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Draw Your Own Conclusions as a Medical Illustrator

By Kate McIntyre
Learning & Life Columnist
May 21, 2007

The job opportunities for most illustrators are on the decline, as more and more animators are replaced by computer programs. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is one area that is still experiencing strong job growth: medical illustration.

What Medical illustrators Do

Medical illustrators create pictures that show complicated medical processes and conditions. They do much of their work for medical journal articles, books, and textbooks. Some medical illustrators choose to focus their work on certain areas of the body, such as the lungs or the feet, and others do illustrations of animal anatomy for veterinary medicine students. Salaried medical illustrators work for research organizations, teaching hospitals, publishing companies, and pharmaceutical companies. Many medical illustrators support themselves by doing freelance work for several different companies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical illustrators make $59,000 per year.

How to Get Started in Medical Illustration

Most medical illustrators have a bachelor's degree at a minimum. Their undergraduate majors are usually either art or biology with a minor in the other subject. Some choose a double major or substitute pre-med for biology. You need a special blend of skills and interests to be a good fit for a medical illustration career. If you are fascinated by the life sciences and have strong artistic skills, medical illustration could be a rewarding career.

Source:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Artists and Related Workers"

About the Author
Kate McIntyre, a fiction writer in Portland, Oregon, holds an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.

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