I am going to an art school and I don't know what to major in that will give me a job. I am thinking about settling to be an art teacher. I would prefer to be a professor, but I have no clue how much they make. I will have to get a masters and I want to know that it will be worth all that time in school. I have asked one of my professors through email after the semester was over and he never told me. I'm afraid to ask any of my art professors, I know it is rude but I really want to know.


Does anyone know ho much an art teacher or professor makes a year?

Do searches for various kinds of art careers (including salary, job skills needed, environment, training and education, etc.) in this nifty government book that comes out every two years:

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition

Actually you will need your PhD,

And no, don't dare hurt students by "settling" to be a teacher. We have too many poor teachers who settled and do not want to be a teacher. Unless you have a love and desire to be one you have no need being one.

For example in our local high school teachers make about 25,000 to 30,000 a year. I have a old high school friend who was a college teacher in history and he makes about 60,000.
But it will all differ if you live in NY or south GA or if you are in a JR state college or a Ivy League private school

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

Actually you will need your PhD,

And no, don't dare hurt students by "settling" to be a teacher. We have too many poor teachers who settled and do not want to be a teacher. Unless you have a love and desire to be one you have no need being one.

For example in our local high school teachers make about 25,000 to 30,000 a year. I have a old high school friend who was a college teacher in history and he makes about 60,000.
But it will all differ if you live in NY or south GA or if you are in a JR state college or a Ivy League private school

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I have a passion for art, not for teaching but there isn't much for me to do with just a passion for art. They only reason I would be settling is because I wanted something more hands-on. Most of my professors have their job for steady pay, and create pieces in the mean time. I think their passion in art is all it takes to be a professor.

I think everything you said is true for an academic teacher. But I don't see how you could possibly be a bad art teacher. An art teachers (a studio art professor) makes much less than academic teachers unless they are teaching art history. My drawing professor complained that he earned a masters but still makes as much as a manager at a gas station.

I am a ceramics professor at a private institution, and to correct the Friar, you do not need your PhD. In fact, unless you plan to teach Art History, you cannot obtain a PhD in Studio Art/Fine Art. I make $51,000 a year. Not great, but not bad.

So you're looking at a Master's and depending on what institution you attend, you can get tuition waivers, scholarships and the like. I obtained my Master's from a state university; my tuition was waived, I was granted a paid GA/TA position every year, and I took out about $31000 in loans (living comfortably) which translates to about $37000 when all is said and done.

The hard part is getting a position at an institution; for every job application you fill, know that there are potentially hundreds of other hungry candidates who have kissed the right a**es, exhibited in the right shows, etc. Your particular field will also designate the likelihood of employment ~ for example, drawing/painting/sculpture jobs are, in general, more "plentiful" than say, ceramics. However, if you are willing to study or GA/TA in other areas, your portfolio is much more appealing. While in graduate school, I taught 3 years of wheel-throwing, 1 year of 3-D Foundations, and 1 year of Art Appreciation. I have a slightly more versatile resume, which is what most collegiate art departments are looking for.

Good luck ~ and I will agree with the Friar that you should never "settle" to teach.

I will agree that you don't necessarily need your Ph.D to teach at the college or university level, particularly in areas concerning the arts. But, in getting a position at an institution of higher learning, it would help to have some type of advanced degree beyond that of the high school level. Many times, professors in the various kinds of performing or visual arts will have simply what is called a Diploma if they are from a foreign country outside of the United States.

Fr_chuck... calm yourself

I've been a high school art teacher for two years. Generally starting salary is a little over 30,000 if you are lucky enough to find full time employment.

To teach at the post-secondary level... not a phd. Unless you're in art history or art education. The terminal degree is an m.f.a. this is what you will need to be a professor. Salary ranges quite a bit and you will likely have to work as an adjunct part-time for a couple years before getting into a tenure-track positions.

Teachers are saints. Fr_chuck is not a teacher.

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Originally Posted by likegreen

fr_chuck...calm yourself

i've been a high school art teacher for two years. generally starting salary is a little over 30,000 if you are lucky enough to find full time employment.

to teach at the post-secondary level...not a phd. unless you're in art history or art education. the terminal degree is an m.f.a. this is what you will need to be a professor. salary ranges quite a bit and you will likely have to work as an adjunct part-time for a couple years before getting into a tenure-track positions.

teachers are saints. fr_chuck is not a teacher.

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Hello, likegreen!

