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Best states for an artist-in-residence
Quoted expert
Annie Kloppenberg
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming an artist-in-residence and really want to work at Residencies? Turns out, your chances to become an artist-in-residence are better in some states than others.Our research found that New Hampshire is the best state for artists-in residence, while Rhode Island and Massachusetts are ranked highest in terms of median salary. New Hampshire has a median salary of $77,982 and Rhode Island has the highest median salary among all 50 states for artists-in residence.
We figured that the best places for artist-in-residence jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.New Hampshire is the best state, and Newport is the city with the highest pay for artists-in residence.
10 best states for artists-in residence in 2026
1. New Hampshire
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 121 Average annual salary: $77,982 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
2. Connecticut
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $79,682 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
3. Delaware
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $73,500 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
4. Massachusetts
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 500 Average annual salary: $80,522 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
5. Vermont
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $70,779 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
6. Maine
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $56,345 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
7. Rhode Island
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $81,116 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.56
8. Nevada
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 135 Average annual salary: $60,141 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
9. Alaska
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $69,693 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
10. New Jersey
Total artist-in-residence jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,628 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0
Artist-in-residence jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an artist-in-residence
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an artist-in-residence
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $77,982 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 121 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $79,682 | $38,000 | 3,588,184 | 209 |
| 3 | Delaware | $73,500 | $35,000 | 961,939 | 82 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $80,522 | $39,000 | 6,859,819 | 500 |
| 5 | Vermont | $70,779 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 42 |
| 6 | Maine | $56,345 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 105 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $81,116 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 36 |
| 8 | Nevada | $60,141 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 135 |
| 9 | Alaska | $69,693 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 30 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $69,628 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 0 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $44,975 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 231 |
| 12 | Maryland | $64,310 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 286 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $45,150 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 237 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $69,210 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 44 |
| 15 | Arizona | $46,082 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 386 |
| 16 | California | $53,254 | $24,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,847 |
| 17 | Michigan | $49,093 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 470 |
| 18 | Iowa | $42,978 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 332 |
| 19 | New York | $66,134 | $31,000 | 19,849,399 | 0 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $60,352 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 0 |
| 21 | Illinois | $48,351 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 653 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $53,834 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 54 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $45,630 | $21,000 | 5,795,483 | 334 |
| 24 | Ohio | $54,327 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 0 |
| 25 | Virginia | $52,618 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 389 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $41,188 | $20,000 | 755,393 | 67 |
| 27 | Indiana | $42,800 | $20,000 | 6,666,818 | 411 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $42,885 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 123 |
| 29 | Florida | $40,977 | $21,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,801 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $43,953 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 230 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $42,515 | $20,000 | 5,576,606 | 406 |
| 32 | Texas | $38,478 | $20,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,611 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $46,713 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 52 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $40,256 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 310 |
| 35 | Georgia | $41,289 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 544 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $42,311 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 457 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $38,990 | $19,000 | 2,088,070 | 134 |
| 38 | Utah | $40,362 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 121 |
| 39 | Kansas | $37,406 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 204 |
| 40 | Missouri | $39,614 | $20,000 | 6,113,532 | 301 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $40,125 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 39 |
| 42 | Colorado | $37,013 | $19,000 | 5,607,154 | 419 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $38,823 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 103 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $37,984 | $20,000 | 3,930,864 | 152 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $34,759 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 181 |
| 46 | Alabama | $38,073 | $19,000 | 4,874,747 | 230 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $31,853 | $16,000 | 579,315 | 43 |
| 48 | Oregon | $38,984 | $18,000 | 4,142,776 | 165 |
| 49 | Montana | $34,888 | $17,000 | 1,050,493 | 63 |
| 50 | Idaho | $34,956 | $17,000 | 1,716,943 | 83 |
| 51 | Washington | $35,203 | $17,000 | 7,405,743 | 342 |
Highest paying states for artists-in residence
| Rank | State | Avg. Artist-In-Residence Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $77,982 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $79,682 |
| 3 | Delaware | $73,500 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $80,522 |
| 5 | Vermont | $70,779 |
| 6 | Maine | $56,345 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $81,116 |
| 8 | Nevada | $60,141 |
| 9 | Alaska | $69,693 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $69,628 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $44,975 |
| 12 | Maryland | $64,310 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $45,150 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $69,210 |
| 15 | Arizona | $46,082 |
| 16 | California | $53,254 |
| 17 | Michigan | $49,093 |
| 18 | Iowa | $42,978 |
| 19 | New York | $66,134 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $60,352 |
| 21 | Illinois | $48,351 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $53,834 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $45,630 |
| 24 | Ohio | $54,327 |
| 25 | Virginia | $52,618 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $41,188 |
| 27 | Indiana | $42,800 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $42,885 |
| 29 | Florida | $40,977 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $43,953 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $42,515 |
| 32 | Texas | $38,478 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $46,713 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $40,256 |
| 35 | Georgia | $41,289 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $42,311 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $38,990 |
| 38 | Utah | $40,362 |
| 39 | Kansas | $37,406 |
| 40 | Missouri | $39,614 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $40,125 |
| 42 | Colorado | $37,013 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $38,823 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $37,984 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $34,759 |
| 46 | Alabama | $38,073 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $31,853 |
| 48 | Oregon | $38,984 |
| 49 | Montana | $34,888 |
| 50 | Idaho | $34,956 |
| 51 | Washington | $35,203 |
Expert opinions on the best states for artists-in residence
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Artists-in-residence to find work opportunities?
Annie Kloppenberg
Associate Professor and Chair, Colby College
As has been the case for many years, the vast majority of young artists need to carve their own paths in order to succeed. With theaters shuttered, much attention has been given to artists who have found creative ways to pursue and produce their work. But in reality, that is not new. Generally speaking, Americans don't value the live arts the way people in many other cultures do. Artists for whom this work matters have needed to find ways to do their work in their communities.
People working in performing arts have, for many years, needed to leverage all their skills both to make ends meet and to be able to do their work. They have found flexible jobs to support their creative practice, have pursued jobs in the arts sector off the stage, have created fundraising platforms and productive partnerships beyond the arts sector, and have built audiences for their work in communities large and small. Artists create opportunities for themselves, and the pressure will be on to continue to do so. These are lessons, by the way, that can be applied beyond the arts sector!
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Updated January 8, 2025