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Children Illustrator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We reach more than two million children every month throughout the world with products that foster ... Proficient in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Strong communication skills, well organized ...

... illustration; copywriting including cover, tip sheets, and other marketing copy as required ... Pursue knowledge of current trends in children's book publishing and product Education and ...

Experience in children's books and/or highly illustrated full-color projects a plus. Why Sourcebooks? Sourcebooks is a thriving entrepreneurial publisher driven by our mission to change lives through ...

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Children Illustrator information

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$32.5K

$59.3K

$96K

How much do children illustrator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for children illustrator in the United States is $59,345.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $68,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a children illustrator do?

A Children Illustrator is an artist who creates visual images and artwork for children's books, magazines, educational materials, and other media aimed at young audiences. Their work involves interpreting stories or concepts and bringing them to life with engaging, age-appropriate illustrations that support and enhance the narrative. Children Illustrators often collaborate with authors, editors, and publishers to ensure their art aligns with the story's tone and message. They use a variety of traditional and digital tools to create their illustrations, making imagination and creativity essential skills for the role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a children illustrator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Children Illustrator, you need strong drawing skills, a solid understanding of color theory and composition, and often a degree or coursework in illustration or graphic design. Familiarity with digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Procreate is typically required. Creativity, storytelling ability, and the capacity to interpret briefs while communicating effectively with authors or publishers make someone stand out in this position. These skills are crucial for creating engaging, age-appropriate visuals that captivate young audiences and bring stories to life.

What are some common challenges faced by children illustrators when working with authors and publishers?

Children illustrators often face the challenge of balancing their creative vision with the expectations of authors and publishers. Collaboration requires strong communication skills to ensure the illustrations align with the story's tone, age group, and educational objectives. Additionally, meeting tight deadlines and adapting to feedback can be demanding, but these experiences help build a versatile portfolio and foster long-term professional relationships. Navigating these challenges ultimately leads to growth and a deeper understanding of the publishing process.

What is the difference between Children Illustrator vs Children's Book Illustrator?

AspectChildren IllustratorChildren's Book Illustrator
Required CredentialsPortfolio, artistic skills, possibly a degree in art or illustrationPortfolio, artistic skills, possibly a degree in art or illustration
Work EnvironmentFreelance, studio, or in-house for publishersFreelance or employed by publishing houses
Industry UsageUsed broadly for various children's media including books, educational materials, and advertisingPrimarily focused on illustrating children's books

Children Illustrator is a broad term encompassing anyone creating visual art for children's media, while Children's Book Illustrator specifically refers to artists who illustrate children's books. Both roles require strong artistic skills and portfolios, but Children's Book Illustrators often work closely with authors and publishers to bring stories to life. The main difference lies in the scope and focus of their work within the children's media industry.

More about Children Illustrator jobs
Infographic showing various Children Illustrator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, and 21% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $59,345 per year, or $28.5 per hour.

Assoc Director of Children's Marketing and Publicity

Chronicle Books

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$101K - $121K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

Description:

Chronicle Books is seeking an experienced and strategic Associate Director of Children’s Marketing and Publicity to lead overall list strategy and work directly with the team on title-specific campaigns and the School and Library market. Reporting to the Executive Director of Marketing and Publicity, this role helps shape strategy for the Children’s list and oversees campaigns across frontlist and backlist, including bestselling series Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, Tiny T. Rex, and graphic novel program.


The Associate Director leads and develops the Children’s Marketing, Publicity, and School & Library teams, serves as a senior partner to the Children’s Publishing Group and cross-functional teams, and translates market and audience insights into campaigns that build awareness, support sell-in and sell-through, strengthen Chronicle Books’ marketplace position, and contribute to profitable growth.


The Associate Director will help establish the vision, goals, and strategy for Children’s marketing and publicity, serve as the senior Marketing and Publicity representative, identify trends and convert them into actionable strategies, establish team and campaign priorities, and communicate key strategies and information to Sales. They will lead integrated plans, oversee media positioning, collaborate with authors, illustrators, and agents, and identify, evaluate, and execute strategic partnerships with organizations. Other duties include managing the Children’s M&P team, fostering a culture of creativity, open communication, assessing workflows and team practices, and partnering with Editorial, Sales, Brand Design, and Social Media. In addition they will lead digital strategies for the Children’s list, guide Amazon A+ content, set strategic direction for school and library and bookseller outreach, and partner with Sales to understand account and channel needs and identify opportunities. Lastly they will partner with the Executive Director to develop and administer the annual Children’s marketing and publicity budget, manage tracking of campaign activity, and use sales reporting to identify trends, evaluate results, and improve decisions.

Hiring Salary Range: $101,000-121,250. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the expected salary for this position and will be determined by factors including, but not limited to, an applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. This position is eligible for our profit share plan.


Benefits: Chronicle Books offers a full suite of benefits, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k, a profit share plan, three weeks of paid vacation to start, two weeks of sick time per year, and company holidays, including a paid winter break between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, paid family, maternity, and paternity leave, commuter benefits, long-term disability insurance, annual tuition assistance, annual wellness stipend, and more.


Schedule: Employees at Chronicle Books will follow a regular hybrid schedule in our San Francisco or New York City office of at least three (3) in-office days per week and up to five (5) in-office days per week, depending on project and business needs. Please note that this job description is not designed to cover all the activities required of the employee.


To Apply: Please follow the link to submit a resume and cover letter via our career site. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status. We look for candidates who will add to our culture and support the company’s vision of a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and collaborative workplace, and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. If you are excited about this role but do not meet 100% of the qualifications listed above, we still encourage you to apply.


About Us: Founded in 1967 in San Francisco, Chronicle Books is one of the world’s most admired publishers and distributors of illustrated books, gifts, and games for all ages. Its highly acclaimed list spans art, photography, food, lifestyle, pop culture, humor, self-help, wellness, children’s books, and stationery, among other categories. Chronicle is the home of numerous award-winning authors, bestselling series, and trend-setting titles. Chronicle Books is committed to partnering with artists, writers, and business partners who represent the diversity of our world and to fostering an inclusive company culture that respects and promotes diverse backgrounds and points of view. For more information visit www.chroniclebooks.com.

Requirements:

Applicants will need 6-8 years of progressive experience in children’s book marketing, publicity, or a related publishing role, including leadership of major campaigns and contribution to department-level strategy. They will possess a strong knowledge of the children’s publishing marketplace and its consumer, trade, school & library media, social, and influencer marketing. Management experience is required as well as experience managing budgets, allocating resources, interpreting campaign, audience, and sales data, and translating findings into recommendations. Applicants should demonstrate excellent project management, problem solving, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills and present creative, curious, proactive, and solutions-oriented approaches. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Airtable, Salesforce, Edelweiss, and relevant reporting platforms is helpful, and ability to travel will be as needed.