How much does an Artist make?

Updated Sep 15, 2022

Experience

Industry

$44,507 / yrTotal Pay
$41,578 / yrBase Pay
$2,929 / yrAdditional Pay

$44,507

 / yr
$28K$72K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range

The estimated total pay for a Artist is $44,507 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $41,578 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $2,929 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

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Total Pay Trajectory

For Artist

$44,507 /yr
Artist
$60,612 /yr
Senior Artist
$50,052 /yr
Lead Artist
See Full Career Path

Download as data table

Top Paying Companies

For an Artist in United States

Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for an Artist in United States. Employers include Google, Meta and Microsoft.

1
Google
$167,862/yr
2
Meta
$139,624/yr
5
AT&T
$89,672/yr
8
King Show Games
$78,584/yr
Total Pay Trajectory

For Artist

$44,507 /yr
Artist
$60,612 /yr
Senior Artist
$50,052 /yr
Lead Artist

Download as data table

What are total pay estimates for an Artist at different companies?

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Total Pay Range
SelfEmployed.com
4.4
ArtistSee 207 salaries from all locations

$51,950

 / yr

$22

 / hr

$29

 / hr

$26

 / hr

$54,752

 / yr

$21

 / hr

$20

 / hr

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$29

 / hr

$22

 / hr

$26

 / hr

$66,528

 / yr

$25

 / hr

$26

 / hr

$76,648

 / yr

$56,734

 / yr

$27

 / hr

$27

 / hr

$22

 / hr

$103,651

 / yr

$56,905

 / yr
Viewing 1 - 20 of 1,900

Top Paying Industries

For an Artist in United States

The top 5 paying industries for an Artist in United States are Telecommunications with a median total pay of $90,034, Information Technology with a median total pay of $67,129, Media & Communication with a median total pay of $66,771, Manufacturing with a median total pay of $61,936, and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation with a median total pay of $54,436.

IndustryTotal PayTotal Pay Insight
  • TelecommunicationsTelecommunications$90,034

    36% Higher than other industries

  • Information TechnologyInformation Technology$67,129

    14% Higher than other industries

  • Media & CommunicationMedia & Communication$66,771

    14% Higher than other industries

  • ManufacturingManufacturing$61,936

    7% Higher than other industries

  • Arts, Entertainment & RecreationArts, Entertainment & Recreation$54,436

    6% Lower than other industries

Telecommunications

The top paying company in Telecommunications for Artist is AT&T.

AT&TAT&T$90,034/yr

Recent Salaries Shared

For artist

Salary Share
Anonymously share your pay to help the community

Job Title

Location

Total Pay

Base Pay | Additional Pay

Total Years of Experience

Years at Recent Employer

Submitted

Date or Time

Teaching Artist

United States of America

 | 15+ years

$60

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

15+ years
Yesterday
Artist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$15

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Layout Artist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$18

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Artist

United States of America

 | 15+ years

$33,000

/yr

Submitted Yesterday

15+ years
Yesterday
Illustrator

United States of America

 | 10-14 years

$1,500

/mo

Submitted Yesterday

10-14 years
Yesterday

Artist pay FAQ

The national average salary for an Artist is $41,578 per year in United States. Filter by location to see an Artist salaries in your area. Salaries estimates are based on 3360 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Artist employees.

The highest salary for an Artist in United States is $66,995 per year.

The lowest salary for an Artist in United States is $25,804 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming an Artist or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an Artist.

Artists wages vary greatly. Median wages are similar to that of other creative and entertainment professions such as modeling or floral design. The most successful artists earn seven figures in a few days by selling their creations, whether musical acts or paintings, to fans. The role allows for a high degree of creativity and personal expression. Artists can increase their wages by teaching lessons to prospective artists, either as a freelancer or as an employee of a formal school.

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Join thousands of real professionals anonymously talking about salaries in their industry

According to Glassdoor ratings, about 65% of artists consider their salary satisfactory. Choosing a niche and creating a quality portfolio helps qualify an artist's salary as good, while up to $2,928.80 in additional potential pay bolsters the total for artists of all experience levels.

Join thousands of real professionals anonymously talking about salaries in their industry

Following Glassdoor's artist career path, the average professional in the field earns $44,511.48. The total pay range of artists is vast, ranging from a minimum of $27,503.89 to a max of $72,366.36. After proving their worth to their employers, artists can move to a more senior role, which often comes with a pay raise and a higher ceiling on their salary.

Learn more about negotiating salaries from thousands of other real professionals

If you want to earn a higher salary as an artist, consider specializing in at least one niche. These include classics such as painting, drawing, and sculpting, in addition to modern-day offerings like photography, graphic design, textile arts, and mixed media. Create the best portfolio you can and update it regularly to help spread the word about your work, then use it as a marketing tool to gain valuable freelance, contract, and commission-based work. Master-level classes and mentorships from professional artists also boost earnings, as do marketable skills including Photoshop, Maya, VFX, illustration, rendering, and Adobe Creative Suite. The more arts-related skills you master, the higher your earning potential.

Once you reach the salary negotiation stage, your portfolio becomes a powerful bargaining tool. Whether you're new to the field or have decades of experience, your portfolio is the top way to show employers your potential, so tailor it for the role you want. If you're seeking an artist job as a nature photographer, for instance, your work should focus on nature as much as possible and demonstrate the highest level of skill and technique in your arsenal. Emphasize your knowledge, experience, skills, and passion for your craft. Use words like "market," "value," and "opportunity" to emphasize the value your distinct skills bring to potential employers.