic designers turn their love for drawing and painting into a career by creating posters, ads, magazines, books, company logos, branding, and various marketing materials . A high level of creativity is needed to come up with unique design concepts, balanced by functionality and commercial appeal.

Graphic design can be a high-paying job for creative people which doesn’t require a degree. Although, the more skilled you are, the safer you will be from developments in AI. A degree in fine arts, multimedia arts can help you build a good foundation in visual communication.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php25,000

10. Jewelry designer

Technology has made jewelry design a more accessible career path for creatives, with software allowing designers to visualise designs before production and online platforms for marketing and selling products. Beyond gemstones and precious metals, today’s jewelry designers can work with resin, leather, stone, and other natural materials, showcasing their creativity. Jewelry designers can work for a business, as freelancers, or as independent designers with their own brands.

Jewelry design short courses can give you the foundational skills you need to launch your career.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php18,000

11. Web designer

Website design is a career path that seems set to be in demand for the foreseeable future. They create the look and feel of websites, including the overall design of the user interface and the entire layout of the website. They don’t usually code, but they do need in-depth knowledge of how websites work and what makes a good user experience – as well as digital design principles.

A Bachelor degree in IT or a certificate course in web development and design can give you all the practical skills you need to use your creativity to help businesses design a website that properly reflects their brand and values.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php30,000

12. UX designer

User experience (UX) designers are similar to web designers, but focus more on making a website, app, or software easy to use. They think about design from the perspective of guiding users to perform specific actions, like making a purchase or booking. UX designers need the creativity of a designer coupled with analytical and problem-solving skills.

There are no formal diplomas and courses for UX design. However, you can always complete a bachelor degree in ITor a certificate course in User Experience Design.

Average monthly salary: Php45,000

13. Fashion designer

Fashion design is one of the more glamorous creative industries, but it is highly competitive and difficult to break into. Depending on your niche, you might find a permanent position at a large clothing brand or be an independent designer with your own fashion label. You need a creative mind to come up with ideas for new designs, combined with knowledge of fashion trends, consumer behavior, and the garment manufacturing process.

There are no minimum qualification requirements for fashion designers but a bachelor’s degree in fashion design, fashion technology or taking short courses in the same field will give you practical and technical skills.

Average monthly salary: Php27,000

14. Animator

Animation is another industry that has expanded thanks to technological advancements and cultural shifts. You could be an animator working on original films or in an ad or creative agency, working on different client campaigns. Animation includes more than just ‘cartoons’; it covers any type of motion graphics like moving logos, video transitions, 2D and 3D model making, movie CGI, and more.

While you don’t need a qualification, a bachelor degree in animation, film or design will help you learn the right technical skills and animation principles.

Average monthly salary: Php27,000

Music careers

15. Music producer

Music producers oversee and direct the recording of music, helping artists develop songs and lyrics, adapting arrangements, and coaching artists on producing better sounds. They also create music for radio, TV, movies, in-house for larger companies, and as an independent artist composing original music. If you love music, becoming a producer allows you to be creative and work on a range of different projects with different people.

While there aren’t any specific qualifications, it’s essential to master an instrument or several and be proficient in music production and sound recording equipment. A related diploma or degree can help with the technical side of things.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php90,000

16. Music teacher

Music teachers can work in schools, colleges, or camps or tutor students through an agency or on a freelance basis. They need knowledge of music theory, the ability to read sheet music, and play an instrument.

To teach in a Philippine school, you need a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a teaching license from the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).

Average monthly salary: starts from Php25,000

Arts and crafts careers

17. Visual artist (painter)

A visual artist has many different career paths, such as producing art for galleries, painting murals, selling artwork or creations, taking commissions for custom pieces, and more. Artists have the freedom to choose the art they like to create, whether that’s painting, working with textiles, sculpting or wherever their creative passions lead.

While a Visual Arts Degree may help you refine or learn new skills, you don’t need a degree to become a visual artist. Learning how to market yourself and your work are crucial to your success.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php30,000

18. Illustrator

Illustrators are professional drawers who create all types of hand-drawn graphics for commercial purposes. They might create illustrations for books or websites, infographics or diagrams for textbooks, or digital designs for video games. Illustrators can work in traditional media, using a computer, or a mix of both.

