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Fine artist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$55,490median pay per year, or $26.68 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,630lowest 10% earn less
  2. $37,56025th percentile
  3. $55,490median
  4. $83,20075th percentile
  5. $144,210top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Fine artists, including painters, sculptors and illustrators, earned a median of $55,490 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-2.9%[2]
Openings per year
2,200[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do fine artists make?

The median wage for the BLS category Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators was $55,490 a year, or $26.68 an hour, in May 2025[1]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980[4]. The average was higher at $73,150 a year[7].

Pay varies a lot in this field. The table shows the percentile wages. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes these wages instead of a starting salary[8].

Point Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $31,630 $15.21
25th percentile[3][9] $37,560 $18.06
Median[1] $55,490 $26.68
75th percentile[3][9] $83,200 $40.00
90th percentile[3][9] $144,210 $69.33

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,630[3].

These figures have a big limit. They cover people paid a wage or salary, and they leave out the self-employed and any benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10]. Yet 62.8% of fine artists were self-employed in 2025[11]. So the table describes only part of the field. About 11,220 people held wage and salary jobs in this category in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for 30 states[13]. Oregon was first at $98,540 a year, followed by Nevada at $81,630, New York at $78,870 and Washington at $72,430[13]. Kansas was last on the list at $25,830[13].

California had the most jobs at 2,560, then New York at 1,400 and Florida at 1,010[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the top median at $126,470, followed by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $82,580 and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach at $68,140[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most jobs at 1,270[16].

Show median pay in 30 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[13]$98,540n/a
Nevada$81,630160
New York$78,8701,400
Washington$72,430350
Connecticut$71,210100
Maryland$66,18080
Georgia$65,010350
New Mexico$63,09070
Minnesota$61,730n/a
California$58,2402,560
Utah$57,27080
Arizona$56,160110
Pennsylvania$54,270n/a
Illinois$53,850n/a
Wisconsin$53,350100
Colorado$51,910250
Florida$50,3601,010
Missouri$49,820110
Texas$49,650700
Kentucky$48,05060
Virginia$47,930230
Oklahoma$47,83060
Maine$46,170n/a
Louisiana$40,700n/a
Nebraska$39,80040
Michigan$38,650220
Arkansas$32,34040
Ohio$31,780510
Tennessee$30,720100
Kansas$25,83040

How to become a fine artist

BLS lists the typical path into this occupation like this[6]:

The training details below come from a BLS profile on craft and fine artists, which covers a wider group than this page[17]. It says artists build skill through practice and repetition, and that formal education often helps[18]. Colleges and independent art schools offer degrees in fine arts, and some programs lead to a certificate[19]. Training can also come from learning next to experienced artists, noncredit classes, workshops or private lessons[20].

A portfolio matters. Art directors, clients and others look at it when deciding whether to hire an artist or buy their work[21]. Artists who want to teach art in public elementary or secondary schools usually need a teaching certificate on top of a bachelor's degree[22].

In an O*NET description, this work falls in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation is needed[23].

What fine artists do

Fine artists create original artwork using a wide variety of media and techniques[24]. Tasks reported by O*NET include[25]:

Workers in this category report job titles such as muralist, illustrator and painter[26]. Business skills and customer service count too, because artists often have to promote and sell their own work[27][28].

Where they work

Many artists work in studios in office buildings, warehouses or lofts. Others work in private studios at home, and some share studio space[29]. Studios are usually well lit and ventilated, but artists may be exposed to fumes and dust and often wear protective gear[30].

In the wider group of craft and fine artists, full-time work is common, though part-time and variable schedules also occur. Many have another job as well, and self-employed artists usually set their own schedules[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of fine artists to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 28,900 jobs to 28,000[2]. These counts include the self-employed[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[32].

Still, jobs open up. About 2,200 openings a year are projected on average, and they include jobs that open when people retire or switch to other work, along with new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.8% of workers leave the labor force and 4.3% move to a different occupation[33].

BLS names one factor weighing on demand. As AI tools generate more images, they substitute for some illustrators[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a field with a wide pay range, a median a little above the all-occupations median[1][4], and a shrinking job count[2]. Most of the workforce is self-employed[11], so many artists run their own business and promote their own work[27]. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education, along with long-term on-the-job training[6]. People who value that kind of independent creative work may find it fits. Those who need a steady, predictable income should look closely at the wide spread of pay[3].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a fine artist make an hour?
The median wage was $26.68 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $15.21 and the 90th percentile was $69.33[9].
What degree do you need to be a fine artist?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry[6]. A broader BLS profile says formal education often helps, and that artists can also train through classes, workshops or private lessons[18][20].
Is fine artist a job in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][32]. About 2,200 openings a year are still projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for fine artists?
Oregon was first among the 30 states with published data, at a median of $98,540 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in the US was $55,490 per year and $26.68 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators is projected to decline 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 28,900 to 28,000 jobs (a change of -800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: 10th percentile $31,630, 25th percentile $37,560, 75th percentile $83,200, 90th percentile $144,210. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,200 openings for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators was $73,150 per year and $35.17 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: 10th percentile $15.21, 25th percentile $18.06, 75th percentile $40.00, 90th percentile $69.33. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 62.8% of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 11,220 people were employed as Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators jobs: California 2,560; New York 1,400; Florida 1,010; Texas 700; Ohio 510. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $126,470; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $82,580; Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $68,140; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $65,010; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $57,470; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $55,490; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $49,650; Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $49,280. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,270; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 450 (median $126,470); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 330 (median $68,140); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 260 (median $55,490); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 250 (median $82,580); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 230 (median $65,010). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Craft and Fine Artists" covers Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 27-1013.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 27-1013.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Artist, Automotive Artist, Blacksmith, Fine Artist, Ice Carver, Illustrator, Muralist, Painter. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: 3.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as more images are generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools, substituting for some illustrators. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.