工作内容
工艺家和美术家同是艺术家，主要是通过借用不同种类的材料和技术加入个人理念和感情来创作艺术作品并在工作室、互联网、商店、美术馆或博物馆进行展销。工艺作品大多以手工为主，包括：陶器、玻璃器皿、纺织品等功能型作品；美术家包括画家、雕塑家、插画家，主要以创造原创作品以达到美学功效为目的。*(5)
●职责要求
灵活掌握专业技术应用
丰富的创造性思维
开发思维模式
材料的选取
作品制作
艺术加工*(5)
工作环境
艺术家大多以兼职为主。除大部分的艺术家是自雇经营外，其他即进入私企或政府工作。工艺家可任职私企、博物馆等机构从事玻璃粘土等手工艺制品；美术家大多任职报社、杂志社、出版社、学校等行业；其他艺术家多在联邦政府、影视公司或广告公关公司工作。大部分艺术家都有自己独立的工作室（仓库、办公楼、阁楼、家）。工作室的选择通常需考虑具充足的光线和良好的通风，以便作品中胶水、涂料、墨水可尽快风干，并保持工作室的干净整洁。以美国为例，美国雇佣最多工艺美术家职业的行业如下：*(6)
|
| 行业 | 百分比% |
| Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries | 艺体相关行业 | 10 |
| Federal government | 联邦政府 | 8 |
| Motion picture and video industries | 影视业 | 5 |
| Manufacturing | 制造业 | 4 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 教育行业 | 3 |
入行门槛
工艺美术家（Craft and fine artists）（医学绘图师、教师除外）不限专业要求，只需高中毕业即可，只要掌握基本的技术，如：绘画、缝纫即可；但很多工艺美术家为了职业规划并提高专业技能仍需本科及以上学位。以美国为例，就艺术专业有很多独立学院提供高中后教育，学生可进一步完成本科及以上学历要求。
2011年，全国艺术设计学校协会（The National Association of Schools of Art and Design, NASAD）为全美300多所职业学校、大学和独立院校开设的艺术设计专业提供认证，大部分院校都提供艺术专业学位文凭。欲攻读平面设计专业的学生，最好选择被该协会认证的学校。
医学绘图师要求较高，需掌握生物机体、外科医疗手术、人体与生物体解剖等专业知识。通常需本科及以上学位要求，包括艺术与医学预科课程。但，大部分的医学绘图师需获得硕士学位，以美国为例，共4所大学或许认证。
任职公立中学的教师除具备本科学位外，还需具备教师资格证；想要从事管理职岗位的学生还需掌握相关管理知识。
刚毕业的学生在公司从事专业岗位前需进行长期培训或实习方可上岗。
技术要求
- 专业能力（Artistic ability）
- 创造力（Creativity）
- 服务技能（Customer-service skills）
- 人际交往能力（Interpersonal skills）
- 手的灵巧度（Manual dexterity）
- 市场销售能力（Sales and marketing skills）*(4)
就业展望与薪资
工艺美术家薪资水平极不平衡，薪资最低（10%工艺美术家）薪资$9.1/h，薪资最高（10%）薪资$44.04/h。工艺美术家薪资水平极不平衡，薪资最低（10%工艺美术家）薪资$9.1/h，薪资最高（10%）薪资$44.04/h。以美国为例，按照美国劳工统计局公布的数据，美国全行业就业人数增加了14%，艺术家相比增加了8%，工艺家略低，增加了7%，美术与工艺家只增加了5%，远低于行业平均水平。
未来十年预见，多媒体计算机应用中的图片和背景设计急需插画家；传统的出版业已渐失去其竞争优势，但新兴的电子杂志和互联网出版业正蓄势待发。
随着更多优秀的人才多于职业需求，工艺与美术家职业竞争力将日趋激烈。只有那些创造力丰富独特、专业技能卓越的艺术家才有可能站稳脚跟。*(7)
2015年
- 工艺家
美国从业人数最多州（前五）：
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Texas | 510 | 0.04 | 1.16 | $15.52 | $32,290 |
| New York | 440 | 0.05 | 1.28 | $20.38 | $42,390 |
| California | 370 | 0.02 | 0.63 | $23.83 | $49,560.00 |
| Ohio | 370 | 0.07 | 1.82 | $14.08 | $29,280 |
| Illinois | 290 | 0.05 | 1.31 | $22.03 | $45,830.00 |
*(1)
美国产业最集中州（前五）：
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Wyoming | 50 | 0.18 | 4.78 | $12.36 | $25,720 |
| New Mexico | 70 | 0.09 | 2.23 | $14.07 | $29,270 |
| Idaho | 60 | 0.09 | 2.28 | $15.53 | $32,300.00 |
| Hawaii | 50 | 0.08 | 1.99 | $25.92 | $53,910 |
| Ohio | 370 | 0.07 | 1.82 | $14.08 | $29,280.00 |
*(1)
美国从业人数最多都会区：
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 280 | 0.04 | 1.15 | $23.03 | $47,910 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 270 | 0.08 | 2 | $22.30 | $46,390 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 170 | 0.06 | 1.49 | $16.86 | $35,070 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 130 | 0.15 | 3.9 | $16.65 | $34,640 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 110 | 0.04 | 1.13 | $18.10 | $37,650 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 100 | 0.05 | 1.44 | $20.91 | $43,500 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 60 | 0.03 | 0.65 | $11.15 | $23,190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 50 | 0.03 | 0.81 | $22.86 | $47,550 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 50 | 0.05 | 1.37 | $18.32 | $38,110 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 50 | 0.08 | 2.12 | $17.72 | $36,870 |
