Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators · California

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in California

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in California earn a median annual wage of $58,240 —5.0% above the national median of $55,490. That ranks CA #10 of 30 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$58,240
Median hourly
$28.00
Entry level (P10)
$36,300
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$207,320
90th percentile
Employment
2,560
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+5.0%
U.S. $55,490

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$36,300
$37,560
$58,240
$154,540
$36,300$58,240$207,320
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $58,240.

Employment is 1.94× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators

All 30 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Oregon$98,540$47.38——
2Nevada$81,630$39.251601.40
3New York$78,870$37.921,4002.00
4Washington$72,430$34.823501.38
5Connecticut$71,210$34.241000.84
6Maryland$66,180$31.82800.41
7Georgia$65,010$31.253500.98
8New Mexico$63,090$30.33701.04
9Minnesota$61,730$29.68——
10California$58,240$28.002,5601.94

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$85,030$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$47,660$47,320
Graphic Designers$75,130$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010$39,390
Producers and Directors$129,790$90,360
Editors$98,030$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make in California?

The median annual wage for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in California is $58,240, or $28.00 per hour. That is 5.0% above the national median of $55,490.

What is the entry-level fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $36,300 per year ($17.45/hour). The 25th percentile is $37,560.

How many people work as fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in California?

About 2,560 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators?

California ranks #10 of 30 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.94x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators the most?

Oregon has the highest median wage at $98,540 per year, followed by Nevada ($81,630) and New York ($78,870).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes