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Best states for an artist
Quoted expert
Alison Petty Ragguette
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for artists in the United States. Artist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for artists.As artists are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for artists. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as an artist, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for artist 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.If you are currently seeking employment as an artist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for artists in 2025
1. Oregon
Total artist jobs: 99 Average annual salary: $73,421 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
2. Rhode Island
Total artist jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $70,146 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
3. California
Total artist jobs: 954 Average annual salary: $75,539 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
4. Washington
Total artist jobs: 191 Average annual salary: $71,839 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
5. Connecticut
Total artist jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $70,130 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
6. New Hampshire
Total artist jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $68,398 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
7. Utah
Total artist jobs: 75 Average annual salary: $67,184 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
8. Nevada
Total artist jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $74,007 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
9. New York
Total artist jobs: 403 Average annual salary: $70,092 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
10. Idaho
Total artist jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $68,722 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
Artist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an artist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an artist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $73,421 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 99 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $70,146 | $41,000 | 1,059,639 | 25 |
| 3 | California | $75,539 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 954 |
| 4 | Washington | $71,839 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 191 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $70,130 | $41,000 | 3,588,184 | 77 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $68,398 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 45 |
| 7 | Utah | $67,184 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 75 |
| 8 | Nevada | $74,007 | $44,000 | 2,998,039 | 24 |
| 9 | New York | $70,092 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 403 |
| 10 | Idaho | $68,722 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 24 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $69,508 | $40,000 | 12,805,537 | 147 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $69,461 | $41,000 | 6,859,819 | 175 |
| 13 | Arizona | $69,240 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 79 |
| 14 | Michigan | $66,190 | $39,000 | 9,962,311 | 122 |
| 15 | Delaware | $69,636 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 16 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $63,767 | $38,000 | 5,795,483 | 119 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $68,399 | $40,000 | 693,972 | 44 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $61,810 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 16 |
| 19 | Maryland | $68,747 | $40,000 | 6,052,177 | 117 |
| 20 | Maine | $65,685 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 18 |
| 21 | Vermont | $66,413 | $39,000 | 623,657 | 11 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $66,108 | $39,000 | 2,088,070 | 25 |
| 23 | Indiana | $62,138 | $37,000 | 6,666,818 | 112 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $70,113 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 77 |
| 25 | Ohio | $64,923 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 115 |
| 26 | Virginia | $66,721 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 162 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $64,729 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 14 |
| 28 | Texas | $62,669 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 355 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $60,236 | $36,000 | 4,454,189 | 57 |
| 30 | Iowa | $60,370 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 60 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $62,333 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 11 |
| 32 | Montana | $64,374 | $40,000 | 1,050,493 | 10 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $61,092 | $35,000 | 10,273,419 | 148 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $60,289 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 16 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $62,831 | $38,000 | 5,576,606 | 96 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $61,135 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 14 |
| 37 | Illinois | $62,625 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 178 |
| 38 | Colorado | $61,763 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 82 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $60,554 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 42 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $59,055 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 34 |
| 41 | Georgia | $58,393 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 199 |
| 42 | Alaska | $62,887 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 8 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $58,556 | $35,000 | 6,715,984 | 68 |
| 44 | Florida | $59,501 | $34,000 | 20,984,400 | 223 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $59,108 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 37 |
| 46 | Alabama | $58,506 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 53 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $58,365 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 31 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $58,819 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 23 |
| 49 | Kansas | $58,954 | $36,000 | 2,913,123 | 36 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $58,845 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 56 |
| 51 | Missouri | $58,711 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 66 |
Highest paying states for artists
| Rank | State | Avg. Artist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $73,421 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $70,146 |
| 3 | California | $75,539 |
| 4 | Washington | $71,839 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $70,130 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $68,398 |
| 7 | Utah | $67,184 |
| 8 | Nevada | $74,007 |
| 9 | New York | $70,092 |
| 10 | Idaho | $68,722 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $69,508 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $69,461 |
| 13 | Arizona | $69,240 |
| 14 | Michigan | $66,190 |
| 15 | Delaware | $69,636 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $63,767 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $68,399 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $61,810 |
| 19 | Maryland | $68,747 |
| 20 | Maine | $65,685 |
| 21 | Vermont | $66,413 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $66,108 |
| 23 | Indiana | $62,138 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $70,113 |
| 25 | Ohio | $64,923 |
| 26 | Virginia | $66,721 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $64,729 |
| 28 | Texas | $62,669 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $60,236 |
| 30 | Iowa | $60,370 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $62,333 |
| 32 | Montana | $64,374 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $61,092 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $60,289 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $62,831 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $61,135 |
| 37 | Illinois | $62,625 |
| 38 | Colorado | $61,763 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $60,554 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $59,055 |
| 41 | Georgia | $58,393 |
| 42 | Alaska | $62,887 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $58,556 |
| 44 | Florida | $59,501 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $59,108 |
| 46 | Alabama | $58,506 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $58,365 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $58,819 |
| 49 | Kansas | $58,954 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $58,845 |
| 51 | Missouri | $58,711 |
Expert opinions on the best states for artists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for artists to find work opportunities?
Alison Petty Ragguette
Professor of Art & Graduate Coordinator, CSUSB
Most teaching opportunities are online at the moment. Our alums who graduate did gain some online teaching skills, so I would say they have an advantage.
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Updated January 8, 2025