*(1)
美国产业业最集中都会区：
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 130 | 0.15 | 3.9 | $16.65 | $34,640 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 30 | 0.09 | 2.39 | - | - |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 50 | 0.08 | 2.12 | $17.72 | $36,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 270 | 0.08 | 2 | $22.30 | $46,390 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 30 | 0.07 | 1.9 | $24.25 | $50,430 |
| Silver Spring-Frederick-Rockville, MD Metropolitan Division | 30 | 0.06 | 1.59 | $20.01 | $41,610 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 170 | 0.06 | 1.49 | $16.86 | $35,070 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 100 | 0.05 | 1.44 | $20.91 | $43,500 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 40 | 0.05 | 1.2 | $18.29 | $38,050 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 50 | 0.05 | 1.37 | $18.32 | $38,110 |
*(1)
- 美术家
美国从业人数最多州（前五）：
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | 3,100 | 0.2 | 2.25 | $33.42 | $69,500 |
| New York | 1,310 | 0.15 | 1.65 | $35.32 | $73,470 |
| Ohio | 940 | 0.18 | 2.01 | $13.62 | $28,330.00 |
| Texas | 770 | 0.07 | 0.75 | $22.62 | $47,050 |
| North Carolina | 430 | 0.1 | 1.18 | $23.45 | $48,770.00 |
*(2)
美国产业最集中州（前五）：
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | 3,100 | 0.2 | 2.25 | $33.42 | $69,500 |
| Ohio | 940 | 0.18 | 2.01 | $13.62 | $28,330 |
| Utah | 220 | 0.17 | 1.87 | $21.72 | $45,180.00 |
| Oregon | 300 | 0.17 | 1.96 | $23.53 | $48,940 |
| New York | 1,310 | 0.15 | 1.65 | $35.32 | $73,470.00 |
*(2)
美国从业人数最多都会区：
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,390 | 0.34 | 3.81 | $37.31 | $77,600 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,040 | 0.16 | 1.81 | $31.09 | $64,670 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 350 | 0.14 | 1.57 | $21.93 | $45,620 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 300 | 0.29 | 3.25 | $10.48 | $21,790 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 280 | 0.08 | 0.88 | $25.06 | $52,130 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 260 | 0.17 | 1.91 | $35.93 | $74,740 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 220 | 0.07 | 0.84 | $16.89 | $35,120 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 210 | 0.19 | 2.19 | $25.23 | $52,490 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 210 | 0.09 | 1 | $34.40 | $71,560 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 160 | 0.1 | 1.15 | $30.69 | $63,830 |
*(2)
美国产业业最集中都会区：
