Overview

A medical illustrator is a professional artist with extensive training in medicine, science, communication, and technology. They create visual material to help record and disseminate medical, biological and related information. Medical illustrators have the medical and scientific knowledge to grasp complex scientific information, parse it down, and transmit the essence in a succinct visual message that is accurate, educational, and beautiful.

Medical illustration is a relatively exclusive field: although the need for their services is great, there is just a small cadre of these highly specialized artists in practice. The Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) estimates a total of just 1,200 Medical Illustrators in all of North America.

This is partly due to the small number of medical illustration program graduates and partly due to the rapid growth in health-related research and development: as new treatments and technologies arise, so does the need for accompanying illustrations and animations. Not surprisingly, then, the employment outlook for medical illustrators is excellent.

The median salary for a medical illustrator is $63,000; those in supervisory and director positions earn $77,000 to 102,000 per year, respectively (2009 survey data).

Medical illustrators work closely with physicians and scientists. They produce visually driven content for journals, books, magazines, advertising, film, television, web, interactive and mobile media, virtual reality, exhibits, demonstrative evidence, and presentations. In addition to producing such material, medical illustrators often function as content developers, creative directors, consultants and administrators within the general field of biocommunication and as business owners and entrepreneurs in the marketplace.

Some medical illustrators specialize in a particular facet of medicine. If they are especially talented, they can become highly respected and sought-after for their skills in such areas as:

• cellular / biochemical animation
• surgical / medical device illustration
• medical-legal exhibits
• prosthetic devices

Although the majority of medical illustrators produce work for print and online media, some also work in three dimensions, creating sculptured anatomical teaching models, models for simulated medical procedures and prosthetic parts for patients.

There is also an expanding need for web-based interactive learning programs, and many illustrators become authors and co-authors of textbooks and medical articles.  In addition, as more people demand better information about their own bodies and healthcare options, the need has grown for medical illustrations in patient education and public health initiatives.

You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:

Medical Illustrator Medical Illustrator 28 Dec 2010 [pdf, 77 KB]

Working Conditions

Medical illustrators work in a wide range of settings. Many work for medical schools or large academic health centers. Others work in hospitals, clinics, medical legal firms, publishing companies, research institutions, veterinary schools, or medical education companies. Some medical illustrators work solo, while others are part of large team-based multimedia departments.

Experienced medical illustrators also may start their own businesses, head a group of illustrators or become a director of a biomedical communication department.  

NOTE:

This overview has been reviewed and approved by the Association of Medical Illustrators.