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Job outlook for restoration artists in the United States
Are restoration artist jobs in demand?
Restoration artist job and salary trends over time
Restoration artist jobs over time
Restoration artist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 105 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 117 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 110 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 107 | 0.00% |
Average restoration artist salary over time
Restoration artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,437 | $25.69 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $51,609 | $24.81 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $50,415 | $24.24 | --0.3% |
| 2023 | $50,558 | $24.31 | --2.5% |
| 2022 | $51,854 | $24.93 | +9.3% |
Restoration artist jobs by state
Most common states for restoration artists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,536,653 | 341 | 1% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 82 | 1% |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 65 | 1% |
| 4 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 52 | 1% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 38 | 1% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 25 | 1% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 23 | 1% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 17 | 1% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 11 | 1% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 9 | 1% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 4 | 1% |
| 12 | New York | 19,849,399 | 63 | 0% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 24 | 0% |
| 14 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 7 | 0% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 4 | 0% |
| 16 | Delaware | 961,939 | 3 | 0% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 3 | 0% |
| 18 | Alaska | 739,795 | 1 | 0% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 1 | 0% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 0 | 0% |
Restoration Artist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of restoration artist experts
Rider University
University of Indianapolis
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Western Illinois University
Keene State College
Colby College
What general advice would you give to a Restoration Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Know thyself. This response has many facets and implications - know your 'deep why' or vision of yourself as an artist and professional and frame around the impact you wish to have on others - this becomes a sort of 'lodestar' for the work ahead of crafting a career. Know who you are internally, as well as externally - as a 'package' because you are entering an industry where you - and the work you produce - are the commodity, for good or bad. As such, define and adhere to your boundaries - so that you cannot be taken advantage of, and can stay true to your vision. Know yourself in the context of the business - and know the business aspects of what you do. You are, at the end of the day, a business - too many artists ignore that. Then, stick to your knowledge of and vision for yourself as an artist and professional.
What general advice would you give to a Restoration Artist?
gerard brown: Folks starting out in the crafts and the fine arts often think the most important thing is the images of their work they put out in the world - through social media, on grant applications, etc. But you also need to be able to write and speak about your work in ways that inspire and motivate ordinary people to share your interests. Too often, people come out of school speaking the language of school and writing for an academic reader - I wish everyone would read more good journalism about art in magazines and news papers (yes, they are online!) and learn to communicate about their work in an accessible, approachable way earlier in their careers.
What general advice would you give to a Restoration Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Have a diverse and relevant toolkit of skills and expertise - creative and artistic ones, yes - but perhaps even more importantly, skills and expertise which translate into multiple, diverse corners of arts & entertainment and into other sectors. Know how to translate your artistic wizardry from the stage to a phone, from the studio to a streaming platform, from one arts discipline or style or genre to multiple others. But also, know how write up a marketing piece, a grant narrative, plan an event, manage a budget. You might find day-work in the very place where you're sharing your talent at night.
What Restoration Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Todd Dellinger: Adaptability to change - it's inescapable and has been forever in the arts - but change comes so swiftly and from so many directions now - particularly those changes brought about by technology and media/communications. Be ahead of the curve when it comes to what new uses of AI, what new applications for social media and how to manipulate those to your advantage, to your "business" of being an artist in this world. Entrepreneurial skills are vital in any business. You will need to be your own entrepreneur - exercising creative, innovative ways of using your talents and skills "outside the box" and applying these in parts of the industry and in other settings to expand your earning and learning potentia
Nathaniel Foley
Assistant Professor of Art & DesignUniversity of Indianapolis
Fine And Studio Arts
What will help Restoration Artists increase their earning potential?
Nathaniel Foley: A career in fine art is never a linear path like other professional fields, so one must remain flexible and aware of all opportunities that they might fit or create. Additionally, they possess numerous skill sets that are unique and they must be able to highlight them to an employer to demonstrate their value.
What soft skills should all Restoration Artists possess?
Paige Williams: The World Economic Forum has identified the four most important skills that ALL students graduating from college in the 21st century will need to be successful. These are the same skills that artists, designers, and creative writers explore through 21st Century Art Education at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC): Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. 21st Century creatives will need to understand how to explore solutions to complex problems, think outside of the box, work with others, and effectively articulate their ideas. At the Art Academy of Cincinnati, our students in first-year experience engage in courses whose focus is communication, collaboration, ideation, research, and discovery from day one.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Restoration Artists?
Paige Williams: Students entering the creative workplace need the visual, verbal, and written vocabulary to articulate their ideas and provide meaningful and constructive criticism. Students at the AAC learn criticism methods and engage in writing across the curriculum in every studio and academic course. A rigorous capstone experience requires that students write a ten-to-twelve-page thesis that thoroughly explains what they make (subject), how they make it (form), and why it matters (content). They then are required to present their ideas in a public forum.
Learning the latest technological advances and adapting as technology evolves is important for every student entering the workforce.
What skills will help Restoration Artists earn the most?
Paige Williams: A combination of the 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication will provide the most effective skill base for those seeking success in creative fields.
Tammy Killian
Chair - Department of Theatre and DanceWestern Illinois University
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Restoration Artists to find work opportunities?
Tammy Killian: Currently, no. With COVID-19 shutting down the industry, this is not a great time to look for work. Film and TV production companies are beginning to shoot again, with many precautions in place. The outdoor theatre has survived. Many small venue theatres have moved outdoors or are doing drive-in events. Finding a job now is about being willing to relocate, research, and being flexible.
How do you envision technology impacting Restoration Artists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Daniel Carberg: Technology has exploded during the pandemic, and continues to daily. As a hands-on voice teacher, I am currently teaching through Zoom, using a soundbox and mixer, and high-quality microphone, and headphones. There are also many programs that can help with the lag time between the studio teacher and the student, who are in different rooms. I now also teach students from all over the world - thank this new technology. Virtual choirs have also become a new norm, as well as choirs rehearsing outside with ambient amplification systems. It is difficult to predict what things will look like in the next five years. It all depends if a vaccine is created. If not, we need to adapt to the new "normal" and continue to make music, using technology as our friend. It is not the job any of us signed up for, but it is what we need to do to move forward.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Restoration Artists?
Annie Kloppenberg: I think there certainly will be-as there will be an enduring impact on our economy and culture at large. It is hard to predict exactly what shape those changes will take. I have faith that our health care researchers will create an antidote to coronavirus, but what the pandemic has also made visible in new ways is the range of inequities that are deeply woven into the fabric of our culture. Producing an antidote to that is less straightforward. While it may be harder to find entry-level jobs, I also think that graduates entering the workforce will do so with creativity and with a palpable commitment to social justice. Young people stepped up as organizers this summer, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see them continue to step up in their professional lives in the coming years. And I think we need to make room for them to do that.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Restoration Artists to find work opportunities?
Alison Petty Ragguette: 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.