Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $54,990 -9.2% vs national
Median hourly $26.44
10th percentile $31,140
90th percentile $101,890
National median $60,560

Compare Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary & buying power

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Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,140
    25th
    $37,440
    50th (median)
    $54,990
    75th
    $78,380
    90th
    $101,890

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary vs area income 62% Median Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary is 38% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $140,660
    California $140,080
    Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $96,400
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,950
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $83,670
    Massachusetts $83,530

    Nearby metros — Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $83,260
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $61,670
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $60,770
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $54,000
    Illinois $53,820
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $52,800

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Coaches and Scouts$47,770
    Graphic Designers$62,490
    Public Relations Specialists$63,910
    Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$38,640
    Editors$71,600
    Producers and Directors$78,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Chicago, IL-IN is $26.44, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.98 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salaries?

    The median Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 9.2% below the national median of $60,560. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Chicago?

    Entry-level Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (10th percentile) earn around $31,140 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,440.