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,390 | 0.34 | 3.81 | $37.31 | $77,600 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 50 | 0.31 | 3.49 | $18.98 | $39,470 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 300 | 0.29 | 3.25 | $10.48 | $21,790 |
| Madison, WI | 90 | 0.24 | 2.73 | $21.26 | $44,210 |
| Provo-Orem, UT | 40 | 0.21 | 2.39 | $15.77 | $32,810 |
| Lincoln, NE | 40 | 0.21 | 2.41 | $17.73 | $36,870 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 210 | 0.19 | 2.19 | $25.23 | $52,490 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 260 | 0.17 | 1.91 | $35.93 | $74,740 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,040 | 0.16 | 1.81 | $31.09 | $64,670 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 140 | 0.16 | 1.75 | $14.81 | $30,800 |
*(2)
注：
(1) Location quotient ：产业集中指数，其数值是该州该产业的从业人数的比重与全美平均水准的比值，大于1代表该州该职业每千人从业人数比例高于全美平均水平，反之，小于1则代表其低于全美平均水平。公式：（Employment per thousand jobs）/[Σ（Employment per thousand jobs）/50]
(2) 以上四表均是2015年5月美国劳工统计局公布的数据。
2012年
工艺美术家从业人数最多州*(1)(2)
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | 640 | 0.04 | 1.2 | $26.53 | $55,190 |
| Texas | 340 | 0.03 | 0.87 | $13.34 | $27,750 |
| Florida | 310 | 0.04 | 1.14 | $14.60 | $30,370 |
| Illinois | 250 | 0.04 | 1.21 | $20.69 | $43,030 |
| Pennsylvania | 230 | 0.04 | 1.11 | $12.78 | $26,590 |
| California | 4,100 | 0.29 | 2.99 | $31.57 | $65,670 |
| New York | 1,280 | 0.15 | 1.57 | $32.02 | $66,600 |
| Florida | 880 | 0.12 | 1.27 | $15.62 | $32,490 |
| Washington | 590 | 0.21 | 2.21 | $33.57 | $69,830 |
| Illinois | 400 | 0.07 | 0.73 | $23.75 | $49,400 |
工艺美术家产业集中州 *(1)(2)
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | 4,100 | 0.29 | 2.99 | $31.57 | $65,670 |
| Washington | 590 | 0.21 | 2.21 | $33.57 | $69,830 |
| Utah | 190 | 0.16 | 1.68 | $18.75 | $39,000 |
| New York | 1,280 | 0.15 | 1.57 | $32.02 | $66,600 |
| Connecticut | 220 | 0.14 | 1.45 | $27.30 | $56,790 |
| Wyoming | 60 | 0.22 | 5.92 | $15.33 | $31,880 |
| Nevada | 170 | 0.15 | 4.1 | $18.98 | $39,480 |
| Maine | 70 | 0.12 | 3.33 | $13.59 | $28,260 |
| Alaska | 40 | 0.11 | 3.07 | $18.86 | $39,240 |
| South Dakota | 40 | 0.1 | 2.8 | $15.76 | $32,770 |
注：Location quotient：产业集中指数，其数值是该州该产业的从业人数的比重与全美平均水准的比值，大于1代表该州该职业每千人从业人数比例高于全美平均水平，反之，小于1则代表其低于全美平均水平。公式：（Employment per thousand jobs）/[Σ（Employment per thousand jobs）/50]
参考资料
(1) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-1012 Craft Artists U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(2) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-1013 Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(3) Craft and Fine Artists, Summary U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(4) Craft and Fine Artists, How to Become One U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(5) Craft and Fine Artists, What They Do U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(6) Craft and Fine Artists, Work Environment U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(7) Craft and Fine Artists, Job Outlook U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics