Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustratorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$104,570
- Oregon$95,050
- New York$90,650
- Washington$76,000
- Connecticut$73,830
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $104,570 | $58,240 | $50 | +43% | 2,560 |
| 2 | Oregon | $95,050 | $98,540 | $46 | +29.9% | — |
| 3 | New York | $90,650 | $78,870 | $44 | +23.9% | 1,400 |
| 4 | Washington | $76,000 | $72,430 | $37 | +3.9% | 350 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $73,830 | $71,210 | $36 | +0.9% | 100 |
| 6 | Nevada | $68,580 | $81,630 | $33 | -6.2% | 160 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $68,540 | $61,730 | $33 | -6.3% | — |
| 8 | Georgia | $68,230 | $65,010 | $33 | -6.7% | 350 |
| 9 | Maryland | $67,970 | $66,180 | $33 | -7.1% | 80 |
| 10 | Arizona | $65,590 | $56,160 | $32 | -10.3% | 110 |
| 11 | Utah | $63,820 | $57,270 | $31 | -12.8% | 80 |
| 12 | Florida | $63,690 | $50,360 | $31 | -12.9% | 1,010 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $63,020 | $63,090 | $30 | -13.8% | 70 |
| 14 | Colorado | $62,950 | $51,910 | $30 | -13.9% | 250 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $61,700 | $47,830 | $30 | -15.7% | 60 |
| 16 | Illinois | $60,710 | $53,850 | $29 | -17% | — |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $58,240 | $53,350 | $28 | -20.4% | 100 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $57,030 | $54,270 | $27 | -22% | — |
| 19 | Michigan | $55,220 | $38,650 | $27 | -24.5% | 220 |
| 20 | Virginia | $53,700 | $47,930 | $26 | -26.6% | 230 |
| 21 | Texas | $53,410 | $49,650 | $26 | -27% | 700 |
| 22 | Maine | $52,400 | $46,170 | $25 | -28.4% | — |
| 23 | Missouri | $51,890 | $49,820 | $25 | -29.1% | 110 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $50,180 | $40,700 | $24 | -31.4% | — |
| 25 | Kentucky | $45,520 | $48,050 | $22 | -37.8% | 60 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $44,090 | $39,800 | $21 | -39.7% | 40 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $41,090 | $32,340 | $20 | -43.8% | 40 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $39,200 | $30,720 | $19 | -46.4% | 100 |
| 29 | Ohio | $37,820 | $31,780 | $18 | -48.3% | 510 |
| 30 | Kansas | $35,120 | $25,830 | $17 | -52% | 40 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 51 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $126,470 | $115,040 | 450 |
| 2 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $98,540 | $93,290 | — |
| 3 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $83,670 | $83,100 | 30 |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,580 | $87,190 | 250 |
| 5 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $80,070 | $90,610 | 40 |
| 6 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $78,290 | $85,670 | — |
| 7 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,100 | $85,020 | 50 |
| 8 | Santa Fe, NM | $72,610 | $63,000 | — |
| 9 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $72,400 | $54,660 | 60 |
| 10 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $70,570 | $80,640 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustratorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $154,570 | $176,370 | 840 |
| 2 | Motion Picture and Video Industries | $154,570 | $176,370 | 840 |
| 3 | Sector 51 - Information | $130,560 | $146,160 | 1,600 |
| 4 | Software Publishers | $124,130 | $126,180 | 610 |
| 5 | Publishing Industries | $104,260 | $113,340 | 770 |
| 6 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $98,540 | $93,390 | — |
| 7 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $98,540 | $93,390 | — |
| 8 | Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises | $98,540 | $93,390 | — |
| 9 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $87,460 | $87,520 | 80 |
| 10 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $87,430 | $87,420 | 80 |
| 11 | Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $85,110 | $86,340 | 50 |
| 12 | Hospitals | $84,560 | $79,880 | 40 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in the U.S.?
The median fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary in the United States is $55,490 per year (mean $73,150), and about 80% earn between $31,630 and $144,210.
How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make per hour?
Roughly $35 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $73,150 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators the most?
California has the highest average pay for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators at $104,570 per year (median $58,240).
What is the job outlook for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators?
Employment is projected to change -1.2% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 2,200 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.