Skills
37 skills are associated with this occupation.
0 skills selected
Essential knowledge
5 skills
Essential skills / competences
12 skills
Optional knowledge
3 skills
Optional skills / competences
17 skills
Overview
Illustrators create visual material that explains, supports or extends a text, idea, publication, comic, journal or book project.
In job descriptions, look for drawing style, briefs, storyboards, character or scene work, layout cooperation, colour choices, revisions, publication format and whether the work is editorial, medical, children’s book or comic illustration.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWork context
Illustrators turn text, ideas or briefs into images for books, magazines, comics, journals and other publications. The work often includes sketches, composition, style choices, revisions and close cooperation with authors, editors, designers or art directors.
Skills and specializations
Important skills include drawing, visual storytelling, interpreting a brief, preparing publication-ready artwork and adapting style to audience and format. Specialisations can include children’s books, comic art, editorial illustration, medical illustration, storyboards or courtroom sketching.
Salary context
Salary context depends on assignment type, usage rights, deadline pressure, number of illustrations, revision rounds, specialist subject matter and whether the role is freelance, studio-based or employed by a publisher. Compare briefs by deliverables and rights, not only by title.
Career paths
Career paths may move from junior illustration or design support into specialist illustration, art direction, comics, publishing design, concept art or independent commissions. A strong portfolio and reliable revision process often matter more than one fixed route.
Good to know
Check whether vacancies specify style, subject matter, audience, formats, rights, deadlines and feedback process. Illustration roles vary sharply between quick editorial images, detailed educational visuals and long book or comic projects.
Editorial note
This guide gives editorial career context for illustrator work. It is not official labour-market statistics or salary data.
Map overview
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Alternative labels
Occupation group
Graphic and multimedia designers (2166)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/1b949bae-882f-40ff-9fe7-3c8ede5e38b5 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 2166.10 |
| ISCO group | 2166 |
| Concept type | Occupation |