Arts administration involves the management, leadership, cultural engagement, policy entertainment and entrepreneurship of art. There is a diverse range of roles that you can pursue with a degree in arts administration, such as museum or theatre education director, executive leader, fundraising manager and more.
In return for the specific skills and experience these roles require, successful arts administrators can earn competitive salaries in the U.S. For example, executive directors earn an average salary of $89,818 per year, while public relations and fundraising managers earn a median salary of $130,480 annually according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
For those looking to learn more about opportunities in the wonderfully varied field of arts administration, a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree may be ideal. The Southern Utah University (SUU) online M.A. in Arts Administration program prepares graduates with foundational knowledge in arts leadership that they can use in several roles.
The Role of an Arts Administrator
Arts administration is an umbrella under which many different roles belong. That is why studying in an arts administration program is so useful: Students gain exposure to different roles and can see what might suit them best.
Indeed offers more advice about the role of arts administrator: “An art administrator is a professional who manages the business needs of an arts organization. Arts administrators are typically highly organized and help creative people with financial and operational responsibilities. These professionals could find employment with a variety of for-profit, non-profit and government entities.”
Jobs in Arts Administration
Art administrators wear many hats depending on the size and type of organization they support. Generally, these professionals manage customer or client communications, arrange schedules, hire staff, create and update resources, oversee budgeting, track inventory supplies, apply for grants, design and share marketing materials, and more. A degree like the online M.A. in Arts Administration from SUU prepares graduates for various roles, like the following. Note that salary information is current as of January 2025 and varies depending on work experience, job location and other factors.
- Museum education directors: These professionals oversee the high-level tasks and daily operations in a museum’s educational branch, working as an extension of the museum director. They earn an average salary of $112,429 per year.
- Theatre education directors: These individuals are responsible for educational programming for theatres, specifically within a “theatre in education” or as part of a regular theatre with an educational branch. The average annual salary for theater director roles is $59,030.
- Executive leaders: Also known as executive directors, these professionals in the arts space usually work in tandem with an artistic director but have more strategic and operational responsibilities, which may also branch into public relations and fundraising. Their salaries can vary depending on the type of arts organization they work for, but Glassdoor reports that executive and artistic directors earn $96,637 annually.
- Fundraising managers: These individuals ensure arts organizations have enough money to operate. They may do anything from running campaigns and getting microdonations for specific projects to organizing high-level fundraising from government sources, private grants and wealthy donors. BLS reports that these professionals earn a median annual salary of $119,200.
- Events coordinators: These professionals organize events. According to Mediabistro, their “Responsibilities may include preparing budgets, scouting and booking locations, conducting press outreach, lining up sponsors and celebrity guests, and securing food and drinks,” as well as overseeing event staff. These professionals earn an average salary of $54,177 per year, according to Indeed.
- Marketing managers: These individuals are responsible for an organization’s marketing strategy. Like an events coordinator’s salary, marketing managers’ salaries depend on the organization they work for — with higher salaries typically available for those working within agencies. BLS reports that marketing managers earn a median annual salary of $157,620.
These are just some examples of the financially and professionally rewarding roles available to arts administration specialists. Those aspiring to such roles can start on the path to their chosen career with an advanced education like that from SUU.
Earn an Arts Administration Master’s Degree Online From SUU
An arts administration master’s degree is ideal for those looking to enter the art world with practical skills and a breadth of knowledge. SUU’s online M.A. in Arts Administration program prepares graduates to work in nonprofit organizations by addressing challenges specific to them.
Students learn about these practices in courses like Fund Development for Arts Administrators, Accounting for Arts Administrators and Grant Writing. Whether students have already been working with an arts organization for years or are new to the field, an advanced degree can make a great difference in understanding what these roles require.
Learn more about SUU’s online Master of Arts in Arts Administration program.
