It’s one of those questions that crosses everyone’s mind when planning for your career: How much am I going to earn? In creative jobs this varies, a lot. Over two posts this week we will take a closer look into 10 creative jobs – what these jobs entail, what qualifications you usually need and how much they pay. Here are the first five jobs for this week.

1. Comedian
There’s are a few common misconceptions when it comes to stand-up comics – one being that it is all about telling little stories to drunken audiences at night. It’s a lot tougher than that. Stand-up comics spend hours every day working on and perfecting their routines, and they have to be able to read their audience to know exactly what kind of humor they’ll respond to. Before you go stand in front of the infamous brick wall, you will need some guidance.

What qualifications do I need?
You don’t need qualifications in order to work in comedy. While there are courses in performing and writing comedy that could be beneficial, they can be expensive and not always useful – check out the details of the course and the history of the teacher. You might be better off learning your trade by studying the techniques employed by the top comedians, and just taking the plunge on stage. It is also a great idea to use open mic nights to hone your act and test new material. If you’re good enough, you’ll get noticed. Once you’re confident with your act and the material, invite agents along to see you perform.

How much does it pay?
The income for comedians really varies – you might even start out doing a few gigs for free and then go on to get anywhere from £50-£200 for a gig. Some of the best comedians (like Rick Gervais) with a successful tour and solid sales of the accompanying DVD could easily be £1 million better off.

2. Art director
Be it is the world of advertising or publishing (magazines, newspaper and books), art directors are usually employed as part of a team (in advertising this team is made up of an art director and copywriter). The art director’s key role is to come up with the visual concepts for ad campaigns, story layouts, mag covers and books.

What qualifications will you need?
There are no set qualifications but most art director entrants have a degree. Studying graphic design, advertising design, art and design, illustration or fine art can be particularly useful. Most courses require a portfolio of art and design work. Postgraduate degrees and diplomas in advertising are available. The diploma in creative and media may be relevant.

How much does it pay?
Salaries may range from £18,000 to £25,000 a year for new entrants, to over £100,000 at the most senior level in top agencies.

3. Fine artist
Fine artists create original works of art, such as drawings, paintings, etchings, photographs, sculptures, linocuts, lithographs, screenprints, and computer-aided digital graphics to convey ideas, thoughts and feelings. Artists often experiment with different art forms and techniques, and may work in two or three dimensions.

What qualifications do I need?
Although freelance artists do not need formal training, in practice most have some sort of qualification – be it a HND, foundation degree or degree in art and design or fine art. There are many universities and art colleges across the UK that offer such studies.

How much does it pay?
Income really varies for fine artists. Sample rates, excluding overheads, suggested by a-n The Artists Information Company are £22,932 a year for graduate artists, potentially reaching £37,296 a year with ten years’ experience.

4. Interactive media designer
Interactive media designers create the overall look and feel of a wide range of interactive communication products. Using text, data, graphics, sound, animation and other digital and visual effects, they may work on projects such as websites, computer games, multimedia such as DVDs and interactive television.

What qualifications do I need?
There are no set academic entry requirements but most entrants are graduates having studied a design-related subject such as graphic or multimedia design is particularly useful. Having some relevant technical knowledge of the tools and software that go hand in hand with this area is also helpful. Experience is highly valued and employers often require a portfolio of interactive media work. The Diploma in creative and media may be relevant for this area of work.

How much does it pay?
Salaries may range from around £15,500 to over £45,000 a year depending on the location and the size and type of company.

5. Product designer
Product designers design most things we use in our daily lives, from chairs and cutlery to clocks and computers, as well as specialist products like medical, electronics or telecommunications equipment.

What qualifications do I need?
As well as looking for a foundation degree, degree or HNC/HND in product design, employers also look for creative skills, technical knowledge and the ability to work to a design brief. If you want to specialise in a particular area it is a good idea to look into a more technical or industrial-focused qualification, such as engineering or automotive design. The Diploma in creative and media may be relevant to this area of work.

How much does it pay?
Salaries can range from around £18,000, to £55,000 a year for senior designers.