Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn a median of $55,490 per year ($26.68/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 2.9% through 2035, with about 2,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-1013
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in four numbers
- Median pay
- $55,490a year, or $26.68/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $32KTop 10% $144K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -2.9%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−2.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −2.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,20028,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202528.9K
- Projected 203528K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 28.9K Projected 2035 28K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school27.3%
- Certificate0.3%
- Some college37%
- Bachelor's35.1%
- Professional degree0.3%
Highest education held by fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators Segment Value High school 27.3% Certificate 0.3% Some college 37% Bachelor's 35.1% Professional degree 0.3%
Also advertised as: Artist, Automotive Artist, Blacksmith, Fine Artist, Ice Carver, Illustrator.
Pay
How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make?
Every fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$55,490
Middle half earn $37,560 to $83,200
- 10th
- $31,630
- 25th
- $37,560
- 75th
- $83,200
- 90th
- $144,210
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $31,630 |
| 25th | $37,560 |
| Median | $55,490 |
| 75th | $83,200 |
| 90th | $144,210 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $55,490
- Median hourly wage
- $26.68/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $73,150
- People employed
- 11,220
Versus all US occupations
At $55,490, Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn 9% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,510 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 18% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $144,210 or more while the bottom 10% earn $31,630, a gap of 4.6×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 28% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Oregon pays the most at $98,540, and still leads at $95,336 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oregon | $98,540 | $95,336 | N/A |
| 2Nevada | $81,630 | $81,647 | 160 |
| 3New York | $78,870 | $73,081 | 1,400 |
| 4Washington | $72,430 | $67,683 | 350 |
| 5Connecticut | $71,210 | $68,729 | 100 |
| 6Maryland | $66,180 | $63,053 | 80 |
| 7Georgia | $65,010 | $67,513 | 350 |
| 8New Mexico | $63,090 | $68,418 | 70 |
| 9Minnesota | $61,730 | $62,593 | N/A |
| 10California | $58,240 | $52,601 | 2,560 |
Job outlook
Is Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -2.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | −2.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators to change -2.9% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,200 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 28,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of craft and fine artists is projected to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of craft and fine artists varies by occupation (see table).
Demand for art from private collectors and museums is expected to support some employment for fine artists. However, illustrations generated by artificial intelligence (AI) may compete with illustrators, which is projected to reduce employment in that subset of the occupation. Job growth for craft artists may be limited by the sale of inexpensive, machine-produced items designed to look like handmade crafts. However, a continued interest in locally made products and crafted goods may create some demand for these workers.
Getting in
How to become a Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Craft and fine artists improve their skills through practice and repetition. Formal education is often helpful for these artists.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators.
- Some College Courses37%
- Bachelor's Degree35.1%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)27.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate0.3%
- First Professional Degree0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Some College Courses | 37% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 35.1% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 27.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.3% |
| First Professional Degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators do?
Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.
Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create original works of art for sale and exhibition. Craft artists create objects, such as pottery, glassware, and textiles, that are designed to be functional. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, create pieces of art more for aesthetics than for function.
Day-to-day tasks
- Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
- Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
- Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.
- Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
- Photograph objects, places, or scenes for reference material.
- Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
- Monitor events, trends, and other circumstances, research specific subject areas, attend art exhibitions, and read art publications to develop ideas and keep current on art world activities.
- Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most craft and fine artists work full time, although part-time and variable schedules are also common. Many hold another job in addition to their work as an artist. During busy periods, artists may work additional hours to meet deadlines. Those who are self-employed usually determine their own schedules.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Active Learning3.3
- Active Listening3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Writing2.9
- Monitoring2.8
- Learning Strategies2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Operations Analysis2.6
- Coordination2.5
- Service Orientation2.5
- Persuasion2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Operations Analysis | 2.6 |
| Coordination | 2.5 |
| Service Orientation | 2.5 |
| Persuasion | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Video creation and editing software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 7 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 2 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Artistic7.0
- Realistic4.0
- Investigative2.7
- Enterprising2.4
- Conventional2.3
- Social2.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Production
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators$55,490
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators appears on
Questions
Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators: frequently asked questions
How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make?
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn a median of $55,490 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 9% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $26.68/hr. The middle half earn between $37,560 and $83,200. The top 10% earn $144,210 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 37.0% hold some college courses.
Is Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 2.9% over 2025–2035, a loss of 800 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators do?
Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create original works of art for sale and exhibition. A core O*NET task: integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Computer aided design CAD software, Desktop publishing software.
Which states pay Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators the most?
The highest state medians for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators are Oregon ($98,540), Nevada ($81,630), New York ($78,870) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?
O*NET scores Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators highest on the Artistic and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INFP personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.