These maker industry figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.
Key Maker Industry Statistics
The main findings are:
- Kickstarter reported 654,000 campaigns launched since 2009 (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide).
- Film & Video projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 39%; 41% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Film & Video).
- A creator’s next-project success rate was 73% after one prior successful projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter repeat creators).
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 4,502,770 LaserPecker 4 campaign (2023).
- U.S. manufacturing employer firms reported 6.9805 trillion sales/revenue in 2024 (United States NAICS 31-33 employer firms).
- 4,370 craft-artist jobs for U.S. craft artists (May 2024; United States craft artists).
- Kickstarter reported 8.5 billion USD pledged since 2009 (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide).
- Comics projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 45%; 62% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Comics).
- A creator’s next-project success rate was 80% after two prior successful projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter repeat creators).
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 2,811,382 ELEGOO PHECDA campaign (2023).
- U.S. manufacturing employer firms reported 5.4206 trillion operating expenses in 2024 (United States NAICS 31-33 employer firms).
- 21.80 mean hourly wage for U.S. craft artists (May 2024; United States craft artists).
- Kickstarter reported 23 million backers since 2009 (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide).
- Crafts projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 23%; 40% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Crafts).
- A creator’s next-project success rate was 87% after three prior successful projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter repeat creators).
Contents
- Key Maker Industry Statistics
- Maker industry statistics: participation, projects and funding scale
- Maker project success rates by creative category
- Repeat-maker performance and crowdfunding outcomes
- Design, technology and fabrication trends in maker statistics
- U.S. manufacturing scale relevant to maker production
- Craft occupations and the maker workforce
Maker industry statistics: participation, projects and funding scale
- Kickstarter reported 654,000 campaigns launched since 2009 (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide). (The Creative Download: The Trends…)
- Kickstarter reported 8.5 billion USD pledged since 2009 (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide). (The Creative Download: The Trends…)
- Kickstarter reported 23 million backers since 2009 (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide). (The Creative Download: The Trends…)
- Kickstarter reported 35,512 projects launched in 2024 (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide). (The Creative Download: The Trends…)
- Kickstarter reported 706 million USD pledged to successful 2024 projects (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide). (The Creative Download: The Trends…)
- Kickstarter reported 80% tabletop/tabletop-game success rate in 2024 (2009-2024; Kickstarter worldwide). (The Creative Download: The Trends…)
Platform total, not all makers.
Maker project success rates by creative category
- Film & Video projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 39%; 41% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Film & Video). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Comics projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 45%; 62% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Comics). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Crafts projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 23%; 40% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Crafts). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Music projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 53%; 57% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Music). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Design projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 31%; 50% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Design). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Publishing projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 29%; 41% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Publishing). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Games projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 26%; 56% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Games). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Dance projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 64%; 75% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Dance). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Fashion projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 24%; 33% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Fashion). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Food projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 28%; 35% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Food). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Photography projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 30%; 36% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Photography). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Journalism projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 25%; 30% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Journalism). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Theater projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 61%; 67% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Theater). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Art projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 42%; 50% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Art). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Technology projects had first-project and later-project success rates of 21%; 36% (Historical analysis; Kickstarter Technology). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
Historical platform cohort; repeat-project selection may influence comparison.
Repeat-maker performance and crowdfunding outcomes
- A creator’s next-project success rate was 73% after one prior successful projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter repeat creators). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- A creator’s next-project success rate was 80% after two prior successful projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter repeat creators). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- A creator’s next-project success rate was 87% after three prior successful projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter repeat creators). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- A creator’s next-project success rate was 87% after four prior successful projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter repeat creators). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- A creator’s next-project success rate was 91% after five prior successful projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter repeat creators). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Repeat projects showed a reported success-rate increase of Technology: 75% versus first projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter category). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Repeat projects showed a reported success-rate increase of Crafts: 73% versus first projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter category). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Repeat projects showed a reported success-rate increase of Design: 60% versus first projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter category). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
- Repeat projects showed a reported success-rate increase of Games: 116% versus first projects (Historical analysis; Kickstarter category). (By the Numbers: When Creators…)
Conditional platform cohort, not causal.
Kickstarter-reported comparison.
Design, technology and fabrication trends in maker statistics
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 4,502,770 LaserPecker 4 campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 2,811,382 ELEGOO PHECDA campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 2,986,325 Revopoint MIRACO campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 5,813,434 Anker SOLIX F3800 campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 5,005,318 TIMEMORE grinder campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 4,960,578 Meticulous Espresso campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 4,129,095 Hestia telescope campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 3,602,284 Flux Keyboard campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 2,642,164 Revopoint RANGE campaign (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 12% year-over-year D&T pledged-dollar increase (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
- Kickstarter Design & Technology reported 26 minutes to seven-figure pledges for Anker SOLIX (2023). (The Creative Download: Trends in…)
Category or campaign-specific, not total maker-industry activity.
U.S. manufacturing scale relevant to maker production
- U.S. manufacturing employer firms reported 6.9805 trillion sales/revenue in 2024 (United States NAICS 31-33 employer firms). (Manufacturing: Summary Statistics for Industry…)
- U.S. manufacturing employer firms reported 5.4206 trillion operating expenses in 2024 (United States NAICS 31-33 employer firms). (Manufacturing: Summary Statistics for Industry…)
- U.S. manufacturing employer firms reported 890.775 billion annual payroll in 2024 (United States NAICS 31-33 employer firms). (Manufacturing: Summary Statistics for Industry…)
- U.S. manufacturing employer firms reported 231.528 billion first-quarter payroll in 2024 (United States NAICS 31-33 employer firms). (Manufacturing: Summary Statistics for Industry…)
Broad manufacturing universe.
Craft occupations and the maker workforce
- BLS reported 4,370 craft-artist jobs for U.S. craft artists (May 2024; United States craft artists). (Occupational Employment and Wages —…)
- BLS reported 21.80 mean hourly wage for U.S. craft artists (May 2024; United States craft artists). (Occupational Employment and Wages —…)
- BLS reported 45,340 mean annual wage for U.S. craft artists (May 2024; United States craft artists). (Occupational Employment and Wages —…)
- BLS reported 18.50 median hourly wage for U.S. craft artists (May 2024; United States craft artists). (Occupational Employment and Wages —…)
Occupation measure, not all maker activity.