Illustrator Resume Examples & Template
Written By Nathan SotoCareer Expert & PR Specialist
Reviewed By Geoffrey ScottProfessional Resume Writer, Career Coach, & Senior Hiring Manager
Nathan Soto is dedicated to providing practical guidance to job seekers, especially people with nonlinear career paths. Nathan’s articles and career advice have been featured on multiple platforms, including Forbes,...
We'll show you how to organize important details like your key illustration-related skills and education so your resume adds to your overall application rather than detracts from it.
Illustrator resumes by experience level
Looking for another template design? Check out all our other resume templates for even more choices.
Related Resume Examples
View All Resume Examples
Illustrator resume template (text format)
- Created visually compelling illustrations for Samsung’s ‘Around the World’ marketing campaign, including product illustrations, infographics, and social media visuals
- Collaborate with the creative and marketing teams to develop design concepts that aligned with Samsung’s brand identity and communication strategy
- Deliver digital assets for global campaigns that contributed to a 20% increase in audience engagement
- Produce concept art and storyboards for video content, ensuring consistency across multimedia projects
- Designed custom illustrations for Noom’s mobile app interface, enhancing user experience and contributing to an 11% increase in app engagement
- Produced editorial illustrations and infographics for Noom’s blog and social media channels, reinforcing the brand’s health and wellness narrative
- Collaborated with the UX/UI design team to create 120+ engaging illustrations that complemented the app’s visual identity
Graduation Date: May 20XX
- Digital Illustration
- Vector Art
- Concept development
- Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Premiere)
- Procreate
- Print and digital design
- Client collaboration
The resume of our illustrator at Resume Genius
Eunice Wang, an illustrator at Resume Genius, secured the role after we reviewed her impressive resume, which you can see here:
Why Eunice’s resume stood out:
- Extensive software proficiency: Eunice is skilled in a wide range of illustration tools, including Procreate, Harmony, Figma, Dragonframe, Maya, and the Adobe Creative Suite. Her diverse expertise allowed for a fast onboarding process, saving us time and resources. Be sure to list all the illustration tools you’re familiar with on your resume.
- Top-tier education: Eunice’s degree from the prestigious Pratt Institute signaled her high academic and professional standards. If you’ve graduated from a well-regarded institution, highlight it prominently on your resume.
- Quantifiable achievements: Eunice’s resume impressed us with clear data points, such as producing over 60 illustrations per quarter in her previous role, showcasing her productivity. Always quantify your achievements to give hiring managers a concrete sense of your capabilities.
In addition to her strong resume, Eunice’s LinkedIn profile further demonstrated her qualifications and skills. Make sure to optimize your online presence to offer hiring managers a well-rounded view of your expertise and accomplishments.
How to write an illustrator resume
Creating an effective illustrator resume requires a careful balance of visual appeal and professionalism.
Follow these steps to create a resume that will catch the eye of potential employers and demonstrate your qualifications as an illustrator.
1. Open with a strong resume summary
Begin your resume with a concise resume summary statement of 2-3 sentences that encapsulates your professional identity, key skills, and career goals.
Highlight your unique artistic style, years of experience, and any notable achievements or specializations.
Professional Summary
Versatile illustrator with 5 years of experience in children’s book illustration and editorial artwork. Proficient in both digital and traditional mediums, with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling through visuals. Designed the book cover and created 15 full-page illustrations for The Cosmic Adventures of Luna which was awarded the 20XX Newbery Honor award.
2. Highlight your technical skills and creativity
Create a dedicated skills section that showcases both your technical abilities and creative talents.
List technical skills and software proficiencies such as Adobe Creative Suite, digital drawing tablets, and any 3D modeling tools you’re familiar with. Prioritize any skills you have that are featured in the job description.
Here are some other common technical skills for an illustrator resume:
- Digital Illustration (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate)
- Vector Art
- 2D Animation
- Concept art
- Storyboarding
- Print design (resolution, color calibration, and layout for various formats)
- UX/UI Design integration
- Typography and lettering
- Branding and iconography
- 3D Illustration (e.g., Blender)
- Sketching
- Watercolor
- Printmaking
- Photography
Make sure that you’re using a resume format that puts the focus on your skills and achievements.
