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Careers›Roles›Automotive Artist
Mid-Level

Automotive Artist

Cars as subject and canvas: you render concepts, paint custom designs, or illustrate vehicles with an eye that blends artistic skill and real mechanical knowledge. Art that has to get the machine right.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
A
R
I
E
C
S
Artisticcreative, expressive
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Automotive Artists
ConstructionEntertainment & Media · 47%Technology & Information · 23%Professional Services · 11%Education · 6%Manufacturing · 5%
Job markets for Automotive Artists
Employment concentration · ~33 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Arts & Media
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Automotive Artist

Work might be concept renderings, custom paint, technical illustration, or fine art, usually project-based and to a client's vision. You balance creative flow with the practical demands of a brief. Getting the proportions and details right is the craft, since enthusiasts notice instantly, and the work is critiqued and revised openly.

What surprises people is how much is commercial, not pure art: clients, deadlines, and revisions shape the work. Income and stability swing between staff and freelance, software and technique fluency must stay current, and the best idea isn't always the one chosen. Feedback can be blunt.

It fits someone artistic, mechanically curious, and resilient to critique. If you need full creative control or steady pay, the freelance reality can chafe. But if there's deep satisfaction in capturing a machine you love, and seeing your work admired by people who know cars, the work can be genuinely rewarding.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
RelationshipsModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$121K+90%
Energy & Utilities$114K+80%
Professional Services$113K+77%
Financial Services$98K+54%
Wholesale & Distribution$89K+40%
Compared to Arts & Media average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Automotive Artists (SOC 27-1013.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Arts & Media →
Automotive ArtistUndraped Artist ModelConcept ArtistTechnical IllustratorCommercial ArtistStained Glass ArtistCartoon ArtistMotion Pictures CartoonistGlass ArtistBlacksmithCard PainterBalloon ArtistCrayon PainterBook IllustratorComic IllustratorConcrete SculptorComic Book DesignerCommercial RetoucherCommercial Illustrator3D Artist (Three Dimensional Artist)
Exploring the Automotive Artist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$26K–$141K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
10K
U.S. Employment
-1.2%
10yr Growth
2K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$68K$65K$62K$59K$57K201920202021202220232024$57K$68K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active LearningCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionTime ManagementComplex Problem SolvingSocial PerceptivenessWriting
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
27-1013.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midUndraped Artist Model$90KmidConcept Artist$80KmidTechnical Illustrator$63KmidCommercial Artist$61KmidStained Glass Artist$70KmidCartoon Artist$80K
View all Arts & Media roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.