Average Salary for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
SOC 27-1013 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in the United States is $60,560 ($29.12/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $26,420 at the 10th percentile to $140,660 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 10,000 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 38% since 2014.
Median Annual
$60,560
Mean Annual
$76,450
10th Pct
$26,420
75th Pct
$89,630
Employment
10,000
Salary Distribution
$26k
10th
$40k
25th
$61k
Median
$90k
75th
$141k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $140,660 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,950 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $83,270 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $83,260 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $80,760 |
| Boulder, CO | $78,170 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $75,160 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $69,680 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $67,010 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $66,930 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,720 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $65,790 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $64,130 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $64,030 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,670 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $140,080 |
| Massachusetts | $83,530 |
| Indiana | $79,280 |
| New York | $78,690 |
| Washington | $78,370 |
| Colorado | $74,010 |
| South Carolina | $72,990 |
| Connecticut | $72,860 |
| Maryland | $72,750 |
| Minnesota | $63,730 |
| Arizona | $63,380 |
| Oregon | $63,380 |
| New Jersey | $62,680 |
| Georgia | $61,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,370 |
| Virginia | $58,960 |
| Wisconsin | $57,770 |
| Illinois | $53,820 |
| Nevada | $53,200 |
| Alabama | $52,270 |
| Missouri | $52,000 |
| Florida | $48,490 |
| Tennessee | $47,580 |
| Oklahoma | $45,190 |
| North Carolina | $44,920 |
| Maine | $44,700 |
| Idaho | $43,850 |
| Utah | $43,680 |
| New Mexico | $43,250 |
| Nebraska | $42,730 |
| Iowa | $38,930 |
| Kentucky | $38,500 |
| Michigan | $35,080 |
| New Hampshire | $34,600 |
| Texas | $34,600 |
| Louisiana | $32,390 |
| Ohio | $31,200 |
| Kansas | $24,670 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $87,050 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $86,440 |
| Software Publishers | $83,270 |
| Publishing Industries | $83,270 |
| Hospitals | $81,650 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $80,650 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $80,650 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $80,650 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $78,690 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $78,450 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $78,450 |
| Temporary Help Services | $72,800 |
| Employment Services | $72,800 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $72,540 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $72,540 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $70,420 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $69,550 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $68,620 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $68,620 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $68,470 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $68,240 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $66,200 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $66,200 |
| Individual and Family Services | $65,290 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $64,950 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $64,500 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $64,030 |
| Construction | $64,030 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $62,590 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $62,590 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $61,090 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $60,490 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $60,490 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $60,330 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $60,110 |
| Specialized Design Services | $58,960 |
| Wholesale Trade | $58,160 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $56,390 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $55,070 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $54,430 |
| Manufacturing | $53,830 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $53,790 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $53,490 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $51,930 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $51,450 |
| Personal Care Services | $51,230 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $50,660 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $48,750 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $48,490 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $47,160 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $47,150 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $47,070 |
| Educational Services | $47,030 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $46,300 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $45,760 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $45,760 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $45,760 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $45,760 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $43,250 |
| Educational Services | $42,360 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $41,870 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $34,620 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $33,850 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $33,140 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $33,040 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $33,040 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $32,190 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $60,560 |
| 2023 | $59,300 |
| 2022 | $57,560 |
| 2021 | $60,820 |
| 2020 | $52,340 |
| 2019 | $50,550 |
| 2018 | $49,380 |
| 2017 | $49,520 |
| 2016 | $50,790 |
| 2015 | $46,460 |
| 2014 | $43,890 |