3. Expand on past projects in your experience section
In your work experience section, focus on relevant projects and accomplishments rather than just listing job duties. Use the bullet points to describe specific illustrations or campaigns you’ve worked on, detailing your role, the techniques you used, and the impact of each project.
Wherever possible, quantify your achievements such as “Created 20+ character designs for an award-winning children’s book series” or “Increased client’s social media engagement by 30% through a series of custom promotional illustrations.”
Professional Experience
Illustrator | Penguin Random House | 20XX-Present
- Collaborated with 10+ children’s book authors to bring their stories to life, creating over 200 unique character designs and 500+ detailed scene illustrations
- Developed a distinctive watercolor-inspired digital art style, and requested by 3 major children authors in next quarter
- Produced 30+ editorial illustrations for newsletter, adapting styles to match diverse article themes and target demographics
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously, consistently meeting 100% of deadlines while maintaining high-quality output
This work experience section highlights the illustrator’s diverse skills and accomplishments across different areas of illustration. It also emphasizes quantifiable achievements, collaboration skills, and adaptability to different project requirements and mediums.
If you’re a freelancer, you can list notable clients or projects as separate entries, like this:
Professional Experience
Freelance Illustrator | Self-employed | 20XX-Present
The New York Times
- Created 8 editorial illustrations for the Sunday Review section
- Developed concepts and final artwork within 48-hour deadlines
- Illustrations accompanied articles on topics ranging from technology to climate change
Pixar Animation Studios
- Contributed concept art for an upcoming animated feature film (NDA in effect)
- Developed 25 environment designs and 10 character expression sheets
- Worked closely with the art director to align illustrations with the film’s visual style
Scholastic Inc.
- Illustrated The Magic Treehouse 30th Anniversary Edition
- Created 20 new full-color plates to complement the existing black and white illustrations
- Redesigned the cover art, contributing to a 11% increase in sales for the special edition
This format allows the illustrator to showcase their diverse client base and highlight specific projects for each client. It demonstrates their ability to work across different markets (publishing, editorial, animation) and adapt their style to various requirements.
4. Outline your education and certifications
Include your formal education, listing any degrees in illustration, fine arts, or related fields. Mention relevant coursework, honors, or special projects completed during your studies.
If you have any additional certifications or specialized training in illustration techniques or software, include these as well.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, California University of Arts and Design, San Francisco, CA | 20XX–20XX
- Graduated with honors (GPA: 3.8/4.0)
- Concentration in Children’s Book Illustration
- Senior Thesis: “The Evolution of the Black Child as Main Character in Picture Books”
- Relevant Coursework: Digital Illustration Techniques, Typography for Illustrators, Color Theory and Application, Character Design, Editorial Illustration
Study Abroad Program | Florence Academy of Art, Italy | Summer 20XX
Intensive course in Traditional Drawing and Painting Techniques | June-August 20XX
Certifications
Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) – Adobe Illustrator | 20XX
Character Design for Animation | Schoolism | 20XX
Editorial Illustration Master Class | Society of Illustrators | 20XX
Digital Watercolor Techniques | Domestika | 20XX
These sections complement the illustrator’s experience by showcasing the illustrator’s formal education in the field and ongoing dedication to professional development through certifications and specialized courses.
Average illustrator salaries in the US
After you’ve written your resume, make sure you use it to apply for jobs within a fair salary range.
The following table includes information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report for 2025. Here are the ten states with the highest salaries for illustrators, as well as the national average for your reference when applying for work.
Top 10 states by average illustrator salary
| State | Salary / Year |
|---|---|
| California | $152,160 |
| Massachusetts | $92,930 |
| New York | $84,760 |
| Washington | $82,000 |
| Oregon | $75,390 |
| Maryland | $73,210 |
| Indiana | $72,020 |
| Connecticut | $70,330 |
| New Jersey | $66,610 |
| Illinois | $64,600 |
| National Average | $76,450 |
About the Author
14
Years of Experience
193
Articles Written
Nathan Soto is dedicated to providing practical guidance to job seekers, especially people with nonlinear career paths.
Nathan’s articles and career advice have been featured on multiple platforms, including Forbes, MSN, NBC New York, Memphis Business Journal, Newsweek, and Fast Company, offering insights into resume writing, interview preparation, and personal branding.
Nathan graduated from the University of Nevada with a double B.A. in French and Music. In addition to writing, he also works as a Mandarin–English translator.
