Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$60,560
↑ 35.8% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 35.8% since 2011 ($44,600 → $60,560)
🏆Peak year: 2021 at $60,820
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 3.5% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -8%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $60,560 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $59,300 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $57,560 | -5.4% |
| 2021 | $60,820 | +16.2% |
| 2020 | $52,340 | +3.5% |
| 2019 | $50,550 | +2.4% |
| 2018 | $49,380 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | $49,520 | -2.5% |
| 2016 | $50,790 | +9.3% |
| 2015 | $46,460 | +5.9% |
| 2014 | $43,890 | +3.0% |
| 2013 | $42,610 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | $44,850 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | $44,600 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.