Top 15 cities for this job by average salary
| San Francisco, CA | $115,040 |
|---|---|
| Portland, OR | $93,290 |
| Albany, NY | $90,610 |
| Seattle, WA | $87,190 |
| New York, NY | $85,670 |
| Denver, CO | $85,020 |
| Naples, FL | $83,100 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $80,640 |
| Miami, FL | $78,780 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $71,840 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $69,220 |
| Atlanta, GA | $69,060 |
| Greenville, SC | $68,680 |
| Hartford, CT | $68,060 |
| Baltimore, MD | $66,730 |
Map: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary by metro area
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary by state
California pays fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators the most statewide, $104,570 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $104,570 | $58,240 | 2,560 | 1 | $115,040 | $115,040 |
| Oregon | $95,050 | $98,540 | n/a | 1 | $93,290 | $93,290 |
| New York | $90,650 | $78,870 | 1,400 | 4 | $90,610 | $57,380 |
| Washington | $76,000 | $72,430 | 350 | 1 | $87,190 | $87,190 |
| Connecticut | $73,830 | $71,210 | 100 | 1 | $68,060 | $68,060 |
| South Carolina | n/a | n/a | 160 | 1 | $68,680 | $68,680 |
| Nevada | $68,580 | $81,630 | 160 | 1 | $61,610 | $61,610 |
| Minnesota | $68,540 | $61,730 | n/a | 1 | $71,840 | $71,840 |
| Georgia | $68,230 | $65,010 | 350 | 1 | $69,060 | $69,060 |
| Maryland | $67,970 | $66,180 | 80 | 1 | $66,730 | $66,730 |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $65,670 | $65,670 |
| Arizona | $65,590 | $56,160 | 110 | 2 | $69,220 | $60,200 |
| Utah | $63,820 | $57,270 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Florida | $63,690 | $50,360 | 1,010 | 4 | $83,100 | $52,040 |
| New Mexico | $63,020 | $63,090 | 70 | 1 | $63,000 | $63,000 |
| Colorado | $62,950 | $51,910 | 250 | 3 | $85,020 | $56,060 |
| North Carolina | n/a | n/a | 390 | 1 | $62,030 | $62,030 |
| Oklahoma | $61,700 | $47,830 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | $60,710 | $53,850 | n/a | 1 | $59,960 | $59,960 |
| Wisconsin | $58,240 | $53,350 | 100 | 1 | $64,780 | $64,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,030 | $54,270 | n/a | 2 | $61,970 | $53,460 |
| Michigan | $55,220 | $38,650 | 220 | 1 | $61,740 | $61,740 |
| Virginia | $53,700 | $47,930 | 230 | 2 | $63,370 | $46,700 |
| Texas | $53,410 | $49,650 | 700 | 3 | $56,770 | $50,100 |
| Maine | $52,400 | $46,170 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $51,890 | $49,820 | 110 | 1 | $45,870 | $45,870 |
| Louisiana | $50,180 | $40,700 | n/a | 2 | $54,660 | $50,850 |
| Kentucky | $45,520 | $48,050 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $44,090 | $39,800 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arkansas | $41,090 | $32,340 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Tennessee | $39,200 | $30,720 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $37,820 | $31,780 | 510 | 3 | $41,950 | $40,470 |
| Kansas | $35,120 | $25,830 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $115,040 | $126,470 | $55.31 | 450 |
| Portland, OR | $93,290 | $98,540 | $44.85 | n/a |
| Albany, NY | $90,610 | $80,070 | $43.56 | 40 |
| Seattle, WA | $87,190 | $82,580 | $41.92 | 250 |
| New York, NY | $85,670 | $78,290 | $41.19 | n/a |
| Denver, CO | $85,020 | $77,100 | $40.87 | 50 |
| Naples, FL | $83,100 | $83,670 | $39.95 | 30 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $80,640 | $70,570 | $38.77 | 40 |
| Miami, FL | $78,780 | $68,140 | $37.87 | 330 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $71,840 | $61,730 | $34.54 | n/a |
| Phoenix, AZ | $69,220 | $68,970 | $33.28 | 40 |
| Atlanta, GA | $69,060 | $65,010 | $33.20 | 230 |
| Greenville, SC | $68,680 | $57,320 | $33.02 | n/a |
| Hartford, CT | $68,060 | $57,630 | $32.72 | 30 |
| Baltimore, MD | $66,730 | $65,520 | $32.08 | n/a |
| Washington, DC | $65,670 | $56,560 | $31.57 | 70 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $64,780 | $56,890 | $31.14 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $63,370 | $62,000 | $30.47 | 50 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $63,000 | $72,610 | $30.29 | n/a |
| Charlotte, NC | $62,030 | $56,300 | $29.82 | 90 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $61,970 | $59,200 | $29.80 | n/a |
| Detroit, MI | $61,740 | $42,060 | $29.68 | 120 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $61,610 | $57,470 | $29.62 | 110 |
| Orlando, FL | $60,830 | $49,280 | $29.24 | 210 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $60,790 | $49,480 | $29.22 | n/a |
| Tucson, AZ | $60,200 | $52,200 | $28.94 | 30 |
| Chicago, IL | $59,960 | $54,990 | $28.83 | n/a |
| Buffalo, NY | $57,380 | $55,020 | $27.59 | 60 |
| Austin, TX | $56,770 | $62,860 | $27.29 | 80 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $56,060 | $53,790 | $26.95 | 70 |
| Shreveport, LA | $54,660 | $72,400 | $26.28 | 60 |
| Dallas, TX | $53,710 | $49,650 | $25.82 | 230 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $53,460 | $44,130 | $25.70 | n/a |
| Tampa, FL | $52,040 | $45,590 | $25.02 | 100 |
| New Orleans, LA | $50,850 | $46,080 | $24.45 | n/a |
| Houston, TX | $50,100 | $55,490 | $24.09 | 260 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $46,700 | $35,000 | $22.45 | 80 |
| Kansas City, MO | $45,870 | $47,630 | $22.05 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $41,950 | $34,560 | $20.17 | 130 |
| Cleveland, OH | $40,520 | $27,560 | $19.48 | 110 |
| Columbus, OH | $40,470 | $34,870 | $19.46 | 50 |
Related jobs
- Graphic DesignersU.S. average $70,560
- Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersU.S. average $42,830
- Art DirectorsU.S. average $129,440
- Commercial and Industrial DesignersU.S. average $93,260
- Floral DesignersU.S. average $39,520
- Interior DesignersU.S. average $74,540
- Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsU.S. average $112,870
- Set and Exhibit DesignersU.S. average $83,160
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary: questions
Where do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make the most money?
In San Francisco, CA, with an average of $115,040 a year, among the 41 metro areas we cover.
What is the average fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators salary in the U.S.?
$73,150 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $55,490, so half of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators earn more than that and half less.
What salary should fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators nationwide earn between $37,560 (25th percentile) and $83,200 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators the most?
California, with a statewide average of $104,570 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators pay the lowest?
Columbus, OH, at $40,470 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1013.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.