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Fine artist salary
Average fine artist salary
$61,680
Average Fine Artist Salary
The average salary for a fine artist stands at $61,680 per year. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which artists are employed.
Factors Influencing Salary
Fine artists often find higher salaries in metropolitan areas where the demand for art is robust. States such as California, New York, and Texas typically offer the best compensation packages. Additionally, artists with specialized skills or those who exhibit in galleries may command higher fees.
Opportunities for Advancement
Many fine artists diversify their income by engaging in freelance work, teaching, or participating in art fairs and exhibitions. This can lead to increased earnings and greater exposure in the art community. Exploring various avenues within the fine arts can significantly impact overall financial outcomes.
Conclusion
For aspiring fine artists, understanding the salary landscape is essential. With the right strategies and opportunities, it is possible to enhance both artistic fulfillment and financial success in this vibrant field.
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Where can a Fine Artist earn more?
Fine artist salary estimates from across the web
Average fine artist salary by state
The average fine artist salary in California, Nevada, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average fine artist salary states are North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for fine artists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $98,426 | $47.32 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $83,282 | $40.04 |
| 3 | Nevada | $92,254 | $44.35 |
| 4 | Washington | $72,737 | $34.97 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $84,238 | $40.50 |
| 6 | Oregon | $72,357 | $34.79 |
| 7 | Utah | $72,572 | $34.89 |
| 8 | Delaware | $79,885 | $38.41 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $84,514 | $40.63 |
| 10 | New York | $74,684 | $35.91 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $83,911 | $40.34 |
| 12 | Maryland | $70,760 | $34.02 |
| 13 | Vermont | $80,523 | $38.71 |
| 14 | Montana | $70,344 | $33.82 |
| 15 | Arizona | $65,026 | $31.26 |
| 16 | Alaska | $74,825 | $35.97 |
| 17 | Ohio | $64,688 | $31.10 |
| 18 | Iowa | $59,566 | $28.64 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $74,041 | $35.60 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $58,642 | $28.19 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $60,951 | $29.30 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $64,973 | $31.24 |
| 23 | Idaho | $67,891 | $32.64 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $61,150 | $29.40 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| 26 | Maine | $64,723 | $31.12 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $57,011 | $27.41 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $64,335 | $30.93 |
| 29 | Michigan | $56,964 | $27.39 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $59,181 | $28.45 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $56,013 | $26.93 |
| 32 | Illinois | $61,068 | $29.36 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $58,176 | $27.97 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $60,183 | $28.93 |
| 35 | Virginia | $59,432 | $28.57 |
| 36 | Indiana | $54,337 | $26.12 |
| 37 | Colorado | $62,720 | $30.15 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $58,483 | $28.12 |
| 39 | Kansas | $57,318 | $27.56 |
| 40 | Missouri | $57,996 | $27.88 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $54,957 | $26.42 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $55,620 | $26.74 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $55,340 | $26.61 |
| 44 | Georgia | $51,785 | $24.90 |
| 45 | Texas | $50,678 | $24.36 |
| 46 | Florida | $46,222 | $22.22 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $54,387 | $26.15 |
| 48 | Alabama | $48,541 | $23.34 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $53,409 | $25.68 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $51,898 | $24.95 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $48,279 | $23.21 |
Highest paying cities for fine artists
The highest-paying cities for fine artists are Pasadena, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Norwalk, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasadena, CA | $97,010 | $46.64 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $91,785 | $44.13 |
| 3 | Norwalk, CT | $83,667 | $40.22 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $74,673 | $35.90 |
| 5 | Fort Collins, CO | $62,541 | $30.07 |
| 6 | Springfield, VA | $61,838 | $29.73 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | $46,274 | $22.25 |
Fine artist salary details
A fine artist's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $106,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a fine artist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| Average | $61,680 | $5,140 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying fine artist jobs
The highest paying types of fine artists are portrait artist, glass artist, and cartoonist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Illustrator | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 69,932 |
| Graphic Artist | $54,900 | $4,575 | $26.39 | 8,752 |
| Artist | $68,690 | $5,724 | $33.02 | 3,870 |
Top companies hiring fine artists now:
Which companies pay fine artists the most?
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MBI Inc. | $57,237 | $27.52 |
| 2 | California Baptist University | $48,190 | $23.17 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Fine Artist salary by industry
The average fine artist salary varies across industries:
- The average fine artist salary in the insurance industry is $71,775, the highest of any industry.
- The average fine artist salary in the finance industry is $60,453.
- Fine artists in the retail industry earn an average salary of $53,347, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for fine artists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insurance | $71,775 | $34.51 |
| 2 | Professional | $60,453 | $29.06 |
| 3 | Education | $54,337 | $26.12 |
| 4 | Retail | $53,347 | $25.65 |
High paying fine artist jobs
Fine artist salary trends
The average fine artist salary has risen by $9,121 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average fine artist earned $52,559 annually, but today, they earn $61,680 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for fine artists over the last decade.
Compare fine artist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average fine artist salary over time
Compare fine artist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Fine artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,700 | $29.65 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $59,600 | $28.64 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $58,200 | $27.98 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | $58,400 | $28.06 | -2.6% |
| 2021 | $59,900 | $28.78 | +8.5% |
Recently added fine artist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Fine Arts 2D, Visiting Artist Position | Boston, MA | 03/27/2025 | $66,000 |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Fine Arts 2D, Visiting Artist Position | Boston, MA | 02/22/2025 | $66,000 |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Fine Arts 2D, Visiting Artist Position | Boston, MA | 01/28/2025 | $66,000 |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Fine Arts 2D, Visiting Artist Position | Boston, MA | 12/16/2024 | $66,000 |
| Enya Studio LLC | Fine Artist | Richmond, TX | 05/29/2024 | $52,175 |
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