An artist makes use of a variety of materials and techniques to create original works of art that could be put up for sale, exhibition, and other industry functions. For 2025, the average annual salary for artists in the United States is $58,845.
Artist salaries may vary depending on key factors such as education level, experience, geographic location, skills, and demand. In the following sections, this guide will provide an overview of artist salaries and a detailed outline of their job responsibilities, job outlook, and career trends for the coming years.
The average salary for artists in the United States for 2025 is $58,845 per year, or $28.29 per hour, which is 3.6% higher compared to the 2024 annual salary of $56,800. Salaries for artists typically range between $45,719 and $78,197, with most earning $51,000 to $68,000, according to the recent data of Salary.com.
Percentile | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
10% Percentile | $45,719 |
25% Percentile | $51,000 |
50% Percentile (median) | $56,800 |
75% Percentile | $68,000 |
90% Percentile | $78,197 |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that salary for artists vary depending on which industries they work in. For instance, artists working for the federal government can earn up to $105,640, while those working independently can only typically earn $45,970.
The average artist's salary can be broken down into hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly amounts. According to Salary.com, the average rate for artists in the United States is $27 per hour or $4,733 per month.
As previously noted, artists in the United States will find that their salary may vary due to key factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and education. These factors will be explored in detail below.
Aside from an artist's life works and art school background, his level of experience also plays a vital role in increasing his salary. As shown in the list below, there are notable salary differences across various experience levels of artists in the United States.
Based on the Salary.com data, the difference between an entry-level artist salary and an expert-level artist salary is around $4,100. This also shows a significant gap between the salaries of an intermediate-level artist and a senior-level artist with $56,831 and $59,316, respectively.
It can also be noted that each US state has different average salaries for artists due to key factors such as cost of living, industry performance, and demand.
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average annual salary for artists in the United States at $63,200. The next ones are California and New Jersey both with $62,200 per year.
State | Average Salary |
---|---|
Alaska | $61,800 |
Alabama | $52,200 |
Arkansas | $51,700 |
Arizona | $55,300 |
California | $62,600 |
Colorado | $57,900 |
Connecticut | $61,000 |
District of Columbia | $63,200 |
Delaware | $57,600 |
Florida | $53,900 |
Georgia | $54,900 |
Hawaii | $59,300 |
Iowa | $54,300 |
Idaho | $53,000 |
Illinois | $58,100 |
Indiana | $55,100 |
Kansas | $54,000 |
Kentucky | $53,400 |
Louisiana | $54,000 |
Massachusetts | $61,800 |
Maryland | $58,500 |
Maine | $55,200 |
Michigan | $56,000 |
Minnesota | $58,100 |
Missouri | $54,100 |
Mississippi | $50,600 |
Montana | $53,000 |
North Carolina | $54,500 |
North Dakota | $56,200 |
Nebraska | $53,500 |
New Hampshire | $57,700 |
New Jersey | $62,200 |
New Mexico | $52,300 |
Nevada | $57,000 |
New York | $60,500 |
Ohio | $55,500 |
Oklahoma | $52,500 |
Oregon | $57,700 |
Pennsylvania | $56,700 |
Rhode Island | $59,300 |
South Carolina | $53,600 |
South Dakota | $51,000 |
Tennessee | $52,600 |
Texas | $55,600 |
Utah | $54,000 |
Virginia | $56,900 |
Vermont | $55,700 |
Washington | $61,200 |
Wisconsin | $56,100 |
West Virginia | $51,100 |
The Salary.com data reveals that the top three paying cities for artists in the United States are San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland, all in the state of California.
Top Paying Cities | Average Salary |
---|---|
San Jose, CA | $71,200 |
San Francisco, CA | $70,900 |
Oakland, CA | $69,200 |
New York, NY | $66,300 |
Queens Village, NY | $65,800 |
Paramus, NJ | $65,400 |
Passaic, NJ | $65,300 |
Bergenfield, NJ | $65,300 |
Stamford, CT | $65,200 |
Huntington, NY | $64,700 |
In addition to their salary, artists receive a range of benefits and rewards. According to data from Salary.com, the total compensation for artists includes benefits such as Social Security and 401(k)/403(b) plans.
An artist’s primary tasks and responsibilities cover a wide range of specializations depending on the industry he belongs to. It could be fine arts, painting, sculpting, furniture making, tattoos, glass, and many more.
The main thing is that an artist makes use of a variety of materials and techniques to create original works of art to put up for sale, exhibition, and other industry functions. The job description of an artist includes the following:
As an artist, one of your most important roles is to drive sales and revenue into the business by selling artworks, conducting exhibits, and providing other artistic services. Here is a step-by-step process to follow to ask for a raise:
An artist can receive a good salary because he plays an important role in driving revenue to a company through his original artworks, exhibits, and other artistic services. Moreover, securing huge clients and sponsors is also beneficial to the overall financial growth of the organization.
This requires an artist to gain the necessary abilities to hone his creativity, business, and interpersonal skills. According to BLS, these are the important qualities that an artist should have:
Moreover, there are certain skills and certifications that can increase the earning potential of an artist. According to the Real-Time Job Posting Salary Data Solution, artists with illustration and typography skills can earn up to 12.56% and 11.95% more, respectively.
Other high compensation skills include:
Based on the report of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for artists is projected to grow by 3 percent from 2023 to 2033. This translates to about 4,900 job openings each year, mainly due to artists retiring or switching professions.
The employment growth for artists largely depends on the state of the US economy. Good economic times translate into more revenue for artists while bad economy means the opposite. Another challenge is the rise of cheap and machine-produced art which affects the sales of authentic handmade artworks, especially of fine artists.