Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in the U.S.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in the U.S. earn a median of $55,490 a year ($26.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,210 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $73,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,630 | $15.21 |
| 25th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| Median | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| 75th percentile | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,210 | $69.33 |
| Average (mean) | $73,150 | $35.17 |
Half of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,624.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,312.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,134.23 |
| Weekly | $1,067.12 |
| Hourly | $26.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $55,490 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $98,540 | n/a |
| Nevada | $81,630 | 160 |
| New York | $78,870 | 1,400 |
| Washington | $72,430 | 350 |
| Connecticut | $71,210 | 100 |
| Maryland | $66,180 | 80 |
| Georgia | $65,010 | 350 |
| New Mexico | $63,090 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $61,730 | n/a |
| California | $58,240 | 2,560 |
| Utah | $57,270 | 80 |
| Arizona | $56,160 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,270 | n/a |
| Illinois | $53,850 | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $53,350 | 100 |
| Colorado | $51,910 | 250 |
| Florida | $50,360 | 1,010 |
| Missouri | $49,820 | 110 |
| Texas | $49,650 | 700 |
| Kentucky | $48,050 | 60 |
| Virginia | $47,930 | 230 |
| Oklahoma | $47,830 | 60 |
| Maine | $46,170 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $40,700 | n/a |
| Nebraska | $39,800 | 40 |
| Michigan | $38,650 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $32,340 | 40 |
| Ohio | $31,780 | 510 |
| Tennessee | $30,720 | 100 |
| Kansas | $25,830 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $126,470 | 450 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $98,540 | n/a |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $83,670 | 30 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,580 | 250 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $80,070 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $78,290 | n/a |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,100 | 50 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $72,610 | n/a |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $72,400 | 60 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $70,570 | 40 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $68,970 | 40 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $68,140 | 330 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $65,520 | n/a |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $65,010 | 230 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,860 | 80 |
Metro areas with the most fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 450 | $126,470 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 330 | $68,140 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 260 | $55,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 250 | $82,580 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 230 | $65,010 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 230 | $49,650 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 210 | $49,280 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 130 | $34,560 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 120 | $42,060 |
| Cleveland, OH | 110 | $27,560 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 110 | $57,470 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 100 | $45,590 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 90 | $56,300 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 80 | $62,860 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 80 | $35,000 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Art Director | $114,850 | $55.22 |
| Floral Designer | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $83,910 | $40.34 |
| Fashion Designer | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $102,030 | $49.06 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Designers, All Other | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Craft Artist | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the U.S. is $55,490 a year, or $26.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the U.S. earn at least $144,210 a year. The top 25% earn $83,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,630 a year, and a quarter of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators earn $37,560 or less.
How many fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators work in the U.S.?
About 11,220 fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.