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Children'S Book Illustrator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Macmillan

Associate Director, Art (MCPG)

Manhattan, NY

$90K - $100K/yr

... knowledge of the children's book marketplace, and a keen eye for illustration, typography ... S. trade company that is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned group of ...

Macmillan

Associate Director, Art (MCPG)

$90K - $100K/yr

... knowledge of the children's book marketplace, and a keen eye for illustration, typography ... S. trade company that is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned group of ...

Macmillan

Designer - Celadon

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

$60K - $65K/yr

Closely collaborate on book projects with the editorial team, creative director, marketing ... for children and adults in all categories and formats. U.S. publishers include Celadon Books ...

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Children S Book Illustrator information

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$32.5K

$59.3K

$96K

How much do children's book illustrator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for children's book 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 typical project workflow look like for a children's book illustrator?

A typical project for a Children’s Book Illustrator begins with reading the manuscript and discussing the creative vision with the author or publisher, followed by creating initial character sketches and storyboards for approval. After feedback, illustrators move on to producing full-color spreads, revising artwork as needed based on editorial input. Collaboration with designers, editors, and occasionally marketing teams is common throughout the process. Most illustrators work either on a freelance basis or as part of a studio or publishing house, and clear communication is key during each stage. Meeting deadlines and adapting to feedback are essential for ensuring the final art aligns with the story and audience expectations.

What is a children's book illustrator?

A Children's Book Illustrator creates visual artwork that complements and enhances the storytelling in children's books. They work with authors and publishers to develop illustrations that capture the story's tone, characters, and themes. Their responsibilities include sketching concepts, refining illustrations, and finalizing artwork in traditional or digital mediums. Illustrators must have strong artistic skills, creativity, and an understanding of child-friendly visuals. They may work as freelancers or be employed by publishing companies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a children's book illustrator?

To thrive as a Children's Book Illustrator, you need strong drawing and painting abilities, a deep understanding of visual storytelling, and a strong portfolio showcasing relevant work. Familiarity with industry-standard digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Procreate is often required, while formal education in illustration or art is beneficial but not always mandatory. Excellent communication, creativity, and the ability to take constructive feedback help illustrators collaborate smoothly with authors and publishers. These skills and personal qualities are essential for visually engaging young readers and effectively translating stories into memorable illustrations.

How much does a children's book illustrator get paid for a children's book?

Children's book illustrators typically earn between $1,000 and $10,000 per book, depending on experience, project scope, and publisher. Rates can vary widely, with some illustrators charging hourly or per illustration, and contracts often include rights and royalties considerations.
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Children S Book Illustrator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Children'S Book Illustrator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,345 per year, or $28.5 per hour.

Senior Designer, Workman Publishing, Children's

Hachette Book Group

New York, NY

$70K - $75K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago

Hachette Book Group rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 19 rated publishing

Job description

SUMMARY
Workman Publishing's children's department is seeking a creative and collaborative Senior Designerto join our dynamic team. This role will focus on developing innovative nonfiction trade and curriculum books for children across a wide range of formats-including board books, novelty, middle grade, graphic novels, activity books, and workbooks.
As a Senior Designer, you'll play a critical role in shaping our list by creating standout designs for both original IP and brand extensions of beloved backlist titles. You will partner closely with editors, art directors, illustrators, and production teams to bring high-quality, visually engaging books to market.

Key responsibilities:
  • Design innovative, eye-catching covers
  • Ideate and develop full interior layouts for new projects
  • Develop brands and logo designs
  • Partner with the design staff, editors, and publisher to manage multiple book projects from start to finish
  • Researches and oversees freelance illustrators and designers
  • Prepare cover mechanicals, from initial layout to final production (working with production mangers on materials and setup; prepress, color correction, and file setup; reviewing, correcting, and approving proofs; and providing final files for print)
  • Prepare galley covers, following a similar process
  • Work with colleagues in the marketing department to create original promotional materials, including social media assets
    Qualifications:
  • At least 5-7 years of design experience, primarily focused in book publishing
  • A strong portfolio demonstrating an eye for design, typography, and color, as well as sharp conceptual thinking and visual storytelling
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate on creative projects, present work, and discuss feedback in group settings
  • Experience in developing and designing series branding
  • Creativity, originality, willingness to experiment, learn, grow and share knowledge with the design and editorial teams
  • Understanding of the commercial market and design trends, branded series and commercial book covers
  • Proficiency in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat
  • Experience with prepress production, preparing files for 4-color printing using a PDF workflow
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to work quickly and independently to meet deadlines
Join us at Workman Kids, where we're growing our list with bold ideas, smart design, and a commitment to innovation that honors our Workman roots. If you're excited by the opportunity to design books that spark imagination and curiosity in young readers, we'd love to hear from you.
As a leading book publisher, we believe that including and representing diverse voices in all aspects of our business is fundamental to what we do. Our publishing programs must reflect the broad range of backgrounds, experiences, political views and ideas that shape our society and publish books for all readers.
Hachette Book Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The compensation for this position is $70,000-$75,000. Salary can vary based on a number of factors including skills, experience, and location - talk with your recruiter to learn more. There may be times that you will be required (or requested) to work overtime due to the nature of your role or exceptional workload issues or special projects.
The following benefits are offered by the company: medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life, short-term and long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, hospital indemnity, long-term care, health and dependent care FSA, commuter benefit plan, employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, travel assistance, 401(k), discretionary bonus program, PTO (15 vacation days, 3 personal days, 10 holidays and generous sick leave) and group discounts on auto and home insurance and legal services. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification, hours worked and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms.
Employment Type: Full-Time

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