13 Multimedia Careers for the Creative Individual

Multimedia is a field that combines various mediums to create content that is informative and engaging for an audience. Many creatives work in a multimedia field because it's an industry where you can use your knowledge, expertise and skill set to create something that an intended audience will enjoy and benefit from. As technology continues to advance, you may find that the field of multimedia continues to grow, providing more career opportunities and paths that are of interest to you.

In this article, we explain what multimedia means, provide a list of jobs in the multimedia industry and share how you can secure a career in the field.

What is multimedia?

Multimedia is the act of using more than one art form or media format to create something like an advertisement, slideshow presentation, video game, training or interactive touch screen. Someone who has a career in multimedia may use any combination of visual effects, audio, video, graphic design, text or animation in their work, and the industry spans many fields like marketing, education, technology, creative arts, design and sales.

13 multimedia industry jobs

Here are some jobs in multimedia you may be interested in, arranged in order by national average salary and with the primary job duties for each:

1. Journalist

National average salary: $35,495 per year

Primary duties: A journalist is responsible for creating news stories and delivering them to an audience in various formats. They may create videos and broadcasts, write articles, share photos or appear on radio shows. Journalists perform the necessary research on a story or topic, complete interviews with subject experts and are unbiased and honest in their work.

Read more: Learn About Being a Journalist

2. Sound engineer

National average salary: $40,184 per year

Primary duties: A sound engineer mixes and reproduces sound for different mediums, including movies, music, television commercials and theater productions. They may design the sound that they'll use in their production and operate sound boards to make sure the sound comes through as intended.

3. Video editor

National average salary: $43,424 per year

Primary duties: A video editor is responsible for editing and mixing videos into a final product that they can broadcast to an audience. They may use special effects and graphics, music, camera angles, text and other details depending on the intention of the video, the industry or group it's for and where it will broadcast. Video editors tell stories with their productions and may need to edit an already-produced video to correct errors or include information that was missing.

4. Animator

National average salary: $44,673 per year

Primary duties: An animator creates productions that involve moving images. They tell stories with their production, educate an audience or inspire action from viewers. Animators create storyboards, consult with clients and work within a production budget. It's common for animators to work in 2D or 3D animation, stop-frame movements and drawing using specific computer programs.

Read more: Learn About Being an Animator

5. Social media manager

National average salary: $44,737 per year

Primary duties: A social media manager is responsible for representing a brand on social media networks and creating effective strategies to increase brand awareness and connect with an audience. They may handle a social media advertising budget, curate analytics reports and develop content to share with a brand's current and target audiences. Social media managers may use video, text, graphics and audio to share messaging and engage with an audience.

Read more: Learn About Being a Social Media Manager

6. Interpreter

National average salary: $47,827 per year

Primary duties: An interpreter translates communication from one language to another. They may perform their work with oral, recorded or written communication so the end user can fully understand the original message and its intent.

7. Technical writer

National average salary: $57,513 per year

Primary duties: A technical writer creates copy that describes how a product functions to an end user. They may create guides, instruction manuals, documentation, diagrams and articles to communicate the product's features, benefits and uses. Technical writers write their copy to remove overly technical information and make it easier for their readers and the users of the product to understand what they are communicating.

Read more: Learn About Being a Technical Writer

8. Video game designer

National average salary: $58,096 per year

Primary duties: A video game designer creates video games using a storyline and developed characters. They develop distinctive features of a game, so it remains challenging and interesting to players. Video game designers frequently keep design documentation updated and work with production to make sure the video game is designed according to specifications and the needs of the video game end user.

9. Public relations manager

National average salary: $59,536 per year

Primary duties: A public relations manager is responsible for representing a brand to the public. They write press releases, schedule interviews, follow trends in the industry their client is a part of, pitch stories to news outlets, set up press conferences and create media kits for partnership deals. Public relations managers also develop ways to showcase, correct, promote or educate members of the media and the general public about the company they represent.

Read more: Learn About Being a Public Relations Account Manager

10. Multimedia designer

National average salary: $61,392 per year

Primary duties: A multimedia designer creates presentations, like marketing campaigns, for an intended audience using images, written information, graphics and videos. Multimedia designers may create work that they'll feature on websites, television, within video games or in movies. They animate characters, work with a project team to make sure they stay in budget and adhere to a timeline and use a host of design tools to complete their work.

