cartoonist
Key facts
Do you have a knack for visual storytelling and a sharp sense of humor? As a cartoonist, you can use your artistic skills to comment on the world around you, bringing laughter and insight to audiences through drawings and illustrations.
Cartoonists are visual communicators who use exaggeration and humor to depict people, objects, events, and ideas. Your days might involve sketching ideas, refining drawings, and creating finished artwork for various platforms. You’ll often be tasked with portraying current events, social issues, or simply creating entertaining characters and situations. The role requires a blend of artistic talent, observational skills, and a strong understanding of humor and satire.
- • Conceptualizing and developing cartoon ideas based on briefs or personal inspiration.
- • Creating initial sketches and refining them into finished artwork, often using digital tools.
- • Adapting artistic style to suit different media, such as print, online platforms, or animation.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Legal, social and cultural professionals — 186 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Italy.
Longest-running shortage: Italy, 2 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could cartoonist fit you?
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Future Outlook for cartoonist
The outlook for cartoonist reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could cartoonist change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could cartoonist change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- follow a brief
- practice humour
- consult with editor
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- analyse texts to be illustrated
- create animated narratives
- maintain an artistic portfolio
Tasks most exposed to automation
- follow the news
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
A typical day as a cartoonist
09 09:00 · Morning create sketches
10 10:30 · Mid-morning adapt to type of media
12 12:00 · Midday analyse texts to be illustrated
14 14:00 · Afternoon create animated narratives
15 15:30 · Late afternoon follow the news
17 17:00 · Wrap-up interpret illustration needs
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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ICT software specifications
The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.
- copyright legislation
- graphic design
- desktop publishing
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follow work schedule
Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.
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finish project within budget
Make sure to stay within budget. Adapt work and materials to budget.
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create animated narratives
Develop animated narrative sequences and story lines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
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develop creative ideas
Developing new artistic concepts and creative ideas.
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maintain an artistic portfolio
Maintain portfolios of artistic work to show styles, interests, abilities and realisations.
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select illustration styles
Select the appropriate style, medium, and techniques of illustration in line with the needs of the project and client's requests.
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follow a brief
Interpret and meet requirements and expectations, as discussed and agreed upon with the customers.
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interpret illustration needs
Communicate with clients, editors and authors in order to interpret and fully understand their professional needs.
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create sketches
Draw sketches to prepare for a drawing or as a standalone artistic technique.
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adapt to type of media
Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.
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consult with editor
Consult with the editor of a book, magazine, journal or other publications about expectations, requirements, and progress.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does cartoonist fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of education or training is typically needed to become a cartoonist?
- While a formal degree isn't always required, a strong foundation in drawing and art fundamentals is essential. Many cartoonists pursue degrees or diplomas in illustration, graphic design, or fine arts. Building a portfolio showcasing your style and abilities is crucial for securing work.
- What are the typical work arrangements for cartoonists?
- Cartoonists are primarily employed by media outlets, publishing houses, animation studios, or advertising agencies. While freelance opportunities exist, most cartoonists work as employees, contributing to established publications or projects.
- How important is understanding current events and social issues for a cartoonist?
- A strong understanding of current events and social issues is highly valuable, especially for those creating political or social commentary cartoons. Being able to observe and interpret the world around you, and translate those observations into humorous and insightful visuals, is a key skill.
- Cartoonist — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 11 of the 12 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Greece and 7 more. One country reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Cartoonist — what does it pay in the United States?
- $60,560 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $25,830 to $98,540. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.