Fine Artists Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
The median fine artists salary in the United States is $55,490 per year ($26.68/hour). Salaries range from $31,630 at the entry level to $144,210+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 11,220 fine artists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 1.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$55,490
per year
Hourly Rate
$26.68
per hour
Employment
11,220
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$31,630
25th percentile
$37,560
Median
$55,490
75th percentile
$83,200
90th percentile
$144,210
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-1.2%
Decline
Annual Openings
2,200
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Training Needed
Long-term on-the-job training
Fine Artists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$26K$99K■ No data
Top Paying States
Oregon
$99K
+78%
Nevada
$82K
+47%
New York
$79K
+42%
Washington
$72K
+31%
Connecticut
$71K
+28%
Maryland
$66K
+19%
Georgia
$65K
+17%
New Mexico
$63K
+14%
Minnesota
$62K
+11%
California
$58K
+5%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $98,540 | +77.6% |
| Nevada | $81,630 | +47.1% |
| New York | $78,870 | +42.1% |
| Washington | $72,430 | +30.5% |
| Connecticut | $71,210 | +28.3% |
| Maryland | $66,180 | +19.3% |
| Georgia | $65,010 | +17.2% |
| New Mexico | $63,090 | +13.7% |
| Minnesota | $61,730 | +11.2% |
| California | $58,240 | +5.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 30
Fine Artists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $126,470 | +127.9% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $98,540 | +77.6% |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $83,670 | +50.8% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,580 | +48.8% |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $80,070 | +44.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $78,290 | +41.1% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,100 | +38.9% |
| Santa Fe, NM | $72,610 | +30.9% |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $72,400 | +30.5% |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $70,570 | +27.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 41
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A fine artists earning $55,490/year would need 1074 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1153 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how fine artists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Fine Artists salary trend (2011–2024) →