5 careers for creative minds

If you’re creatively minded, trying to find that ideal role can feel like making a choice between passion or pay.

But there are creative careers out there that don’t mean letting go of hopes for a high salary.

Whether you’re interested in designing our roads and cities, love telling stories, or really want to create the next Minecraft, here are high-paying careers to consider.

1. User Experience Designer
   This is a great career to consider if you have an eye for design and like to be creative and practical at the same time. User Experience (UX) Designers help to create products that are useful, usable and enjoyable. They usually work on websites, apps and games, but can also design non-digital products and experiences. UX Designers focus on the needs of users by considering the why, what and how of product use. UX Design is very valuable to companies and the role commands a typical salary of $100k to $120k.

2. Communications Manager 
   Do you love leading people, strategising and using your voice? Communications Management could be a great fit for you. This role involves developing communications strategies and overseeing a team within an organisation. You’ll need to be great at clarifying and sharing messages through all kinds of channels, like speeches, press releases and print and online content. It’s an exciting role with a lot of responsibility, and usually pays between $100k and $120k.

3. Instructional Designer
   Combining their project management and communication skills with subject matter knowledge, Instructional Designers create materials for specific learning goals. These can include online courses, seminars, instruction manuals, workshops, tutorials and training modules. It’s a growing industry and perfect if you like interacting with a range of technology and analysing information. Instructional Designers consult regularly with clients and stakeholders, so it’s an ideal job for people who like collaborating. Depending on the kind of organization, Instructional Designers usually earn between $85k and $95k.

4. Civil Designer 
   Want to help design key infrastructure for the future? Civil Designers work on everything from roads, bridges and railways to earthworks and commercial, industrial and residential developments. They use computer-aided design (CAD) programs to draft, produce, scale and fine-tune drawings and maps. This requires technical knowledge and ability in things like interpreting civil engineering drawings and building plans, so training in civil engineering or engineering technology is necessary. Civil Designers are sought after, and commonly earn between $95k and $110k salaries.

5. Game Designer
   Interested in inventing, developing, creating and producing computer or video games? Game Designers can do all of this, but usually specialise in a particular platform (such as PlayStation or Xbox), and a specific aspect of game development, such as game play or scripting. They work in teams to make creative decisions about games’ concepts, interfaces, maps, scenarios, characters and storylines. This requires a mix of creative, computing and communication skills. Game Designers usually earn between $70k and $80k.

These are just five creative careers that pay well. Explore more careers for creative minds here.