You don’t need any qualifications but a degree or a certificate in Visual Arts or Design will help fastrack your career.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php25,000

19. Online craft seller

Online craft sellers make their own creations and sell them through established e-commerce platforms like Etsy, social media pages, or their own website. This role is often pursued as a side-hustle to earn additional income. Selling crafts online can be a good way to enjoy a hobby while offsetting the costs associated with it.

Arts and crafts you can sell online include: knitted or crocheted goods, needlecraft patterns, woodwork products, original paintings, t-shirt designs, prints, dolls, miniatures, and more.

Average monthly salary: depends on your product and how much you sell

20. Ceramic artist

Ceramic artists work with clay, porcelain, bone china and stoneware to make products like cups, plates, bowls and original artworks. They can be employed by a company to produce or design products or work independently. This career suits those who enjoy hands-on crafting.

A degree or certificate in Material Arts & Design or similar will help you hone your skills.

Average monthly salary: Can vary depending on work arrangement

Creative writing careers

21. Copywriter

Copywriters work across almost all industries, filling in-house, at agencies, or as freelancers. They write content for marketing purposes, including ad campaigns, websites, product packaging, and more. Copywriters need to develop concepts and write engaging copy based on client briefs.

Completing a degree or certificate in journalism, communications, or writing is the minimum to start working in a large company or creative agency.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php30,000

22. Ghostwriter

A ghostwriter writes stories on behalf of another person who takes credit for the work. While ghostwriters don’t create stories, they use their creative skills to bring the storyteller’s voice to life through the written word. They have the ability to bring structure and meaning to disconnected thoughts to create a cohesive story.

A Bachelor’s Degree in Communications or Literature can help you enhance your technical language skills as knowledge of storytelling techniques and English grammar is essential.

Average monthly salary: can vary depending on work arrangement

23. Social media marketer

Social media marketers create strategies and outline content to be used on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. They may work freelance, for an agency, or directly for a business. Their job involves planning what to post to drive visibility and engagement, using their creative skills to come up with new and unique ideas to get their audience’s attention.

While a degree in Marketing will help you learn the basics of marketing, there is no minimum requirement to become a social media marketer. Online courses and certificates are available for social media marketing that can help you learn more in-depth skills and stand out from other applicants.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php32,000

24. Journalist

Journalists write about events, issues, and trends for newspapers, magazines, journals, and digital media platforms. They investigate stories, gather information through interview and field reporting, and use their creative writing skills to present these stories through articles, podcasts, or documentaries.

To become a journalist, you’ll need at least a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, mass communication, communication arts or similar fields.

Average monthly salary: starts from Php32,000

25. Author

Authors write books, whether print or digital, covering all genres and formats, including kids’ books, cookbooks, self-help guides, literature, and textbooks. With the rise of the internet, self-publishing has become more accessible, giving authors more opportunities. Being a successful author takes creativity, time management, and strong marketing skills. However, earning a full-time living as an author can be challenging, making it a viable side hustle for many.

While there are no required qualifications, writing courses can help you tell your stories in an engaging way that appeals to your audience and digital marketing courses can help promote your books.

Average monthly salary: depends on book sales and publishing contracts

As you can see, there are so many places your creative skills can take you. Whether you love to write, create art, are great at coming up with out-of-the-box ideas, or love the digital side of creativity, following your passion will lead to a fulfilling career.

For more inspiration, be sure to check out job boards like jobstreet.com.ph, or companies you may like to work for in the future. With dedication and your creative skillset, you can explore a range of career paths that offer fulfilling creative work.

FAQs

1. What jobs allow you to be creative?

There are many different jobs that allow you to be creative, including:

• copywriting,
• graphic design,
• makeup artistry,
• social media marketing, and
• animation.

These are just a few examples, with plenty of other careers to explore.

2. What is the most high paying creative job?

Freelance creative jobs such as copywriter, graphic designer and illustrator are some of the highest paid creative roles. Successful authors and film producers also enjoy some of the highest paying positions.

3. How do I start a creative job?

A good way to start a creative career is by studying a relevant degree to learn the skills and knowledge. Building a strong portfolio and gaining practical work experience will also help you get creative jobs.

4. How do I get a creative job with no experience?

If you’re new to the field, look for internships or unpaid work experience to gain basic skills and to start building your portfolio. Networking and enrolling in courses or utilizing free educational resources can also be beneficial.

5. How do I switch to a creative field?

To transition into a creative field, consider where your existing skills could be transferable into a creative job. Further education can provide valuable experience and skills, and networking can help you connect with the right people in the industry.