11. Advertising manager

National average salary: $64,381 per year

Primary duties: An advertising manager is responsible for conceptualizing, creating, managing, testing and analyzing advertisements for a brand. They may sell advertising space or purchase space from television stations, social media outlets or other companies while also following a project's budget, timeline and goals. Advertising managers make sure that a brand's advertisements remain on-brand and appealing to a target audience.

Read more: Learn About Being an Advertising Manager

12. Art director

National average salary: $74,820 per year

Primary duties: An art director is responsible for how a creation forms and looks to an audience. They may select the images, videos, graphics and overall style that will appear in designs for magazines, websites, product packaging and other productions like film and television. Art directors usually have a team of creatives, like copywriters, graphic designers and multimedia specialists, that they lead to complete their vision.

Read more: Learn About Being an Art Director

13. Content strategist

National average salary: $77,897 per year

Primary duties: A content strategist is responsible for developing and maintaining a brand's content strategy depending on the company's goals and the needs of their end users. They may work with a team of writers, designers and artists to create the best messaging across different mediums so that a target audience can connect to, receive education from or otherwise engage with a piece of content. Content strategists create content calendars, organize a cohesive content distribution plan and regularly perform content audits.

How to get a job in multimedia

If you're interested in a position in multimedia, consider following these steps to get started in the career:

1. Earn a degree

While you don't necessarily have to earn a degree to work in multimedia, some employers may require an associate's or bachelor's degree with some experience. You may consider getting a degree in fine art, animation, marketing, computer graphics or a related field, with courses in digital marketing, multimedia communications, graphic design, photography, production, animation or filmmaking, depending on what your interests are and what you want to do as a career after you graduate.

2. Complete internships or shadowing

During college, consider signing up for an internship or find a professional to job shadow post-graduation. These types of opportunities will give you a real-world glimpse of what a career in multimedia may be like for you and help you connect with others in the same industry. During an internship, you may be responsible for a specific project and be able to describe the impact you had on the organization within your resume. When you're ready to apply for a position in the field, you can contact the individuals you've worked with for a recommendation or some guidance.

3. Identify your interests

Because there are so many career paths you can take if you want to work in multimedia, it may be helpful to identify what part of multimedia and the associated careers is most interesting to you. This can drive which courses you take in college or influence which companies you apply for positions at. Knowing where your interests lie also means you can learn the specific tools and programs you'll need to be successful in the field.

4. Do freelance or volunteer work

Completing freelance or volunteer work provides an opportunity for you to learn the craft you've selected in the field of multimedia. Whether you freelance, volunteer or do both for different clients and organizations, you should be able to build your network to include those you've worked with while also building your knowledge of industry trends and tools.

5. Build your portfolio

You may find that an employer hiring for a multimedia position either requires or prefers to see a portfolio or demo reel of your work. This can include college projects, freelance work, work you've completed on a volunteer basis or any experience you've gained from practice projects. A portfolio showcases your strengths and knowledge in the industry, and is a great way for an employer to learn more about you, your style and why you may be a good fit for their open job position.

Consider building an online portfolio so you can easily share a website link with an employer or include a clickable link on your resume.

6. Attend networking events

Networking events provide an opportunity for you to learn more about the industry and connect with others who already work in the field. These events give you a chance to ask questions, find out more about where people work and what they do and possibly find a mentor or job opportunity. You may also explore attending an industry conference, reading industry-specific blogs and interacting with the author, going to a trade show or joining a special interest group. All of these are learning opportunities where you can also market yourself to a potential new employer.

7. Apply for positions

There are many ways you can apply for a position in multimedia. You may start with searching online job boards or see if your special interest group has posted any new positions that you qualify for. When you see a job posting that interests you, read it thoroughly to make sure you meet the minimum requirements for the position. If you don't, you may want to continue your job search, but the knowledge of what experience or skills you may be lacking can educate you on what may be beneficial to obtain if you want to grow in your career.

When you're applying for positions, you may want to contact those you've interned with or connected with in the past to see if they have any insight on employers that are hiring. Do some research on the company you're interested in to make sure it's a good fit for what you ultimately want to do.