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What They Do
About This Career
Creates or reproduces handmade objects for sale and exhibition using a variety of techniques, such as welding, weaving, pottery, and needlecraft.
This career is part of the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Visual Arts pathway.
A person in this career:
- Creates functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
- Cuts, shapes, fits, joins, molds, or otherwise processes materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
- Applies finishes to objects being crafted.
- Develops concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
- Selects materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics.
- Advertises products and work, using media such as internet advertising and brochures.
- Sets specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes.
- Plans and attends craft shows to market products.
- Creates prototypes or models of objects to be crafted.
- Confers with customers to assess customer needs or obtain feedback.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
- Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
- Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
- Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Work Hours and Travel
- Irregular hours
- Overtime work
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Artist
- Ceramic Artist — Creates art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials.
- Designer
- Fiber Artist — Creates works of art from fibers taken from plant, animal, or synthetic materials.
- Fine Craft Artist
- Furniture Maker
- Glass Artist
- Goldsmith — Works with gold and other precious metals to create jewelry in their own design, as well as repair jewelry.
- Hand-Weaver
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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