Paints sets, backdrops and surfaces to look like stone, wood, marble or aged materials for theatre, film, TV and theme parks. BLS does not publish separate figures for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators; it counts them within fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators (SOC 27-1013), whose median pay is $55,490 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-1013
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Scenic Artist 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: Charge Scenic Artist, Scenic Painter, Scenic Charge, Lead Scenic Artist, Backdrop Painter.
Pay
How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make?
Every scenic artist 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 Scenic Artist 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.
Getting in
How to become a Scenic Artist
Many scenic artists earn a degree in theatre design and technology or fine arts, and several university theatre programs offer specific training in scene painting. Others train through apprenticeships at regional theatres, opera houses and scenic studios, building skill in drawing, color mixing and faux finishing.
In the United States, scenic artists are represented by United Scenic Artists, IATSE Local USA 829, which admits members through an exam or portfolio process. In Los Angeles film and TV, scenic artists are represented by IATSE Local 800. USITT offers resources and conferences for theatre craftspeople.
- 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 Scenic Artist do?
Scenic artists turn plywood, foam and canvas into convincing surfaces. Following the designer's paint elevations, they paint faux marble floors, aged brick walls, wood grain, rust, wallpaper patterns and enormous painted backdrops, often working at scale with long-handled brushes on drops laid on the floor.
The charge scenic artist leads the paint crew, mixes colors, creates samples and plans how each finish will be achieved within the schedule. Scenic artists also work in film and television, where finishes must survive close-up camera scrutiny, and in theme parks, museums and retail environments. The craft relies on traditional techniques like glazing and spattering alongside sprayers and modern coatings.
Day-to-day tasks
- Interpret designer paint elevations and samples
- Mix paints and match colors to design references
- Paint faux finishes such as marble, wood grain and stone
- Lay out and paint large drops and backdrops
- Age and distress surfaces to look worn
- Lead a paint crew and plan the paint schedule
- Touch up scenery during runs and shoots
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Scenic artists work in paint shops, on theatre stages and on film sets, often on ladders, lifts and scaffolding. The work is physical, with long periods standing, bending and handling paint and solvents. Schedules follow production deadlines, with busy load-in and tech weeks.
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.
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 Scenic Artist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ARE) built on O*NET's Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Scenic Artist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 7 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| 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
- Realistic4.8
- Enterprising3.4
- Investigative2.7
- 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 Scenic Artist
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
$55,490median a year
Most earn $32K to $144K
−2.9%Bachelor's - 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
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
- Scenic Artist$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 |
| Scenic Artist | $55,490 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Scenic Artist appears on
Questions
Scenic Artist: frequently asked questions
How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators. It counts them within fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, whose median pay is $55,490 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $37,560 and $83,200, and the top 10% earn $144,210 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Scenic Artist?
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 Scenic Artist 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 Scenic Artist do?
Scenic artists turn plywood, foam and canvas into convincing surfaces. A typical task: interpret designer paint elevations and samples. 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 Scenic Artist?
O*NET scores Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators highest on the Artistic, Realistic and Enterprising 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 the closest types are INFP, INTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.