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

The average (mean) annual salary is $73,150, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Is Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 11K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 11K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$55,490

Median hourly

$27

Average annual

$73,150

Typical range

$31,630–$144,210

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$31,630

25th$37,560

Median$55,490

75th$83,200

90th$144,210

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators is $55,490 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $27 an hour at a full-time schedule.

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

Most earn between $31,630 and $144,210 a year. There are roughly 11K people employed as fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $26.68
Daily: $213
Weekly: $1,067
Bi-weekly: $2,134
Monthly: $4,624
Annual: $55,490

$55,490 a year is around the 50th percentile for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss. The median is $55,490.

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$15.20	$31,630
25th percentile	$18.10	$37,560
Median	$26.70	$55,490
75th percentile	$40.00	$83,200
90th percentile	$69.30	$144,210
Average (mean)	$35.20	$73,150
Employment	11,220 people

Key skills

Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Judgment and Decision Making
Writing
Social Perceptiveness
Complex Problem Solving
Time Management

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Oregon$98,540
2Nevada$81,630
3New York$78,870
4Washington$72,430
5Connecticut$71,210
6Maryland$66,180
7Georgia$65,010
8New Mexico$63,090
9Minnesota$61,730
10California$58,240
11Utah$57,270
12Arizona$56,160

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$126,470
2Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$98,540
3Naples-Marco Island, FL$83,670
4Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$82,580
5Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$80,070
6New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$78,290
7Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$77,100
8Santa Fe, NM$72,610
9Shreveport-Bossier City, LA$72,400
10Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY$70,570
11Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$68,970
12Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$68,140

Related job titles

Employers advertise Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators does

Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites.
Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.
Monitor events, trends, and other circumstances, research specific subject areas, attend art exhibitions, and read art publications to develop ideas and keep current on art world activities.
Photograph objects, places, or scenes for reference material.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make?: The median annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators is $55,490 ($27 per hour). Pay ranges from about $31,630 at the 10th percentile to $144,210 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?: The average (mean) annual salary is $73,150, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorss the most?: Oregon has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $98,540.
Is Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 11K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators do?: Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.; Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.; Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced..