SOC 271013

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.

National Median

$60,560

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$60,560

Entry Level (10th pct)

$26,420

Experienced (90th pct)

$140,660

Total Employed

10,000

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$26,420 - $39,740
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$39,740 - $89,630
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$89,630 - $140,660

Highest Paying Locations for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

$140,660

+132.3% vs national

California

$140,080

+131.3% vs national

Central East New York nonmetropolitan area

$96,400

+59.2% vs national

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$84,950

+40.3% vs national

Massachusetts

$83,530

+37.9% vs national

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$140,660	1,360
California	$140,080	1,760
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area	$96,400	60
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$84,950	230
Massachusetts	$83,530	30
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$83,270	650
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$83,260	50
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$80,760	710
Indiana	$79,280	40
New York	$78,690	960
Washington	$78,370	840
Boulder, CO	$78,170	N/A
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$75,160	30
Colorado	$74,010	180
South Carolina	$72,990	190
Connecticut	$72,860	140
Maryland	$72,750	30
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$69,680	N/A
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$67,010	N/A
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$66,930	50
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$66,720	50
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$65,790	50
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$64,130	120
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$64,030	30
Minnesota	$63,730	70
Arizona	$63,380	80
Oregon	$63,380	N/A
New Jersey	$62,680	50
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$61,670	110
Georgia	$61,560	240
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$60,770	70
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$60,490	40
Pennsylvania	$59,370	140
Virginia	$58,960	N/A
Richmond, VA	$58,960	N/A
Wisconsin	$57,770	190
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$57,290	N/A
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$54,000	N/A
Illinois	$53,820	N/A
Nevada	$53,200	90
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$52,800	70
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$52,460	170
Alabama	$52,270	40
Missouri	$52,000	180
Asheville, NC	$51,970	N/A
Madison, WI	$51,930	50
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$50,880	30
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$49,470	N/A
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$48,950	200
Florida	$48,490	820

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?

The national median annual salary for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators is $60,560, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with a median salary of $140,660.

How much can an experienced Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make?

Top-earning Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss (90th percentile) make $140,660 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.