Creative Jobs in Atlanta: Where to Find Work in the City’s Growing Arts & Innovation Scene

Atlanta is one of the Southeast’s strongest hubs for film, music, design, tech, and marketing, which makes it a compelling place to look for creative jobs. Whether you’re a designer, writer, filmmaker, content creator, or performing artist, there are multiple paths into Atlanta’s creative economy.

This guide walks through the major types of creative jobs in Atlanta, where they tend to cluster, and how to actually find work and build a career here.

Why Atlanta Is a Strong City for Creative Work

Atlanta offers a mix that’s appealing to creative professionals:

• A large film and TV production ecosystem
• A long-established music and recording scene
• Growing startup and tech sectors that need designers, marketers, and content creators
• A network of arts nonprofits, museums, and theaters
• A relatively lower cost of living compared to some other creative hubs

For many people, that means a realistic chance to combine creative work with steady income, especially if you’re flexible about job type (full-time, contract, freelance, or project-based).

Major Types of Creative Jobs in Atlanta

1. Film, TV, and Video Production

Atlanta is often called the “Hollywood of the South.” Creative roles in this area include:

• Production assistants (PAs)
• Camera operators and assistants
• Editors and post-production specialists
• Script supervisors and continuity staff
• Art department and set design
• Wardrobe, makeup, and hair
• Location scouts and coordinators

These jobs often revolve around studio lots and production hubs in and around Fayetteville, Norcross, southwest Atlanta, and Midtown/Buckhead.

Key local resource:

• Georgia Film Office – Camera Ready Program
  75 5th St NW, Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30308
  Phone: (404) 962-4000

The Georgia Film Office shares information about productions, crew opportunities, and how to get “camera ready” as a freelancer or business.

2. Graphic Design, UX/UI, and Digital Creative

Atlanta’s agencies, in-house marketing teams, and tech companies frequently hire design talent for:

• Graphic design and branding
• UX/UI design for apps and websites
• Visual design and illustration
• Presentation design and corporate communications

These roles are common in:

• Midtown (near Tech Square and corporate offices)
• Perimeter Center and Buckhead (corporate HQs and agencies)
• In-town neighborhoods like Old Fourth Ward and West Midtown (startups and creative shops)

Many companies post hybrid or remote roles, allowing you to live in the Atlanta area but work for teams nationwide.

3. Marketing, Content, and Social Media

Because Atlanta is home to major brands, universities, nonprofits, and startups, there’s consistent demand for:

• Content writers and editors
• Social media managers and strategists
• Email marketing specialists
• SEO/SEM and digital marketing managers
• Brand strategists and copywriters

You’ll find these roles in sectors like healthcare, higher education, logistics, fintech, entertainment, and real estate.

Common job titles include:

• Content Marketing Specialist
• Social Media Coordinator
• Brand Copywriter
• Communications Manager
• Creative Strategist

4. Music, Audio, and Live Performance

Atlanta has longstanding strength in hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and pop, plus a growing independent and experimental scene. Creative jobs in this space include:

• Producers and recording engineers
• Songwriters, composers, and session musicians
• Live sound and stage techs
• Booking and artist management assistants
• Venue marketing and promotions staff

A lot of this work is freelance or gig-based, and often comes through networking at studios, venues, and events rather than formal job boards.

Areas with strong music activity include:

• Downtown and Midtown (larger venues and theaters)
• East Atlanta Village, Little Five Points, and Old Fourth Ward (independent venues and studios)

5. Theater, Visual Arts, and Cultural Institutions

If you’re drawn to more traditional arts roles, Atlanta has:

• Regional and community theaters
• Museums and galleries
• Arts education and youth programs
• Public art, curation, and exhibition design

Common creative roles:

• Stage managers and production staff
• Lighting and sound designers
• Teaching artists and workshop leaders
• Curatorial assistants and exhibition coordinators
• Graphic designers and marketing staff for arts organizations

Key institutions that often list staff and contract openings:

• Major museums and arts centers in Midtown and downtown Atlanta
• Neighborhood arts centers in Castleberry Hill, West End, and East Point

6. Tech, Startups, and Creative Problem-Solving Roles

Many Atlanta tech and startup companies hire people whose roles are technically or strategically focused but strongly creative in how they solve problems, such as:

• Product designers and product marketers
• Creative technologists and interaction designers
• Innovation and user research roles
• Instructional designers and e-learning developers

These positions often blend creativity with data, user experience, and business goals. Tech and innovation activity tends to be clustered around:

• Midtown / Tech Square (near Georgia Tech)
• Old Fourth Ward / Ponce City Market
• Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, and other “tech corridor” suburbs

Where Creative Jobs in Atlanta Are Usually Posted

You’ll rarely find all the best roles in one place. For creative work in Atlanta, people typically use a mix of tools and networks:

Online Job Boards & Platforms

Most Atlantans looking for creative work rely on:

• National job boards with filters set to Atlanta, GA
• Creative-specific platforms that allow local search
• Company and agency career pages (especially for larger organizations in Midtown and Buckhead)

For freelance and contract work, many people maintain profiles on national gig platforms while networking locally to maintain Atlanta-based clients.

Local Creative Staffing & Talent Agencies

Atlanta has several staffing and recruiting agencies that focus on:

• Graphic design and UX
• Copywriting and content
• Marketing, advertising, and PR
• Digital and social media roles

These agencies often place people in temporary, contract-to-hire, or project-based roles at corporations, agencies, and nonprofits around the metro area.

You’ll usually apply online, then interview with a recruiter who can submit you for relevant assignments.

Helpful Local Organizations & Resources

Here are some widely used Atlanta-based organizations and hubs that can help you find creative work or build your portfolio.

Georgia Department of Labor – Career Centers

These state-run centers can be useful even for creative professionals, especially if you’re changing careers or rebuilding after a layoff.

• Atlanta Career Center
  223 Courtland St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone: (404) 232-4700

Services often include:

• Help with resumes and cover letters
• Information on job fairs and hiring events
• Access to computers and internet for job searching
• Workshops on interviewing and job readiness

Atlanta Workforce Development & Training

City and county workforce agencies often run programs that can indirectly support creative careers, such as:

• Digital skills training
• Internship and apprenticeship programs
• Youth employment and career exploration

These programs sometimes connect participants with employers in media, marketing, and design, especially when digital skills are involved.

Colleges, Universities, and Art Schools

Even if you’re not a student, Atlanta-area schools can be sources of:

• On-campus or departmental job boards
• Public portfolio shows, screenings, and exhibitions where you can network
• Continuing education courses in design, film, photography, and writing

Look for opportunities in and near:

• Midtown (home to several major campuses and design programs)
• Decatur and other nearby cities with strong arts departments

Building a Creative Career in Atlanta: Practical Steps

1. Clarify Your Niche

Atlanta has room for many creative paths, but being specific helps:

• Are you a graphic designer who prefers branding and print, or a digital-first UI designer?
• Are you more interested in set design for film, or theater production?
• Do you want to write social media content for brands, or scripts and screenplays?

Being clear about your focus makes it easier to target the right neighborhoods, companies, and events.

2. Build a Locally Relevant Portfolio

Even if your work is online, Atlanta employers often like to see projects with some local context:

• Work for local nonprofits, small businesses, or community organizations
• Spec projects featuring Atlanta brands, venues, or issues
• Film or photo projects that use Atlanta locations

This shows you understand the local audience and culture.

3. Network in Person (Not Just Online)

In Atlanta’s creative industries, many opportunities are shared informally first:

• Attend gallery openings, film screenings, theater performances, and talks
• Look for meetups and user groups in design, UX, marketing, photography, and film
• Join or visit coworking spaces that attract creatives (especially in Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and West Midtown)

Bring business cards, or at least be ready to share a portfolio link on your phone.

4. Be Open to Hybrid Career Paths

A lot of Atlanta creatives blend different streams of work, such as:

• Full-time job in marketing or design + freelance art/film/music
• Part-time work in a creative-adjacent role (like event staffing or retail in arts districts) + building a portfolio
• Corporate role in communications or training that still uses writing, storytelling, and design skills

This approach can make it easier to afford living in the metro area while still growing a creative practice.

Common Creative Job Titles You’ll See in Atlanta

Using these titles when searching can help you uncover more local postings.

Tips for Newcomers to Atlanta’s Creative Scene

• Start with neighborhoods that match your field.
  Film and TV? Look near production hubs. Tech and UX? Start in Midtown/Tech Square. Visual arts and music? Explore East Atlanta, West End, and Old Fourth Ward.

• Budget for transportation.
  Many creative jobs are scattered across the metro area. If you don’t drive, look for roles along MARTA rail lines or frequent bus routes, or cluster your freelance clients in MARTA-accessible neighborhoods.

• Respect the freelance rhythm.
  Many creative professionals in Atlanta piece together short-term contracts, gigs, and part-time roles. Plan for income ups and downs and consider keeping a side job while you build a client base.

• Stay flexible on job titles.
  One company might call it a “Content Producer,” another a “Digital Storyteller.” Read full descriptions, not just the job title.

How to Move Forward If You’re Ready to Look for Work

1. Decide your primary creative lane (film, design, writing, music, etc.).
2. Update your portfolio with your best, most relevant pieces.
3. Search by “Atlanta, GA” using specific job titles from your field.
4. Connect with local organizations like the Georgia Film Office or Atlanta-area career centers to learn about industry-specific opportunities and training.
5. Attend at least one local creative event per month to expand your network and hear about openings that never hit job boards.

Done consistently, these steps can help you turn Atlanta’s creative energy into real, sustainable work—whether you’re just arriving in the city or leveling up a career you’ve already started here.