• 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, considering how big the profession is in the United States. Artist positions are available in every area, but not all places are the same -- they do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc. 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.
Artists in Windsor make the most money. Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa are other high paying cities for artists. The highest position that you can reach as an artist is founder and chief executive officer. The median salary of a founder and chief executive officer is $171,886.

Here Are the Best States for Artists In 2023:

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Are There Any Particularly Good Places In The United States For Artists To Find Work Opportunities?

    Paul Sunderland

    Assistant Professor of Music, Greenville University

    I find that location may not be the issue, as much as the size of the town and the church community size. There are two ways to look at the COVID pandemic for church musicians: Rural or smaller communities tend to have less COVID cases and are slightly more stable in that sense. This means that churches have a chance, in smaller communities, of operating, which allows employment opportunities to continue. On the other hand, larger towns and larger churches may not be able to meet in person as they once did, but they are aggressively pursuing online worship options, which requires trained people to help them to do so.Show more

    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. 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. 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. 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. 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
  11. Artist JobsNear Ashburn, VA

    11. Pennsylvania

    Total Artist Jobs:
    147
    Average Annual Salary:$69,508
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$118,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.7
  12. 12. Massachusetts

    Total Artist Jobs:
    175
    Average Annual Salary:$69,461
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$117,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.05
  13. 13. Arizona

    Total Artist Jobs:
    79
    Average Annual Salary:$69,240
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$114,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.74
  14. 14. Michigan

    Total Artist Jobs:
    122
    Average Annual Salary:$66,190
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$111,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.87
  15. 15. Delaware

    Total Artist Jobs:
    16
    Average Annual Salary:$69,636
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$118,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.7
  16. 16. Wisconsin

    Total Artist Jobs:
    119
    Average Annual Salary:$63,767
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$105,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.18
  17. 17. District of Columbia

    Total Artist Jobs:
    44
    Average Annual Salary:$68,399
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$116,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.44
  18. 18. Wyoming

    Total Artist Jobs:
    16
    Average Annual Salary:$61,810
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$99,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.47
  19. 19. Maryland

    Total Artist Jobs:
    117
    Average Annual Salary:$68,747
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$117,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.02
  20. 20. Maine

    Total Artist Jobs:
    18
    Average Annual Salary:$65,685
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$110,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.75
  21. Artist Jobs In The Top 10 States

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    21. Vermont

    Total Artist Jobs:
    11
    Average Annual Salary:$66,413
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$112,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.79
  22. 22. New Mexico

    Total Artist Jobs:
    25
    Average Annual Salary:$66,108
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$109,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.7
  23. 23. Indiana

    Total Artist Jobs:
    112
    Average Annual Salary:$62,138
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$103,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.94
  24. 24. New Jersey

    Total Artist Jobs:
    77
    Average Annual Salary:$70,113
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$118,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.53
  25. 25. Ohio

    Total Artist Jobs:
    115
    Average Annual Salary:$64,923
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$109,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.62
  26. 26. Virginia

    Total Artist Jobs:
    162
    Average Annual Salary:$66,721
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$114,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.95
  27. 27. West Virginia

    Total Artist Jobs:
    14
    Average Annual Salary:$64,729
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$109,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.51
  28. 28. Texas

    Total Artist Jobs:
    355
    Average Annual Salary:$62,669
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$105,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.97
  29. 29. Kentucky

    Total Artist Jobs:
    57
    Average Annual Salary:$60,236
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$100,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.85
  30. 30. Iowa

    Total Artist Jobs:
    60
    Average Annual Salary:$60,370
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$98,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.91
  31. 31. North Dakota

    Total Artist Jobs:
    11
    Average Annual Salary:$62,333
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$100,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.65
  32. 32. Montana

    Total Artist Jobs:
    10
    Average Annual Salary:$64,374
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$103,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.48
  33. 33. North Carolina

    Total Artist Jobs:
    148
    Average Annual Salary:$61,092
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$104,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.85
  34. 34. South Dakota

    Total Artist Jobs:
    16
    Average Annual Salary:$60,289
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$96,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.82
  35. 35. Minnesota

    Total Artist Jobs:
    96
    Average Annual Salary:$62,831
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$102,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.8
  36. 36. Hawaii

    Total Artist Jobs:
    14
    Average Annual Salary:$61,135
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$87,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.92
  37. 37. Illinois

    Total Artist Jobs:
    178
    Average Annual Salary:$62,625
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$103,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.82
  38. 38. Colorado

    Total Artist Jobs:
    82
    Average Annual Salary:$61,763
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$99,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.76
  39. 39. Louisiana

    Total Artist Jobs:
    42
    Average Annual Salary:$60,554
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$102,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.72
  40. 40. Nebraska

    Total Artist Jobs:
    34
    Average Annual Salary:$59,055
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.84
  41. 41. Georgia

    Total Artist Jobs:
    199
    Average Annual Salary:$58,393
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$98,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.06
  42. 42. Alaska

    Total Artist Jobs:
    8
    Average Annual Salary:$62,887
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$90,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.53
  43. 43. Tennessee