Your post reflects your opinion based upon the experience that you have had. I have taught at the college level in music without having a masters of some kind. I was hired because of the amount of experience and knowledge that I had.

It's true that a person might be more likely to be hired at a college or university because of having an advanced degree beyond the undergraduate level. But, particularly in the art types of fields, where the candidates may be coming from another country where the equivalents to our types of degrees might not even exist, they might get hired simply because they are among the best of the best.

I would like to add, that I take great exception to your saying "fr_chuck is not a teacher." How would you know that without viewing his vast experience in a number of areas, let alone the thousands of fine answers in posts that he has posted on numerous sites? I'm quite sure that he has done his fair share of teaching concerning many things.

You're new to this site. And, for that reason, I chose not to rate you. But, I do think that you might want to consider the contents of what you write before criticizing other very knowledgeable and experienced persons without first knowing their backgrounds.

Those of us who have been on this site for awhile operate in the spirit of teamwork. As such, I hope that you will be a part of the team. None of us here knows everything. And, we do rely on others to "fill in the gaps" in answers where one of might not be quite on target as far as correctness is concerned.

My husband was an art professor and I am a public school teacher. Salaries depend on where you're at--small town, city, west or east coast, etc. --location and if you're at a public or private school or university. In the midwest the university started at about 45 thousand and went up depending on your service to the school and exhibition resume. Department heads or chairs can make over 100. I know some professors who are making betweent 60 to 80. You generally need an MFA which is the terminal degree for studio arts unless you have a reputation or experience that waive the MFA. PHD's are generally for art ed and art history. Budgets are tight so it is difficult to get the jobs unless you're willing to travel anywhere. Public schools in our area generally start at about 35 thousand and salaries go up depending on continued education credits, higher degrees, and length of service. You need a bachelors degree including education credits, in order to get a teacher's license from your state. You would need to contact art ed. Departments to get a better idea of what you would need to do. Art jobs are also hard to get here as well unless you're willing to look anywhere.

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Originally Posted by fancyclaypants

I am a ceramics professor at a private institution, and to correct the Friar, you do not need your PhD. In fact, unless you plan to teach Art History, you cannot obtain a PhD in Studio Art/Fine Art. I make $51,000 a year. Not great, but not bad.

So you're looking at a Master's and depending on what institution you attend, you can get tuition waivers, scholarships and the like. I obtained my Master's from a state university; my tuition was waived, I was granted a paid GA/TA position every year, and I took out about $31000 in loans (living comfortably) which translates to about $37000 when all is said and done.

The hard part is getting a position at an institution; for every job application you fill, know that there are potentially hundreds of other hungry candidates who have kissed the right a**es, exhibited in the right shows, etc. Your particular field will also designate the likelihood of employment ~ for example, drawing/painting/sculpture jobs are, in general, more "plentiful" than say, ceramics. However, if you are willing to study or GA/TA in other areas, your portfolio is much more appealing. While in graduate school, I taught 3 years of wheel-throwing, 1 year of 3-D Foundations, and 1 year of Art Appreciation. I have a slightly more versatile resume, which is what most collegiate art departments are looking for.

Good luck ~ and I will agree with the Friar that you should never "settle" to teach.

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Ya that was a lot of help to me also. I recently graduated with an Art ED degree and a BFA painting and am REALLY interested in getting my masters to become a professor. Honestly. After my student teaching, it made me REALLY want to teach college; or people who are actually interested in learning. Any tips as to where to apply? I just came from East Carolina University

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Originally Posted by snotbubble

I am going to an art school and i don't know what to major in that will give me a job. I am thinking about settling to be an art teacher. i would prefer to be a professor, but i have no clue how much they make. i will have to get a masters and i want to know that it will be worth all that time in school. i have asked one of my professors through email after the semester was over and he never told me. I'm afraid to ask any of my art professors, i know it is rude but i really want to know.


Does anyone know ho much an art teacher or professor makes a year?

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I wrote below =) but I just graduated with 2 bfa's... one art ed, and one painting... I did both because in art ed.. u just don't get enuf studio in!! But after going through student teaching etc... I would totally advise u into going for your masters and possibly becomng a professor.. I am just because I befriended many of my proffesors in college.. and it seems so chill. The students you are teaching. WANT to be there... there is talent and they are mature. AND as a professor you are required to make a certain amount of shows a year... more artwork being forced out of you! That's great for me because I tend to procrastinate! So I'm looking forward to becoming a professor I just don't know where to apply... good luck

All of you motherers shut the up...

All of you motherers shut the up