Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn a median $55,490 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,479
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,440
- Medicare (1.45%)$805
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$46,766
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,630 | $15.21 | $27,595 |
| 25th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 | $32,359 |
| Median (50th) | $55,490 | $26.68 | $46,766 |
| 75th percentile | $83,200 | $40.00 | $67,361 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,210 | $69.33 | $109,834 |
Best cities for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $126,470 | $88,532 | $76,576 | 450 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $126,470
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $98,540 | $70,360 | $55,140 – $151,020 | — |
| Nevada | $81,630 | $66,257 | $39,070 – $94,860 | 160 |
| New York | $78,870 | $60,653 | $50,010 – $154,630 | 1,400 |
| Washington | $72,430 | $59,785 | $38,730 – $120,160 | 350 |
| Connecticut | $71,210 | $56,585 | $39,380 – $101,110 | 100 |
| Maryland | $66,180 | $52,576 | $43,830 – $78,250 | 80 |
| Georgia | $65,010 | $51,664 | $40,530 – $94,130 | 350 |
| New Mexico | $63,090 | $51,073 | $41,520 – $79,610 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $61,730 | $49,106 | $42,680 – $104,000 | — |
| California | $58,240 | $46,675 | $36,300 – $207,320 | 2,560 |
| Utah | $57,270 | $46,585 | $34,290 – $96,100 | 80 |
| Arizona | $56,160 | $46,109 | $34,310 – $97,240 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,270 | $44,120 | $22,360 – $102,920 | — |
| Illinois | $53,850 | $42,928 | $32,720 – $99,630 | — |
| Wisconsin | $53,350 | $43,480 | $21,590 – $81,410 | 100 |
| Colorado | $51,910 | $42,314 | $43,040 – $102,120 | 250 |
| Florida | $50,360 | $42,644 | $31,160 – $134,150 | 1,010 |
| Missouri | $49,820 | $40,806 | $31,770 – $71,080 | 110 |
| Texas | $49,650 | $42,074 | $17,880 – $77,380 | 700 |
| Kentucky | $48,050 | $39,224 | $22,750 – $65,360 | 60 |
| Virginia | $47,930 | $38,750 | $29,640 – $87,400 | 230 |
| Oklahoma | $47,830 | $39,005 | $45,060 – $89,480 | 60 |
| Maine | $46,170 | $37,343 | $38,100 – $73,330 | — |
| Louisiana | $40,700 | $34,048 | $32,320 – $74,550 | — |
| Nebraska | $39,800 | $33,228 | $31,200 – $66,900 | 40 |
| Michigan | $38,650 | $31,843 | $25,960 – $124,480 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $32,340 | $27,117 | $27,370 – $60,790 | 40 |
| Ohio | $31,780 | $27,624 | $22,860 – $63,750 | 510 |
| Tennessee | $30,720 | $26,864 | $27,670 – $58,770 | 100 |
| Kansas | $25,830 | $22,202 | $15,080 – $54,720 | 40 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators make?
The national median salary for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators is $55,490 a year ($26.68 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,630 and the top 10% earn over $144,210. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators the most?
Oregon has the highest median pay at $98,540. After taxes and local prices, San Francisco, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators are there in the U.S.?
About 11,220 people work as fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators nationwide.