    Total Artist Jobs:
    68
    Average Annual Salary:$58,556
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$97,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.64
  44. 44. Florida

    Total Artist Jobs:
    223
    Average Annual Salary:$59,501
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$103,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.79
  45. 45. Oklahoma

    Total Artist Jobs:
    37
    Average Annual Salary:$59,108
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$96,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.66
  46. 46. Alabama

    Total Artist Jobs:
    53
    Average Annual Salary:$58,506
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$98,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.66
  47. 47. Arkansas

    Total Artist Jobs:
    31
    Average Annual Salary:$58,365
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.65
  48. 48. Mississippi

    Total Artist Jobs:
    23
    Average Annual Salary:$58,819
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$98,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.6
  49. 49. Kansas

    Total Artist Jobs:
    36
    Average Annual Salary:$58,954
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.66
  50. 50. South Carolina

    Total Artist Jobs:
    56
    Average Annual Salary:$58,845
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$100,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.69
  51. 51. Missouri

    Total Artist Jobs:
    66
    Average Annual Salary:$58,711
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.62

How We Determined 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

RankStateAverage SalaryLowest 10% EarnPopulationJob Count
1Oregon$73,421$44,0004,142,77699
2Rhode Island$70,146$41,0001,059,63925
3California$75,539$45,00039,536,653954
4Washington$71,839$43,0007,405,743191
5Connecticut$70,130$41,0003,588,18477
6New Hampshire$68,398$40,0001,342,79545
7Utah$67,184$41,0003,101,83375
8Nevada$74,007$44,0002,998,03924
9New York$70,092$41,00019,849,399403
10Idaho$68,722$42,0001,716,94324
11Pennsylvania$69,508$40,00012,805,537147
12Massachusetts$69,461$41,0006,859,819175
13Arizona$69,240$41,0007,016,27079
14Michigan$66,190$39,0009,962,311122
15Delaware$69,636$40,000961,93916
16Wisconsin$63,767$38,0005,795,483119
17District of Columbia$68,399$40,000693,97244
18Wyoming$61,810$38,000579,31516
19Maryland$68,747$40,0006,052,177117
20Maine$65,685$39,0001,335,90718
21Vermont$66,413$39,000623,65711
22New Mexico$66,108$39,0002,088,07025
23Indiana$62,138$37,0006,666,818112
24New Jersey$70,113$41,0009,005,64477
25Ohio$64,923$38,00011,658,609115
26Virginia$66,721$38,0008,470,020162
27West Virginia$64,729$38,0001,815,85714
28Texas$62,669$37,00028,304,596355
29Kentucky$60,236$36,0004,454,18957
30Iowa$60,370$37,0003,145,71160
31North Dakota$62,333$38,000755,39311
32Montana$64,374$40,0001,050,49310
33North Carolina$61,092$35,00010,273,419148
34South Dakota$60,289$37,000869,66616
35Minnesota$62,831$38,0005,576,60696
36Hawaii$61,135$42,0001,427,53814
37Illinois$62,625$37,00012,802,023178
38Colorado$61,763$38,0005,607,15482
39Louisiana$60,554$35,0004,684,33342
40Nebraska$59,055$36,0001,920,07634
41Georgia$58,393$34,00010,429,379199
42Alaska$62,887$43,000739,7958
43Tennessee$58,556$35,0006,715,98468
44Florida$59,501$34,00020,984,400223
45Oklahoma$59,108$36,0003,930,86437
46Alabama$58,506$34,0004,874,74753
47Arkansas$58,365$35,0003,004,27931
48Mississippi$58,819$35,0002,984,10023
49Kansas$58,954$36,0002,913,12336
50South Carolina$58,845$34,0005,024,36956
51Missouri$58,711$35,0006,113,53266

Highest paying states for Artists

RankStateAvg. Artist Salary
1Oregon$73,421
2Rhode Island$70,146
3California$75,539
4Washington$71,839
5Connecticut$70,130
6New Hampshire$68,398
7Utah$67,184
8Nevada$74,007
9New York$70,092
10Idaho$68,722
11Pennsylvania$69,508
12Massachusetts$69,461
13Arizona$69,240
14Michigan$66,190
15Delaware$69,636
16Wisconsin$63,767
17District of Columbia$68,399
18Wyoming$61,810
19Maryland$68,747
20Maine$65,685
21Vermont$66,413
22New Mexico$66,108
23Indiana$62,138
24New Jersey$70,113
25Ohio$64,923
26Virginia$66,721
27West Virginia$64,729
28Texas$62,669
29Kentucky$60,236
30Iowa$60,370
31North Dakota$62,333
32Montana$64,374
33North Carolina$61,092
34South Dakota$60,289
35Minnesota$62,831
36Hawaii$61,135
37Illinois$62,625
38Colorado$61,763
39Louisiana$60,554
40Nebraska$59,055
41Georgia$58,393
42Alaska$62,887
43Tennessee$58,556
44Florida$59,501
45Oklahoma$59,108
46Alabama$58,506
47Arkansas$58,365
48Mississippi$58,819
49Kansas$58,954
50South Carolina$58,845
51Missouri$58,711
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