Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators is $55,490, or $26.68 per hour. About 11,220 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $98,540 in Oregon to $25,830 in Kansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 30 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $98,540 | $47.38 | — | — |
| 2 | Nevada | $81,630 | $39.25 | 160 | 1.40 |
| 3 | New York | $78,870 | $37.92 | 1,400 | 2.00 |
| 4 | Washington | $72,430 | $34.82 | 350 | 1.38 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $71,210 | $34.24 | 100 | 0.84 |
| 6 | Maryland | $66,180 | $31.82 | 80 | 0.41 |
| 7 | Georgia | $65,010 | $31.25 | 350 | 0.98 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $63,090 | $30.33 | 70 | 1.04 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $61,730 | $29.68 | — | — |
| 10 | California | $58,240 | $28.00 | 2,560 | 1.94 |
| 11 | Utah | $57,270 | $27.54 | 80 | 0.68 |
| 12 | Arizona | $56,160 | $27.00 | 110 | 0.46 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $54,270 | $26.09 | — | — |
| 14 | Illinois | $53,850 | $25.89 | — | — |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $53,350 | $25.65 | 100 | 0.46 |
| 16 | Colorado | $51,910 | $24.96 | 250 | 1.22 |
| 17 | Florida | $50,360 | $24.21 | 1,010 | 1.40 |
| 18 | Missouri | $49,820 | $23.95 | 110 | 0.52 |
| 19 | Texas | $49,650 | $23.87 | 700 | 0.69 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $48,050 | $23.10 | 60 | 0.41 |
| 21 | Virginia | $47,930 | $23.04 | 230 | 0.77 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $47,830 | $23.00 | 60 | 0.49 |
| 23 | Maine | $46,170 | $22.20 | — | — |
| 24 | Louisiana | $40,700 | $19.57 | — | — |
| 25 | Nebraska | $39,800 | $19.14 | 40 | 0.52 |
| 26 | Michigan | $38,650 | $18.58 | 220 | 0.68 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $32,340 | $15.55 | 40 | 0.38 |
| 28 | Ohio | $31,780 | $15.28 | 510 | 1.26 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $30,720 | $14.77 | 100 | 0.42 |
| 30 | Kansas | $25,830 | $12.42 | 40 | 0.40 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make?
The median annual wage for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the United States is $55,490, or $26.68 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $31,630, and the top 10% earn $144,210.
How many fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators are employed in the U.S.?
About 11,220 people work as fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators nationwide.
Which state pays fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators the most?
Oregon pays the most at a median of $98,540, followed by Nevada ($81,630) and New York ($78,870).
Which state pays fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators the least?
Kansas has the lowest median at $25,830.
Where are fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is New York at 2.00×.