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The salary for Arts Administrators varies widely across the United States. As of October 2025, the average annual salary stands at $56,050, or about $27 per hour. The compensation for this role can be influenced by several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Some states offer higher salaries due to demand and cost of living. For instance, arts administrators in New York and California tend to earn more than their counterparts in other states.
Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with significant experience or in specialized roles command higher salaries. The highest paying industries for arts administrators include performing arts companies, museums, and educational institutions.
Those interested in pursuing a career as an Arts Administrator should consider gaining relevant experience through internships or volunteer work. This not only enhances skills but also increases earning potential. Explore various job openings on Zippia to find opportunities that match your career goals.
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The average arts administrator salary in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Idaho are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average arts administrator salary states are Georgia, Nebraska, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $66,811 | $32.12 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $70,890 | $34.08 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $70,545 | $33.92 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $61,338 | $29.49 |
| 5 | Oregon | $61,829 | $29.73 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $64,662 | $31.09 |
| 7 | Washington | $62,251 | $29.93 |
| 8 | Texas | $60,295 | $28.99 |
| 9 | Missouri | $62,522 | $30.06 |
| 10 | Arizona | $57,664 | $27.72 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $57,025 | $27.42 |
| 12 | Colorado | $57,167 | $27.48 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $57,950 | $27.86 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $63,254 | $30.41 |
| 15 | Maryland | $58,079 | $27.92 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $57,901 | $27.84 |
| 17 | Virginia | $57,138 | $27.47 |
| 18 | New York | $60,993 | $29.32 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $55,775 | $26.81 |
| 20 | Nevada | $55,916 | $26.88 |
| 21 | Vermont | $55,916 | $26.88 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $58,602 | $28.17 |
| 23 | Delaware | $59,583 | $28.65 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $56,370 | $27.10 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $54,338 | $26.12 |
| 26 | Utah | $53,330 | $25.64 |
| 27 | Michigan | $55,098 | $26.49 |
| 28 | Indiana | $55,349 | $26.61 |
| 29 | Iowa | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| 30 | Alaska | $51,191 | $24.61 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $53,792 | $25.86 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $50,694 | $24.37 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $52,627 | $25.30 |
| 34 | Illinois | $52,145 | $25.07 |
| 35 | Ohio | $52,229 | $25.11 |
| 36 | Kansas | $50,676 | $24.36 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $49,813 | $23.95 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $51,676 | $24.84 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $51,570 | $24.79 |
| 40 | Maine | $51,926 | $24.96 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $50,808 | $24.43 |
| 42 | California | $50,036 | $24.06 |
| 43 | Alabama | $47,773 | $22.97 |
| 44 | Florida | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $50,364 | $24.21 |
| 46 | Montana | $48,806 | $23.46 |
| 47 | Georgia | $48,376 | $23.26 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $49,981 | $24.03 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $48,035 | $23.09 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $47,532 | $22.85 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $45,942 | $22.09 |
The highest-paying cities for arts administrators are Englewood, NJ, New York, NY, and Buffalo, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englewood, NJ | $63,498 | $30.53 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $61,051 | $29.35 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $59,982 | $28.84 |
| 4 | Newark, DE | $59,644 | $28.68 |
| 5 | Lenexa, KS | $50,679 | $24.36 |
| 6 | Pasadena, CA | $49,780 | $23.93 |
An arts administrator's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $74,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $56,050 | $4,671 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
The highest paying types of arts administrators are unix systems administrator, linux administrator, and windows system administrator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology Administrator | $73,195 | $6,100 | $35.19 | 159,499 |
| Windows System Administrator | $79,845 | $6,654 | $38.39 | 94,648 |
| Network/Server Administrator | $78,919 | $6,577 | $37.94 | 167,546 |
| Maintenance Administrator | $39,393 | $3,283 | $18.94 | 107,366 |
| Managing Administrator | $75,025 | $6,252 | $36.07 | 64,677 |
| Unix Systems Administrator | $87,936 | $7,328 | $42.28 | 110,185 |
Top companies hiring arts administrators now:
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanesbrands | $72,696 | $34.95 |
| 2 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $56,407 | $27.12 |
| 3 | Sotheby's | $51,654 | $24.83 |
The average arts administrator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $66,059 | $31.76 |
| 2 | Education | $59,596 | $28.65 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $59,319 | $28.52 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $56,839 | $27.33 |
| 5 | Internet | $54,436 | $26.17 |
| 6 | Media | $53,596 | $25.77 |
The average arts administrator salary has risen by $10,228 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average arts administrator earned $45,822 annually, but today, they earn $56,050 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for arts administrators over the last decade.
Compare arts administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare arts administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,100 | $26.95 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $54,200 | $26.06 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $53,000 | $25.47 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $52,400 | $25.17 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $51,500 | $24.74 | +2.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Daly City, Ca | Class Development & Cultural Arts Administrator (20592525) | Daly City, CA | 03/04/2025 | $84,084 |
| City of Portland | Public Art Administrator (Coordinator III-Cppw) | Portland, OR | 02/24/2025 | $97,510 |
| Barebones Productions | Arts Administrator | Nore, MN | 02/16/2025 | $45,914 |
| Miamidadearts | Public Art Administrator | Miami, FL | 09/25/2024 | $84,798 |
| Miamidadearts | Public Art Administrator | Miami, FL | 09/11/2024 | $84,798 |
| Barebones Puppet Show | Arts Administrator | Nore, MN | 09/11/2024 | $45,914 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Studio Art Administrator | Baltimore, MD | 11/02/2023 | $47,500 |
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